Is heart bypass surgery covered by health insurance in India?

Therefore it is imperative to pay attention to this deadly disease and provide all medical and allied services like health insurance to support and care for the well-being of the patient and their families. Being a vital organ of the body it requires utmost precision for its treatment the cost of the treatment is high. Let us understand whether or not heart ailment treatment like heart bypass surgery is covered by health insurance in India.

What is heart bypass surgery?

Heart bypass surgery is a medical procedure carried out on the heart. It is one of the life-saving procedures carried out to improve the blood flow to the heart. This surgery is carried out when the artery carrying blood to the heart muscle is weak or blocked. In this procedure another blood vessel from the other body part is used as a different channel to carry the blood i.e. the weak blood artery is bypassed with another healthy blood vessel to restore blood flow to the heart.

This treatment is also called open heart surgery and as the name suggests the heart of the patient is cut open to treat the heart valve, artery, or muscle. In this treatment, the severed part of the heart is treated/replaced or use of an external device is used to enhance the functioning of the heart like the pacifier this is for patients suffering from arrhythmia i.e. uneven heartbeat. Heart bypass surgery is a very vital surgery it is carried out in most severe cases. Earlier it was the most difficult surgery but with the advancement in the medical field now the treatment has become easier. However, with a significant rise in the healthcare cost this surgery is still one of the costliest treatments.

Approximate cost of heart surgery across different cities in India

• Delhi: INR 2.65 Lakhs

• Mumbai: INR 2.75 Lakhs

• Chennai: INR 3.00 Lakhs

• Bengaluru: INR 2.90 Lakhs

• Hyderabad: INR 3.25 lakh

• Ahmedabad: INR 3.50 Lakh

• Nagpur: INR 2.50 Lakhs

• Kolkata: INR 3.50 Lakhs

• Pune: INR 2.75 Lakhs

• Gurugram: INR 2.65 Lakhs

• Chandigarh: INR 2.75 Lakhs

• Jaipur: INR 3.25 LAKHS

• Noida: INR 2.65 Lakhs

• Kerala: INR 3.50 Lakhs

• Goa: INR 3.25 Lakhs

Heart treatment and why it is costly?

The heart is the vital and most sensitive part of the human body any ailment shall result in the death of the patient. Therefore availing the right diagnosis and treatment is of utmost importance. The cost of the treatment is high due to the following reasons:

1). Hospital Factors

These are the factors that affect the prices based on the hospital they are as under:

• Type of Hospital: the charges are different for the heart surgery on the type of hospital. there are 3 types of hospital facilities available in India namely - government hospitals, Trust hospitals, and private hospitals. out of these, the private hospitals offer expensive treatment as compared to others
• the type of insurance cover the patient has i.e. cashless or reimbursement or no insurance
• Reputation of the hospital ###2). Medical factors

These are the factors related to the medical approach opted by the patient namely:

• the surgery type
• Technology opted to carry out the operation i.e. lasik or invasive etc.
• expertise of the doctor or qualification of the specialist conducting the operation

3). Patient factors

These are factors related to the patient namely:

• The current health of the patient
• Diagnosis of the patient
• Room opted by the patient
• Any other medical attention required by the patient

Thus, the above factors are a few of the important factors that affect the price of heart treatment in India.

Does health insurance offer to cover the cost of heart bypass surgery?

Yes, all health insurance policies in India are designed to offer insurance coverage for heart bypass surgery. The insurance policies are designed in a manner to offer coverage for expenses like hospitalization, room rent, doctor’s fees, diagnostic expenses, ICU or operation theatre charges, etc. The health insurance policies also offer to cover the pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation expenses. All these benefits can be availed by opting for the plan and sum insured that best suits your health needs and by keeping in mind your current health condition.

How to choose the best health insurance plan?

If you are someone with a medical history of heart ailment it is beneficial to invest in a health insurance plan to be safeguarded in times of medical emergency. Opt for high insurance coverage as the treatment cost of heart ailments is high. While selecting the sum insured keep in mind the operation cost, pre-hospitalisation expenses, rehabilitation expenses, and post-hospitalisation expenses. This is because it is just not the cost of heart bypass surgery that is expensive but also the care and tests related to it are expensive.

Keep in mind to let the health insurance provider know of your truthful medical condition to avoid the chances of your claim getting rejected. Additionally, understand the terms and conditions of the plan carefully especially the waiting period and survival period conditions. Being clear about all the nitty-gritty of the health insurance policy will make it easier for the patient as well as the insurance provider for hassle-free treatment and support.

Conclusion

Heart ailments are more related to lifestyle patterns and genetics. One can practice a healthy lifestyle to minimize the chances of contracting heart ailments. A healthy lifestyle refers to ample sleep, exercise for a minimum of 45 minutes, keeping weight in check, intake of a balanced diet, avoiding junk food and aerated drinks, etc. These tips are helpful for a healthy lifestyle. Thus, ensure to buy a health insurance policy if you have a history of heart ailment as it offers a financial safety cushion in times of medical emergency as the patient does not have to worry about the finances as the health insurance policy shall take care of it.