| Rising medical costs and life expectancy are seen attracting a lot of players to the Indian health insurance sector, even as a high claims ratio remains a concern, industry experts said on Friday. As many as three to four firms are keen to launch standalone health insurance companies if they find an Indian partner, said C.S. Rao, chairman of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), the country's insurance regulator. Under current Indian regulations, foreign firms cannot own more than 26 percent in an Indian insurance company. "We have a mandate to encourage health insurance," Rao said on the sidelines of an industry conference. Last year, DKV, a unit of German reinsurer Munich Re, formed a health insurance joint venture in India with Apollo Hospitals group, whose flagship is Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. The total premium collection in health insurance was around 40 billion rupees in 2007, up from around 6 billion rupees in 2003, Rao said adding premium collection is expected to rise by half during the current year. Despite a penetration of just 2-3 percent, health insurance accounts for about 16 percent of the industry's total premium collection, Rao added. "Health insurance is required on a long-term basis because people are living longer. They require medical attention over a longer period and medical expenses are also going up," he said. Currently, Indian life insurance companies provide health cover as an add-on to their existing policies while non-life insurance companies provide it as part of their overall bouquet of general insurance products.India has 18 life and non-life insurance companies each and one reinsurance firm, according the IRDA Web site. At 4.8 percent, the country's overall insurance penetration is one of the lowest in Asia. While interest in health insurance is building up, the sector is dogged by high claims, with the claims ratio as high as 120 percent, Rao said. The insurance regulator plans to take a series of measures including improving underwriting standards to cut down on the high ratio, IRDA director general D.V.S. Sastry said. The regulator also plans to introduce unique identification (ID) numbers for individuals as well as hospitals, which are expected to reduce duplication of claims, Sastry said. |
Monday, August 4, 2008
India health insurance seen rising, but concerns stay
Friday, August 1, 2008
Health Care Insurance
| Health care costs have witnessed a phenomenal rise in the current times, this has led the customers to insure not only themselves but their family members for any future medical expenses and other related requirements. The need to insure assumes even more importance with older generation who are either retired or will be retired in the near future; you will be surprised how much health care expenses can add up to in a year.Types Of Health Care Insurance Available:Medical InsuranceCritical Illness Insurance Leading insurance companies are coming out with new plans to meet the requirements of their customers, health care insurance plans especially target customers in the higher age group. It is necessary for younger people to start planning for their future after they retire, at an early age, so as to lead a financially stable life in later years.List of Some of Indurance Companies offering Health Care Insurance:ICICI Loambard - Health PlansBajaj Allianz - Health Guard |
Global Launch of Apollo Health City in Hyderabad
| Apollo Hospitals Group recently announced the first functional health city in Asia, Apollo Health City, Hyderabad. The Apollo Health City, Hyderabad was formally launched by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr YS Rajashekar Reddy. Spread across 33 acres, Apollo Health City, Hyderabad is an integrated healthcare system offering solutions across the healthcare space. Going beyond the realm of curative care Apollo Health City, Hyderabad offers the entire spectrum of services including education, research, information technology, preventive care and holistic medicine. Apollo Health City encompasses a 300-bed multi-specialty with over 50 specialities and super specialities along with 10 centres of excellence.Institutes for heart diseases, cancer, orthopaedics and joint diseases, emergency, renal diseases, neurosciences, eye, minimally invasive surgery, trauma and cosmetic surgery are all centers of excellence and are positioned to offer the best care in the safest manner to every patient. Apollo Health City is equipped with Institute of PG Education for doctors, Nursing School and College, College of Physiotherapy, Institute of Hospital Administration, Institute of Medical Informatics, Institute for Emergency Medicine, Institute for Paramedics along with other training institutions to offer the optimal learning ambience and clinical environment. Research at the Health City is aimed at identifying solutions to the challenges faced by the community and translating these results into clinical care, 'bench to bed'. Apollo Health City has a variety of IT initiatives including medical BPO services for offshore customers (Health Street), online education for medical professionals (Medvarsity) and telemedicine services. Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Group of Hospitals, said, "Apollo Health City brings together all the components of healthcare and creates an environment that leverages the best of all forms of medicine.” |
Sunday, July 27, 2008
HEALTH INSURANCE
What is the most coveted possession of any individual? Is it his ability, intelligence, innovation or the single most asset-Health that enables him to use all other that he has. Health is undoubtedly the biggest and most crucial asset of any or every living being. Health encourages efforts, health motivates mind, and health grants you enjoyment. It is the wealth of health that gives the requisite potential to battle all odds and move ahead with life. Naturally, such an essential part of a person’s life needs special care and protection. The ideal way to secure an individual’s prized possession for him and his loved ones is Health Insurance.
