Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Costs and Insurance Coverage

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

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Costs and Insurance Coverage

Diabetes mellitus especially type 2 diabetes is a major Non-Communicable Disease that is prevalent in India and affects the global population. The condition needs lifelong management, and this may put a lot of financial strain if not properly planned for. Starting from routine check-ups, prescription drugs, modification of life habits, or daily check-ups along with inpatients and emergency care, one can experience a rather steep climb in their expenses. It is imperative for people and families who are afflicted with type 2 diabetes in India to know how much they will spend on the treatment in order to budget properly and not undergo financial duress. Moreover, people are suggested to pay attention to the choice of their health insurance policy; in this way, the treatment does not turn into an unaffordable product. In this blog post, we will demystify the type 2 diabetes treatment cost, discuss the importance of health insurance policies for diabetes patients, and present a comprehensive guide to living with diabetes in India.

Cost Breakdown of Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

It has several relative costs for its management throughout the duration of type 2 diabetes. Some of these can be expected, while others may depend on top of this condition, the type of drugs used, and personal health. As the essence of the overall treatment costs related to type 2 diabetes in India, let me reveal the primary discretionary costs.

1. Visits to a physician and appropriate investigations

The initial and the most basic component of managing type 2 diabetes includes doctor visits. A diabetic patient has to go for checkups and this usually happens every 3 to 6 months depending on the doctor. Generally, it may cost between rupees 500 to rupees 1500 per consultation depending upon the experience and the place of the doctor.

In addition to consultations, non-timing glucose measurements such as fasting blood sugar (FBS), postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) and HbA1c tests which measure blood glucose levels are essential. These tests range between ₹300 - ₹1,000 per visit and may not be endorsed by insurance. Some people may also require further investigations like lipid profile or renal assessment which would be quite costly.

2. Medications

This type of diabetes requires the use of medications that reduce the blood sugar levels found in the body. There are two categories of type 2 diabetes medications that are usually administered to most patients, these are oral hypoglycemic agents such as metformin, sulfonylureas or the newer classes of drugs such as DPP-4 inhibitors. The prices of these medicines are between ₹500 and ₹3,000 per month depending on the brand of medicine and the kind of drug used.

For those people who need insulin injections, the expense could well be greater. The cost of a month's supply of insulin may be as low as ₹1,500 and in the extreme ₹5,000 depending on the type of insulin prescribed which can be; rapid-acting, short-acting or long-acting insulin. Other remaining options such as the insulin pump may also be more expensive than the above stated which makes it even more advisable to plan.

3. Monitoring Equipment

Self-screening of blood glucose is mandatory for persons with diabetes because of the potential to develop severe complications. It is common to use glucometer and test strips for this. It can cost anything within the range of Rs 1000-Rs 2500 for a glucometer and anything between Rs 600- Rs 1200 for TEST STRIPS (50 strips in a pack). The patients, on average, may spend from ₹ 1000-2000 per month for glucose monitoring equipment for a person, based on the frequency of testing.

4. Changes in Nutrition and Changes in Life Style

Diet is one of the important factors that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus need to take into consideration. A lot of people may seek counselling from a registered dietitian which can set one anything from 500 to 2000 Rupees for a nourishment session. Besides, taking a walk or enrolling on a fitness centre may make it possible to spend anything from 1,000 to 3,000 rupees per month.

5. Admission and Accidents

While management could prevent diabetes, complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis, infections, or heart diseases may develop, and this results in hospitalisation. To take a patient into a hospital can cost anything from ₹10,000/- to ₹ 1,00,000/- to even higher depending on the type of the disease, hospital standards etc.

Insurance Coverage for Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

However the cost of managing type 2 diabetes is somewhat high, and a good health insurance plan can finance such expenses. India is not behind and today, most of the insurers have come up with health insurance plans that cover diabetes soon. Now, let’s discuss how insurance works as an important part of handling the cost of diabetes management.

1. Diabetes in Health Insurance Policies

For a long time, most health insurance policies excluded conditions such as diabetes before diagnosing the premiums. Although it has been quite a challenge, coming changes in laws and formulation of niche policies for ailing patients have enabled one to secure type 2 diabetes treatment costs. Engineers provide special insurance for diabetes type while some insurance companies classify it under health insurance after a probation period which takes about 2-4 years.

Such policies often include hospitalisation, surgery, and treatment expenses coinciding with complications such as kidney failure or heart disease because of diabetes. Some also consider coverage of routine check-ups and other medical check-ups, although they are bound to spend their money on medicines and monitoring equipment.

2. Treatment for drugs and other outpatient care

The majority of health insurance policies deal mainly with hospitalisation and big-ticket medical costs. However, newer policies are beginning to offer some provisions on outpatient treatments, such as consulting doctor fees and costs of drugs and others. These outpatient covers can drastically lower the cost that diabetics have to meet every month to access the right treatments and medications while eliminating their out-of-pocket expenses.

3. Preventive Healthcare Benefits

Employers are also offering preventive healthcare among the benefits that are attached to the health insurance policies. This entails periodic tests, examinations, or meetings with an oncologist, primary care physician, dentist, nutritionist or dietician among others. These are very central in early/reference to the management of the progression of the same /diabetes. Insurers may also offer magnitude discounts on diagnostic tests, and medical equipment thus lowering the type 2 diabetes treatment cost further.

Conclusion

Taking care of type 2 diabetes is also not just a health issue, but also a financial one. The cost of type 2 diabetes treatment costs in India varies from 2000INR to 10,000INR per month depending on the intensity of the condition and the kind of management. Checkups, prescriptions, diagnosis and changes in their lifestyles all sum up to a financially stressful activity for many families.

FAQ

1. Is type 2 diabetes to be treated with health insurance?

Yes, the majority of the health insurance plans in India do offer coverage for type 2 diabetes, for hospitalisation as well as often include coverage for expenses incurred for things like medicines, doctor visits etc.

2. And what is the price of type 2 diabetes treatment cost in India?

Depending on the type of medicine, the patient can spend anywhere between ₹500 to ₹3,000 every month to manage his or her type 2 diabetes. Insulin treatments can be costly, running from ₹1,500 up to ₹5,000 monthly expense.

3. Are preventive care and annual examinations included in the insurance?

More health insurance companies have included annual check-ups, medical screening tests, and consultations with dietitians under the approved diabetes management treatments.

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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