ICU Charges in India: Average Costs and Insurance Coverage

Posted on: Nov 21, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

ICU Charges in India: Average Costs and Insurance Coverage

Imagine being rushed to a hospital and passing out on your way. A few hours later, you open your eyes and find yourself in a sterile room with several beeping machines right next to you. You figure out that you are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). It doesn’t take you time to understand that your condition is still quite critical, which is why you have been placed under observation in the ICU. Now, you can’t help but wonder how much the hospital is charging for it. Well, that’s a common financial concern for a lot of patients in India. Let’s find out more about ICU charges.

Average Daily ICU Charges in Private Hospitals

Treatment in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is the most expensive part of hospitalisation, accounting for 20-30% of the care costs. An ICU is used for treating life-threatening cases, so it is equipped with hi-tech life-saving facilities. In India, the average ICU charges in a private hospital can range between INR 15,000 and INR 30,000 per day.

The ICU costs generally include bed charges, nursing care, doctor visits, common ICU medications such as emergency drugs, sedatives, antibiotics, and painkillers, basic medical equipment like cardiac monitors, ventilators, infusion pumps, oxygen cylinders, consumables like syringes, gloves, catheters, IV fluids, round-the-clock monitoring, and routine investigations.

Insurance Coverage for ICU

Insurance companies generally cover ICU charges in India, but the extent of coverage can vary.

• Inpatient treatment:

This typically includes nursing charges for 24*7 monitoring, basic medications administered during your ICU stay, doctor visits, medical procedures, and tests like X-rays, blood tests, etc.

• Room rent coverage:

Some policies have a cap on room rent, and if the ICU charges exceed the room rent limit, the policyholder must pay the difference. Some plans, like group health insurance and premium plans, have no room rent capping. So, you must check these conditions while buying a health insurance policy.

• Pre-existing conditions:

Usually, pre-existing conditions are covered after the completion of a waiting period of 1-3 years. If you are admitted to the ICU related to a pre-existing condition and the waiting period is not completed, the insurer will not cover the ICU stay.

• Critical illness:

In case of critical illnesses requiring prolonged stay in the ICU, a critical illness insurance policy will provide a lump sum compensation upon diagnosis of the critical ailment, which can be used for ICU and other related expenditures.

Conclusion

ICU charges cost a lot more than wards or rooms in hospitals. A prolonged ICU stay can mean a significant amount of money, leading to financial stress. However, instead of fretting over the high ICU charges in India, you must look for a health insurance policy that ensures financial security for ICU stays during emergencies.

FAQs

1. Does health insurance cover ICU charges?

Yes, most health insurance plans cover ICU charges, but the extent of coverage may vary. You must review the terms and conditions of the policy before buying one.

2. What is room rent capping?

When a policy has a room rent cap, it means that is the maximum amount the insurer will pay for a hospital room or ICU per day. For instance, if your policy has capped the room rent at INR 2,000 per day, the insurer will pay only this amount. If you choose a room that is more than the cap, you have to pay the difference.

3. Does group health insurance cover ICU charges?

Yes, ICU charges are covered under group health insurance. While some policies may come with room rent limits, others may have flexible options.

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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