Health insurance has the insurer and the insured playing their part like any other insurance. The insured pays premium to protect his health and the insurer is obliged to meet the expenses if the insured falls sick. However, certain diseases are not covered by health insurance which of course will be listed in the insurance document. Medical services, dental expenses, diagnostic expenses, surgeries, disabilities coverage are what are termed together as health insurance. The insurer bears all health expenses as long as the insured renews his policy by paying the premium. In simple, a health insurance policy is for financially assisting a person in case there occurs a setback to his health.
Health insurance has the insurer and the insured playing their part like any other insurance. The insured pays premium to protect his health and the insurer is obliged to meet the expenses if the insured falls sick. However, certain diseases are not covered by health insurance which of course will be listed in the insurance document. Medical services, dental expenses, diagnostic expenses, surgeries, disabilities coverage are what are termed together as health insurance. The insurer bears all health expenses as long as the insured renews his policy by paying the premium. In simple, a health insurance policy is for financially assisting a person in case there occurs a setback to his health.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Apollo Health Card For Women
HYDERABAD: Marking the Women's Day, Apollo Hospitals has launched WE (Women's Health Empowerment) scheme offering them an exclusive Web site and a health card. Priced at Rs 495, the card allows women to undergo a comprehensive health check, which include tests for blood picture, urine examination, blood sugar, ECG, ultrasound abdomen and bone densitometry.
"Individually these tests cost Rs 3,650," Ms Sangeetha Reddy, Director (Operations) of Apollo Hospitals, said. Addressing a gathering here, Dr Seshagiri Rao, Head (Department of Cardiology), said women were susceptible to heart disease after menopause. Dr Vindya, a senior gynaecologist, said women lost calcium in during the period,said by Apollo In press.
Health Cards For Poor From July
Hyderabad People Gets The Gift of Health Cards :
The Rajiv Arogyasri cards providing free medical treatment worth Rs. 2 lakh under the comprehensive health insurance scheme for white card holders will be issued from July 19 onwards, said the Minister for Minorities Welfare, Coal and Energy Mohd. Ali Shabbir on Wednesday.
The Rajiv Arogyasri cards providing free medical treatment worth Rs. 2 lakh under the comprehensive health insurance scheme for white card holders will be issued from July 19 onwards, said the Minister for Minorities Welfare, Coal and Energy Mohd. Ali Shabbir on Wednesday.
Participating in the Praja Patham programme at Gulshannagar in Musheerabad, he said the scheme was postponed in the twin cities because of bypolls and all the 6.5 lakh white ration card holders in the district would be issued with the health cards.
“With these cards the poor can go to any hospital of their choice to get treatment for chronic diseases of heart, kidneys, cancer and others. Any doctor refusing to treat a patient with the health card will go to jail,” he declared.
People Thanked:
New ration cards would also be issued from July 5 onwards for those yet to get them. Mr. Shabbir said the Government was supplying Rs. 2-a-kilo and from next month, palm oil would be sold at Rs. 45 and red gram at Rs. 30-a-kilo at all ration shops.
He pointed out that the government also did not let the recent hike in diesel and gas affect the consumers by absorbing the Rs. 125 crore “burden”. He and his colleague Mukesh Goud thanked the locals for electing the party candidate T. Manemma during the recent bypoll.
“You have elected our candidate and we are beholden to fulfil all the promises made. While pensions will be given, infrastructure works like roads and sewers will take time,” said Mr. Goud. About 34,834 new pensions for the old, destitute, widows and physically challenged would be given to the eligible persons. This would be in addition to the current 70,000 pensions being given at Rs. 200 a month.
