Understanding Angioplasty Coverage: Does Health Insurance Include It?

Posted on: Apr 4, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Understanding Angioplasty Coverage: Does Health Insurance Include It?

Angioplasty Coverage Health Insurance - Illustration of vaccine vial and syringe

Medical progress is providing people with immense hope, especially when it comes to the increasing number of heat-related illnesses. Angioplasty, a well-known treatment for clearing out any blockage of blood flow to the heart, has become popular among those aged between 40 and 50 years, a segment seeing the highest number of heart-related illnesses. This makes angioplasty coverage vital, as it is an expensive procedure, considering the advanced tools used and the medical expertise required.

Understanding Health Insurance Coverage

The rise in heart cases can be attributed, in part, to changes in stress levels, lifestyle changes, and food patterns. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and other heart-related conditions that can impair cardiac health and result in heart attacks, cardiac arrest, etc. Therefore, having health insurance or any form of cardiac procedure coverage under health insurance is imperative.

While a comprehensive insurance plan should cover major expenses like treatments, surgeries, and medications, it also aids in monitoring heart conditions with coverages, often including regular check-ups.

Factors to consider for Angioplasty

Here's what to consider before opting for an insurance plan for angioplasty coverage.

Treatments and surgeries	These are the highest expenses encountered, often swallowing major chunks from savings. Angioplasty is one of them and should be covered in your insurance plan.
Insurance provider network	Having access to the best medical facilities for heart conditions is essential. This makes choosing an insurance company that includes a wide network of specialists and hospitals for angioplasty a bare necessity.
Waiting period	Consider the waiting periods for each insurance plan. These can vary from insurance provider to provider, usually between 30 to 90 days. This also includes waiting periods for pre-existing heart conditions.
Co-payments	Ensure you are well-versed in co-payments or deductibles as you may encounter out-of-pocket expenses.
Reviews and feedback	Before choosing a plan, always research customer reviews and feedback to make an informed decision.

Pre-authorisation and Documentation

Identity Verification	Identity Proof is a crucial document needed for angioplasty insurance reimbursement. Documents like your driver's license, passport, voter ID, Aadhaar card, or PAN card will work.
Proof of Age	Providing Age Proof is also required in the health insurance application process. These include your Aadhaar Card, Birth Certificate, Driving License, Passport, PAN Card, and Voter ID.
Address Verification	For address verification, your Voter ID, Electricity Bill, Ration Card, Aadhaar Card, Driving License, Passport, and Telephone Bill will do.

Keep these exclusions in mind before buying health insurance for heart patients:

• Self-inflicted injury expenses or those as a result of suicidal attempts

• Internal congenital disease

• Pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, miscarriage, or other treatments for other related complications

• Treatments resulting from drug or alcohol consumption

• Infertility and IVF treatments

• Medical expenses incurred due to wars, riots, etc

Cost considerations for angioplasty

In India, angioplasty coverage usually fluctuates because of the following:

Diagnostics	These include pre and post-hospitalisation expenditures like ECGs, echocardiograms, CPR tests, Doppler ultrasounds, and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).
Surgeon fees	This is determined by the surgeon's experience and the hospital where the treatment is performed.
Hospitalisation	Government hospitals typically charge less than private medical facilities for angioplasty procedures. Despite the procedure's limited invasiveness, doctors advise an overnight stay, which also increases expenses.
Staff	Angioplasty necessitates the presence of expert cardiovascular nurses and surgeons, which adds to the expense.
Equipment	Patients can select the kind of stent they would like placed before surgery. The kinds and quantity of stents implanted also affect the price.

Alternative insurance covers options for heart patients

While your health insurance should include angioplasty insurance reimbursement, there are a few tailored plans designed for heart patients. These can be Critical Illness Insurance or Cardiac Health Insurance plans. They are tailored to suit heart patients and offer coverage for procedures involved in the treatment. Do consider these options as well while exploring health insurance for heart procedures.

Takeaway

While India’s healthcare has been evolving over the years, medical expenses have been skyrocketing simultaneously. An angioplasty surgery can be a life-saving procedure, but having the right financial tool, like a comprehensive health insurance plan, can help safeguard your savings. We hope these detailed focus points will help you understand the nuances involved in making informed decisions on the matter.

Disclaimer The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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