World Hepatitis Day: Is Hepatitis B Covered Under Health Insurance

Posted on: Jul 15, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

World Hepatitis Day: Is Hepatitis B Covered Under Health Insurance

Are you aware of Baruch Samuel Blumberg's accomplishments? He was born on July 28, a date we observe as World Hepatitis Day globally, as Blumberg worked extensively on the Hepatitis B virus. Although there is a lot of awareness about the various types of this chronic disease, much remains to be done to prevent this disease. Also, the more severe hepatitis C, if it reaches the chronic stage, can lead to grave health issues, including liver damage. This is where your health insurance policy will come into the picture. However, there seems to be confusion about the scope of coverage that health insurance policies provide for its treatment. Let's clear the air.

What is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the liver. The primary cause of hepatitis is viral infections, but you can also contract the disease due to certain drugs, alcohol, toxins and medications. Sometimes, hepatitis can lead to complications like liver cancer, cirrhosis, or fibrosis. There are five major types of hepatitis viruses – A, B, C, D, & E. Each type is caused by a different virus and can vary in severity (from mild to severe). While hepatitis A and E are acute and short-term, hepatitis B, C, and D cause chronic infections.

Symptoms of Hepatitis

Some common symptoms of hepatitis include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, fatigue, and fever. Hepatitis virus is transmitted through contaminated food or water, contaminated blood and bodily fluids, or sexual contact.

How to Prevent Hepatitis?

The prevalence of hepatitis can be prevented in the following ways —

1. Vaccination:

Vaccines can help prevent hepatitis to some extent. Children above the age of one year can get vaccinated, followed by a booster dose for long-term protection. Those who are vulnerable to contracting the disease include healthcare workers, military personnel, those who practice unprotected sex, and people who are in direct contact with infected people.

2. Maintain Hygiene:

Practice good hygiene, such as washing hands regularly, particularly before consuming food, after touching surfaces in public places like public transport, and after using the restroom. Wear gloves and masks while coming in contact with hepatitis patients, and disinfect your hands properly after coming in contact.

3. Clean food and water:

Some ways to avoid contaminated food or water include avoiding raw meat, fish, or dairy products, eating cut fruits from street vendors, and avoiding consumption of water or drinks with ice from roadside vendors. Ensure the drinking water is boiled and filtered to prevent any contamination.

Does Health Insurance Cover Hepatitis Treatments?

Yes, most health insurance policies cover hepatitis treatments. While some plans cover hepatitis screenings for people with increased risk, some policies may cover hepatitis only if you have a critical illness rider. Health insurance will cover hepatitis if you are not responding to less-expensive treatment, have liver damage, or are at high risk of contracting the disease. However, if the insured consumes alcohol or other substances, he/she will not be covered by insurance.

As per reports, India has about 40 million Hepatitis B carriers and many lives are lost due to complications from the disease. Due to a lack of awareness about hepatitis B health insurance coverage, about 75% in India do not have insurance and end up exhausting their savings in its treatments. If you think you are at risk of contracting hepatitis, check if your existing policy provides coverage or if you need to add critical illness insurance to your plan.

Conclusion

Hepatitis is a severe medical condition, and the treatments, check-ups and medications can be quite expensive. Having a health insurance policy will safeguard you and your loved ones financially against any medical emergency.

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

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