Health Camp:
Collector Navin Mittal said a mega health camp will be held to identify poor people already suffering from different ailments and they too would be given the health cards as a special gesture. The Ministers laid the foundation stone for a new water pipeline at a cost of Rs. 12 lakh.
Around 250 households would get water once the project is completed in a month. MLA T. Manemma and Greater Congress chief D. Nagender, were present.
Health Cards Launched In Hyderabad
Yashoda Hospital introduces health card:
Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu launched the city based Yashoda Hospital’s health card here recently. Speaking on the launch, Naidu said the card would be advantageous to the middle class and lower section of the people.
The chief minister stressed that unless private corporate and super specialty hospitals co-operate with the government, it would be impossible to ensure better healthcare service to the common man.Naidu informed that the government had decided to privatise sanitation in all teaching hospitals and hospitals under AP Vidya Vidhana Parishad.
Regarding teaching hospitals, a pilot scheme had already been commenced in another city based hospital, Niloufer hospitals, he said. The Yashoda health card is valid for three years and would be issued against a membership fee of Rs 5,000.
At the end of the term, the membership fee would either be refunded or renewed as per the member’s choice.
A member, along with three members of his/her family is entitled to 50 per cent discount on all diagnosis - outpatient and in-patient, 25 per cent discount on room tariff and theatre charges, 25 per cent discount on doctor’s fees and free ambulance service for in-patient within the twin cities.
Briefing the press persons about the card, Dr G S Rao, executive director, Yashoda hospital, said that for the patients who come from other districts of the state in critical conditions, this scheme would be of immense help.
The Yashoda hospital was presently concentrating on providing better healthcare and would come up with new branches in various parts of the state in the near future, Rao said. He said that the application forms for health card were available at Yashoda superspecialty hospital, Somajiguda and Malakpet and all branches of Andhra Bank in the twin cities.
The enrollment would begin from September 10, 2001 and continue till October 10,2001. The hospital plans to have a limited enrollment for the cards.
Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu launched the city based Yashoda Hospital’s health card here recently. Speaking on the launch, Naidu said the card would be advantageous to the middle class and lower section of the people.
The chief minister stressed that unless private corporate and super specialty hospitals co-operate with the government, it would be impossible to ensure better healthcare service to the common man.Naidu informed that the government had decided to privatise sanitation in all teaching hospitals and hospitals under AP Vidya Vidhana Parishad.
Regarding teaching hospitals, a pilot scheme had already been commenced in another city based hospital, Niloufer hospitals, he said. The Yashoda health card is valid for three years and would be issued against a membership fee of Rs 5,000.
At the end of the term, the membership fee would either be refunded or renewed as per the member’s choice.
A member, along with three members of his/her family is entitled to 50 per cent discount on all diagnosis - outpatient and in-patient, 25 per cent discount on room tariff and theatre charges, 25 per cent discount on doctor’s fees and free ambulance service for in-patient within the twin cities.
Briefing the press persons about the card, Dr G S Rao, executive director, Yashoda hospital, said that for the patients who come from other districts of the state in critical conditions, this scheme would be of immense help.
The Yashoda hospital was presently concentrating on providing better healthcare and would come up with new branches in various parts of the state in the near future, Rao said. He said that the application forms for health card were available at Yashoda superspecialty hospital, Somajiguda and Malakpet and all branches of Andhra Bank in the twin cities.
The enrollment would begin from September 10, 2001 and continue till October 10,2001. The hospital plans to have a limited enrollment for the cards.
India Health Cards
India Health Cards ...How it Works ? ? ?
Give gift of health using India Health Card to your family and friends in India. The India Health Card holders will be able to receive quality health care at reduced cost from our network of health care service providers.
There are two types of membership cards, the Individual Card and the Family Card. The card may also be purchased for yourself and your family to use it for your health care needs while visiting India.
The advantage of using the India Health Card is that you can ensure that the funds you gift is used only for health care related expenses by your designated beneficiary.
