Health Insurance for Handicapped in India

Health insurance for disabled persons is of utmost importance as it can keep them covered in case of  health emergencies and save them from financial setbacks. The Indian government has launched multiple schemes but they only offer coverage for essential medical treatments. Multiple private insurance providers also offer necessary coverage, but these plans come at an unaffordable rate. That means Health insurance for disabled persons is, unfortunately, very limited in India

 

Important Update (Dated May 30, 2024) – Good news for Health Insurance policyholders! According to the Master Circular on Health Insurance Business 29052024 rolled out on May 29, 2024 by IRDAI, insurers are to decide on the request for cashless claims within 1 hour of receiving the request. Also, the final claim is to be granted within 3 hours after the policyholder’s discharge from the hospital. Insurers have been directed by IRDAI to establish necessary systems and procedures for this process by July 31, 2024. The Master Circular on Health Insurance Business 29052024 circular is available here - https://irdai.gov.in/document-detail?documentId=4942918

The Indian government has launched multiple schemes for people with disabilities. These schemes focus on providing relief concerning their health insurance policies. However, they only offer coverage for essential medical treatments, meaning if a person with disabilities has to undergo serious procedures, they won’t receive any compensation. Multiple private insurance providers also offer necessary coverage, but these plans come at an unaffordable rate. That means, people with disabilities have limited insurance benefits.

People suffering from the below-mentioned disabilities are deemed specially-abled:

• Congenital Disability

Congenitally disabled persons are those who have been disabled since birth. Common congenital conditions include cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, and heart conditions.

• Accidental Disability

Accidental disability includes disability caused by accident. Under this category, people with impaired limbs and partial/total blindness are covered in case of an existing policy.

• Mental Disability

This includes persons with psychiatric conditions, mental impairment, or behavioural distress.

Persons with congenital or mental disabilities are in the high-risk category. They do not receive complete coverage under the critical illness insurance policy, but persons with accidental disability do. There aren’t critical illness covers available specifically for persons with disabilities, but the government has some insurance options for them.

Even though people with disabilities do not receive a special standalone cover or critical illness plan, the Indian Government offers medical insurance options. And they are:

• Niramaya Health Insurance

This health insurance for the disabled in India is provided by the National Trust. The National Trust is a body of the Government’s Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Niramaya Health insurance scheme aims to provide affordable health insurance to people having cerebral palsy, autism, multiple disabilities, and mental retardation.

• Swavlamban Health Insurance Scheme

This health scheme was launched in 2015 as per the PWD Act, 1995, to provide affordable health insurance for the disabled in India. It is an initiative by The New India Assurance Company Limited in partnership with the Ministry of Social Justice, Dept. of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. It covers people with low vision, blindness, leprosy, hearing impairment, mental illness, mental retardation, and loco-motor disability.

Let’s further compare Niramaya Health Insurance and Swavlamban Health Insurance:

 

Read more: Government Health Schemes in India

Here are a few deciding factors of the eligibility conditions to buy health insurance for people with disabilities:

• Current Health State

An insurance provider will check this as the first and foremost factor before providing a health insurance policy to people with disability. Insurance companies check the health status of the last two months to reduce their risk. If someone suffers from a chronic illness or issue while purchasing the policy, the insurer might reject the request for issuance of a policy.

• Family Earnings

This is another crucial deciding factor that insurers take into consideration. These companies offer an appropriate insurance policy to differently-abled individuals based on their family’s overall income.

• Premium Paying Capacity

Every insurance cover comes at a premium rate. Insurance companies check your bank accounts and statements to ascertain if you are eligible for a healthcare plan.

If you want to buy health insurance for disabled persons, take note of the following factors:

• Documentation

Whether it is a government scheme or a private one, you will need to take a medical test at a government hospital and get a medical report from a registered doctor to take health insurance for the disabled in India.

• Tax benefits

Under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, taxpayers who are partially disabled get a tax deduction of up to ₹50,000. Severely disabled ones get a maximum deduction of ₹100,000 if they have health insurance for the disabled.

• Premium

Insurers usually charge health insurance premiums according to current GST terms, age of the disabled person, and location. Take this into account while availing a policy from a private insurer.

It is not news that being disabled is not easy. However, there are multiple sources of help available now. A health insurance cover, especially, will offer financial assistance amid medical emergencies. If you aren’t insured yet, it might be time to check out family health insurance plans available on Bajaj Markets. We have a range of policies that not only offer maximum coverage, but also facilitate cashless treatments.