In order to avail the Money Value Advantage the beneficiary MUST receive treatment from an INDIA HEALTH CARD provider (Hospital, Nursing Home, Clinics, Dentist, Pharmacy and health spas etc). You can log on to your account anytime and track all the transactions and services received by the beneficiary.
Give gift of health using India Health Card to your family and friends in India. The India Health Card holders will be able to receive quality health care at reduced cost from our network of health care service providers.
There are two types of membership cards, the Individual Card and the Family Card. The card may also be purchased for yourself and your family to use it for your health care needs while visiting India.
The advantage of using the India Health Card is that you can ensure that the funds you gift is used only for health care related expenses by your designated beneficiary.
In order to avail the Money Value Advantage the beneficiary MUST receive treatment from an INDIA HEALTH CARD provider (Hospital, Nursing Home, Clinics, Dentist, Pharmacy and health spas etc). You can log on to your account anytime and track all the transactions and services received by the beneficiary.
Health Card Launched In Kanpur
Following towards the footsteps of the Tamil Nadu government, state health minister Raja Mahendra Aridaman Singh inagurated the “Master Health Examination Scheme” at the renovated building of the UHM hospital and laid the foundation stone of the Regional Diagnostic Centre (RDC) at Ursula Hospital here on Friday.
The RDC at Ursula Hospital would become functional by the end of current financial year. It would be equipped with high-tech advanced equipments like Electro-Cardio Gram (ECG), holder monitor, 2-D Eco-color Dopler, X-ray, Ultra-Sound, Mammography and CT Scan.
Executive engineer PK Katiyar, the man responsible for the construction of the RDC, said that utmost quality had been maintained in the renovation of the hospital building.
Reliance Health Insurance
Let us see the Reliance Health Insurance,
Reliance Health is a health care company that provides cutting edge and affordable health care solutions. In a country where health care is fast establishing its credentials, Reliance Health provides services that compare with the best and span Insurance & Health Plan Administration, Health care Delivery and Integrated Health, Health Informatics & Information Management, and Consumer Health.
Reliance Health aims at revolutionizing health care by enabling a health care environment that is both affordable and accessible through partnerships with government and private businesses.
Managed Care Administration:
Reliance Health is focused on integrating the financing and delivery of health care services by instituting cost controls and sharing financial risk.
Our objective is to manage a range of health care services from wellness, inpatient, outpatient, pharmacy, chronic disease, alternative medicine/therapies and cosmetic care.
This is planned through a network of owned/affiliated health care delivery systems. Secondly, we endeavor to help people achieve health and financial security, by providing innovative products, information & resources for its members and help them to make informed-decisions i.e. ‘Patient Choice’.
Health Delivery And Integrated Health :
The health care services sector is being fundamentally transformed by the changing roles of the physician, payer and patient. Reliance Health would provides services in traditional settings (hospitals, clinics, domiciliary care, day-care) while providing low-cost options, enhanced consumer participation and empower physicians to make informed cost/benefit evaluations.
We aim to partner with front line organizations to work together to deliver flexible services that help them remain in control of their primary goals.
Our first partner in the delivery of quality health care is the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (www.kdah.in), a tertiary care facility in the city of Mumbai.
Consumer Health :
Reliance Health is focused on technologies that are beginning to transform traditional health care model. The telecom and technology revolution has resulted in a highly functional yet inexpensive and scalable means of connecting and transacting across clinical and administrative care, making it accessible to the common man.
The consumer is set to leverage this environment while majority of players have incomplete business models with weak physician value proposition.
Reliance Health believes that this enormous fragmentation creates opportunity and that overcoming significant hurdles like the lack of industry standards, complex agency relationships and shifting constituents.
ICICI Health Mediclaim Insurance
This is the ICICI mediclaim policy:
ICICI Lombard presents a completely new look to the Mediclaim concept. Health Insurance (popularly known as Mediclaim) offers protection in case of unexpected medical emergencies. In case of a sudden illness or accident, the health insurance policy takes care of the hospitalization, medical and other costs incurred.
We offer a range of innovative policies to choose from. Each plan offers something unique (in addition to the usual mediclaim policies) to suit your specific needs.
Buy insurance policy online with your ICICI Bank & Citibank Credit Card and pay premium at interest free installments
How its Work ?
Equal Monthly Installment ( EMI ) with ICICI Bank or Citibank Credit CardICICI Lombard presents a completely new look to the Mediclaim concept. Health Insurance (popularly known as Mediclaim) offers protection in case of unexpected medical emergencies. In case of a sudden illness or accident, the health insurance policy takes care of the hospitalization, medical and other costs incurred.
We offer a range of innovative policies to choose from. Each plan offers something unique (in addition to the usual mediclaim policies) to suit your specific needs.
Buy insurance policy online with your ICICI Bank & Citibank Credit Card and pay premium at interest free installments
How its Work ?
Avail of Interest Free EMIs when you buy insurance online through your ICICI Bank or Citibank Credit Card.
ICICI Lombard brings you the facility of paying your premium in Equal Monthly Installments (EMIs) of 3, 6 or 12 months at interest free rates! All you have to do is purchase your insurance policy online through your ICICI bank or Citibank credit card.
How does it work?
- Choose the product you plan to buy and log in to Buy Online
- Fill in the transaction details
- Select to pay in EMIs through your ICICI Bank or Citibank Credit Card. Choose from the EMI Period options according to your convenience (3, 6 or 12 months for ICICI Bank and 3 or 6 months for Citibank Credit Cards)
- Access your policy immediately online
- The EMIs will be automatically charged to your monthly credit card statement.
Note: Please note that the EMI is applicable on ICICI Bank & Citibank Credit Cards, subject to minimum annual premium of Rs. 1500
Health Cards
What Is Health Cards :
A Health Card is an identity card, which will identify you as the insured and will provide you access to the network hospitals.
You receive a health card along with your policy document.
What Is Benefits Of Health Cards:
The benefit of a health card is that it allows you to avail cashless treatment in network hospitals.
The card cannot be used in case of non-network hospitals.
Difference between network Hospital And Non-Network Hospitals:
While non-network hospitals do not form part of insurance company’s network list and do not provide cashless facility.
However, a customer can avail medical treatment and can claim reimbursement from the insurance company on submission of relevant documents.
Top 10 Insurance Companies Of Inida
Here Are The Top Listings Which Provides All benefits regarding Insurances:
1.Life Insurance Corporation Of India.
2.Tata AIG Insurance Solutions.
3.AVIVA Life Insurance.
4.MetLife.
5.ING Vysya Life Insurance.
6.Birla Sun Life Financial Services.
7.MAX New York Life.
8.Aditya Birla Group.
9.Bajaj Allianz.
10.Bharati AXA Life Insurance.
The Other Top Companies Providing Insurances Are As Follows :
11.HDFC Standard Life Insurance.
12.ICICI Prudential.
13.Reliance Life Insurance.
14.National Insurance India.net.
15.Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.
16.Cholamandalam MS General Insurance.
17.Kotak Mahindra Old Mutual Life Insurance.
18.SBI Life Insurance.
19.United India Insurance Co. Ltd.
20.Oriental Insurance Company Limited.
21.Shriram Life Insurance.
22.The New India Assurance Co. Ltd.
23.IFFCO TOKIO.
24.Royal Sundaram.
25.ICICI Lombard.
26.Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India ltd.
27.Peerless Smart Financial Solutions.
28.Citibank.
29.HSBC.
30.Bima Online.com.
31.Maruti Insurance.
32.National Insurance Company Limited.
33.Amsure Better life Better future.
34.Employee's State Insurance Corporation.
35.Sahara India Life Insurance.
36.Shriram Group.
37.3Ace Koncepts.
38.Way 2 Health.
39.Needs and Solutions.
40.Sundaram Finance Group.
41.yahoo Finance India.
42.Star Health & Allied Insurance.
43.General Insurance Corporation of India.
44.Indiapost.
45.National Insurance Company.
46.Thomas Cook.
47.Maruti Insurance.
48.Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd.
49.ANZ.
50.State Bank of Mysore.
1.Life Insurance Corporation Of India.
2.Tata AIG Insurance Solutions.
3.AVIVA Life Insurance.
4.MetLife.
5.ING Vysya Life Insurance.
6.Birla Sun Life Financial Services.
7.MAX New York Life.
8.Aditya Birla Group.
9.Bajaj Allianz.
10.Bharati AXA Life Insurance.
The Other Top Companies Providing Insurances Are As Follows :
11.HDFC Standard Life Insurance.
12.ICICI Prudential.
13.Reliance Life Insurance.
14.National Insurance India.net.
15.Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.
16.Cholamandalam MS General Insurance.
17.Kotak Mahindra Old Mutual Life Insurance.
18.SBI Life Insurance.
19.United India Insurance Co. Ltd.
20.Oriental Insurance Company Limited.
21.Shriram Life Insurance.
22.The New India Assurance Co. Ltd.
23.IFFCO TOKIO.
24.Royal Sundaram.
25.ICICI Lombard.
26.Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India ltd.
27.Peerless Smart Financial Solutions.
28.Citibank.
29.HSBC.
30.Bima Online.com.
31.Maruti Insurance.
32.National Insurance Company Limited.
33.Amsure Better life Better future.
34.Employee's State Insurance Corporation.
35.Sahara India Life Insurance.
36.Shriram Group.
37.3Ace Koncepts.
38.Way 2 Health.
39.Needs and Solutions.
40.Sundaram Finance Group.
41.yahoo Finance India.
42.Star Health & Allied Insurance.
43.General Insurance Corporation of India.
44.Indiapost.
45.National Insurance Company.
46.Thomas Cook.
47.Maruti Insurance.
48.Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd.
49.ANZ.
50.State Bank of Mysore.
Students To Get Health Cards In India.....
All school children in India, above class V, will soon be screened for diseases once a year.
In a massive National School Health Programme being planned jointly by the ministries of health and HRD, children across the country will be given smart health cards containing information on their health. They will be screened by doctors, either from public or private hospitals, for blindness, deafness, dental and cardio vascular health, vitamin deficiencies and anaemia. If they are found suffering from any of them, they will be immediately referred for further treatment.
The programme aims to promote health of schoolchildren, and prevent diseases by early diagnosis and treatment. Officials from both the ministries have already held talks with the next one scheduled for mid-December.
Health minister A Ramadoss said, "A deafness and speech programme will teach doctors, family members and teachers to identify children with hearing and sight problems early, before it becomes damaging.
The school health programme will be a public-private partnership. The programme will be started initially in states which show interest in such a screening programme to protect the younger generation."
A similar programme is being run by state governments in Mizoram, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. "It needs to be a collective programme with states working in unison.
Associations like the IMA and Dental Council of India have agreed to help us with the screening. Students would be given personal health cards, which would chart the disease history of the child concerned," Ramadoss added.
School-children will also be routinely screened for health complications like congenital heart disease and diabetes.
Risk factors like high blood pressure, hypertension and obesity among children, the primary causes behind cardio-vascular diseases (CVD), will also be identified for parents to better manage and avert impending diseases.
Nearly 10 years after the idea was first mooted, Planning Commission has approved in-principle India's first national programme for prevention and control of cardio-vascular diseases, stroke and diabetes. To be implemented and supervised by the health ministry, from mid-December, the initial phase will cost Rs 15 crore.
"The success of the initial programme will help seal a total clearance from Planning Commission to the national programme. Under the programme, children will be regularly screened for diseases and risk factors. Anti-hypertensive drugs will cut down on high BP and lifestyle changes will cut down on obesity. WHO calls this programme a vital investment," a health ministry official told TOI.
The ministry has asked the plan panel to sanction Rs 1,680 crore to run the programme from 2008-2012.
In a massive National School Health Programme being planned jointly by the ministries of health and HRD, children across the country will be given smart health cards containing information on their health. They will be screened by doctors, either from public or private hospitals, for blindness, deafness, dental and cardio vascular health, vitamin deficiencies and anaemia. If they are found suffering from any of them, they will be immediately referred for further treatment.
The programme aims to promote health of schoolchildren, and prevent diseases by early diagnosis and treatment. Officials from both the ministries have already held talks with the next one scheduled for mid-December.
Health minister A Ramadoss said, "A deafness and speech programme will teach doctors, family members and teachers to identify children with hearing and sight problems early, before it becomes damaging.
The school health programme will be a public-private partnership. The programme will be started initially in states which show interest in such a screening programme to protect the younger generation."
A similar programme is being run by state governments in Mizoram, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. "It needs to be a collective programme with states working in unison.
Associations like the IMA and Dental Council of India have agreed to help us with the screening. Students would be given personal health cards, which would chart the disease history of the child concerned," Ramadoss added.
School-children will also be routinely screened for health complications like congenital heart disease and diabetes.
Risk factors like high blood pressure, hypertension and obesity among children, the primary causes behind cardio-vascular diseases (CVD), will also be identified for parents to better manage and avert impending diseases.
Nearly 10 years after the idea was first mooted, Planning Commission has approved in-principle India's first national programme for prevention and control of cardio-vascular diseases, stroke and diabetes. To be implemented and supervised by the health ministry, from mid-December, the initial phase will cost Rs 15 crore.
"The success of the initial programme will help seal a total clearance from Planning Commission to the national programme. Under the programme, children will be regularly screened for diseases and risk factors. Anti-hypertensive drugs will cut down on high BP and lifestyle changes will cut down on obesity. WHO calls this programme a vital investment," a health ministry official told TOI.
The ministry has asked the plan panel to sanction Rs 1,680 crore to run the programme from 2008-2012.
Types Of Health Insurance Plans
The Main types of Insurance Plans are as ,
Health insurance plans can be broadly classified into three categories, depending on the coverage provided.
General health insurance plans.
Specific health plans.
Critical Illness Plans.
Features Of Health Insurance Policy :
The coverage for different ailments and disorders in a health insurance policy defines its value to you.
The features of a health insurance policy are defined by this. It might include a blanket cover for common ailments or it might cover common ailments and other more complicated diseases and disorders.
All these of course are available to you, if you are eligible for them. Needless to say, cover for specific diseases and disorders will cost you more.
General Health Insurance Plan :
General health insurance plans typically provide for hospital room charges, doctor/surgeon fees, medical tests, medicines and related expenses.
Specific Health Plans:
Specific health insurance plans provide cover for critical illnesses/diseases such as heart attack, kidney failure, etc; most insurers offer critical illness plans. Another set of specific insurance plans target ailments such as diabetes and cancer. These plans offer cash on hospitalization, reimbursement for expenses incurred on surgical treatments, and such like.
Critical Illness Plan:
In this health insurance plan, the insured receives a lump sum amount within a few days of diagnosing a critical illness, Once this lump sum is paid, the plan ceases to exist.
Some insurers insist on the insured surviving for a predefined period (typically 30 days) post-diagnosis before they honor the claim.
Some insurers offer critical illness plans with the alternative option of receiving claims payment in installments over a period of 5 years (the choice needs to be made at the time of making the claim). Such policies provide long term cover of 10 years to 30 years.
Typically, once an insurance claim has been made no more premiums have to be paid and the plan ceases. However, some insurers provide the insured with a choice of continuing the plan for the remaining critical illnesses for a lower sum assured and revised premium rates.
Health insurance plans can be broadly classified into three categories, depending on the coverage provided.
General health insurance plans.
Specific health plans.
Critical Illness Plans.
Features Of Health Insurance Policy :
The coverage for different ailments and disorders in a health insurance policy defines its value to you.
The features of a health insurance policy are defined by this. It might include a blanket cover for common ailments or it might cover common ailments and other more complicated diseases and disorders.
All these of course are available to you, if you are eligible for them. Needless to say, cover for specific diseases and disorders will cost you more.
General Health Insurance Plan :
General health insurance plans typically provide for hospital room charges, doctor/surgeon fees, medical tests, medicines and related expenses.
Specific Health Plans:
Specific health insurance plans provide cover for critical illnesses/diseases such as heart attack, kidney failure, etc; most insurers offer critical illness plans. Another set of specific insurance plans target ailments such as diabetes and cancer. These plans offer cash on hospitalization, reimbursement for expenses incurred on surgical treatments, and such like.
Critical Illness Plan:
In this health insurance plan, the insured receives a lump sum amount within a few days of diagnosing a critical illness, Once this lump sum is paid, the plan ceases to exist.
Some insurers insist on the insured surviving for a predefined period (typically 30 days) post-diagnosis before they honor the claim.
Some insurers offer critical illness plans with the alternative option of receiving claims payment in installments over a period of 5 years (the choice needs to be made at the time of making the claim). Such policies provide long term cover of 10 years to 30 years.
Typically, once an insurance claim has been made no more premiums have to be paid and the plan ceases. However, some insurers provide the insured with a choice of continuing the plan for the remaining critical illnesses for a lower sum assured and revised premium rates.
Is Health Insurance is Essential ? ?
Yes Health Insurance is needed ,
According to recent studies, health care costs have been rising at more than 20 per cent on an annualized basis. Also, out-of-pocket spending continues to be around 75 per cent of the total medical expenses.
Given this increasing cost of medical care and treatment, it becomes essential that you have adequate health insurance cover to reduce the risk of financial difficulties in the event of a major illness or hospitalization.
Even the government is getting into the act - to reduce the exorbitant out-of-pocket spending, it has been promoting low-cost health care plans.
Main Reasons For Health Insurance:
Health Insurance help in different Ways as,
1. It helps to secure expenses for future illnesses and hospitalization by paying a fraction of the expenses as the insurance premium
2.It reduces the risk of financial meltdown in the case of expensive medical care as well as post-illness care
3.It definitely induces a sense of security in the insured - even in the face of rising medical costs, his/her family have a financial back-up in the event of sudden medical emergencies.
According to recent studies, health care costs have been rising at more than 20 per cent on an annualized basis. Also, out-of-pocket spending continues to be around 75 per cent of the total medical expenses.
Given this increasing cost of medical care and treatment, it becomes essential that you have adequate health insurance cover to reduce the risk of financial difficulties in the event of a major illness or hospitalization.
Even the government is getting into the act - to reduce the exorbitant out-of-pocket spending, it has been promoting low-cost health care plans.
Main Reasons For Health Insurance:
Health Insurance help in different Ways as,
1. It helps to secure expenses for future illnesses and hospitalization by paying a fraction of the expenses as the insurance premium
2.It reduces the risk of financial meltdown in the case of expensive medical care as well as post-illness care
3.It definitely induces a sense of security in the insured - even in the face of rising medical costs, his/her family have a financial back-up in the event of sudden medical emergencies.
What Is Health Insurance ! ! !
What is Health Insurance ???
Lets we see in a brief,
The term Health Insurance is generally used to describe a form of insurance that pays for medical expenses. It is sometimes used more broadly to include insurance covering disability or long-term nursing or custodial care needs. It may be provided through a government-sponsored social insurance program, or from private insurance companies. It may be purchased on a group basis or purchased by individual consumers. In each case, the covered groups or individuals pay premiums or taxes to help protect themselves from high or unexpected health care expenses. Similar benefits paying for medical expenses may also be provided through social welfare programs funded by the government.
Health insurance works by estimating the overall risk of health care expenses and developing a routine finance structure (such as a monthly premium or annual tax) that will ensure that money is available to pay for the health care benefits specified in the insurance agreement. The benefit is administered by a central organization, most often either a government agency or a private or not-for-profit entity operating a health plan.
Lets we see in a brief,
The term Health Insurance is generally used to describe a form of insurance that pays for medical expenses. It is sometimes used more broadly to include insurance covering disability or long-term nursing or custodial care needs. It may be provided through a government-sponsored social insurance program, or from private insurance companies. It may be purchased on a group basis or purchased by individual consumers. In each case, the covered groups or individuals pay premiums or taxes to help protect themselves from high or unexpected health care expenses. Similar benefits paying for medical expenses may also be provided through social welfare programs funded by the government.
Health insurance works by estimating the overall risk of health care expenses and developing a routine finance structure (such as a monthly premium or annual tax) that will ensure that money is available to pay for the health care benefits specified in the insurance agreement. The benefit is administered by a central organization, most often either a government agency or a private or not-for-profit entity operating a health plan.
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