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Now, Health Insurance covers for Diabetic Persons

-VIDYA KUMAR

Executive Summary Health Insurance for a Diabetic patient is now available with some
interesting features. Normally a Type II diabetic patients are only accepted. Premiums are
lower with national insurers for lower sum assured. Options like Apollo Munich Energy focus on
wellness and also reward policy holders with reduced premium when health parameters
improve.

Diabetes is a medical condition in which the person has high blood sugar. It is a chronic disease
meaning it has long lasting effects on your health. It has to be managed as curing it is very difficult.
Diabetes also increases the risk of other complications of health. Due to this nature of the disease,
insurers consider diabetics as high risk customers and therefore do not want to provide cover for
them.
But insurers are waking to the fact that diabetics also need insurance and have started offering
insurance plans for them. Generally they offer plans only in Type II cases. We compare some of the
policies available in the market.

Policy
Name
Star Health Apollo Munich Energy National Insurance Varistha
Mediclaim
Description
/ Eligibility
A person between 18-65
years with or without
Diabetes Mellitus or can
take this insurance.
Individuals between 18-
65 years with Type 2
diabetics or pre-
diabetics are offered
this insurance policy.
An insurance policy
designed for senior citizens
between the ages of 60 and
80 that covers medical
expenses for critical
illnesses and diseases
including diabetes.
Policy Term
The policy can be
renewed till the insured
reaches the age of 70.
The policy has a lifelong
renewal option.
It can be renewed till the
age of 90.
Coverage
Covers Diabetes and Covers hospitalization It is a health insurance
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Policy
Name
Star Health Apollo Munich Energy National Insurance Varistha
Mediclaim
related complications. It
also has a regular
hospitalization cover.
arising from Diabetes
and Hypertension. Other
pre-existing conditions
will be covered after a
waiting period of 3
years.
policy for senior citizens
covering illnesses, sickness,
injury, accidents and
diseases.
Sum
Insured
Available
You can get a cover of -
- Rs. 50000 or
- Rs. 1 lakh or
- Rs. 2 lakhs or
- Rs. 3 lakhs or
- Rs. 5 lakhs or
- Rs. 10 lakhs
Offers sum assured of
Rs. 2 lakhs, Rs. 3 lakhs,
Rs. 5 lakhs and Rs. 10
lakhs.
Offers base sum assured of
Rs. 1 lakhs and Rs. 2 lakhs.
Premium*
Premium to be paid is Rs.
2300
For a cover of Rs. 3 lakhs for a
35 year old male.
For the silver plan
variant, the premium is
Rs. 9962.
For a cover of Rs. 3 lakhs for
a 35 year old male.
Premium starts at around
Rs. 4100 for Mediclaim
cover of Rs. 1 lakh for a
senior citizen (60-65 years).
To cover critical illness,
premium is higher. For
diabetes to be covered,
additional 10% premium has
to be paid.
Pre-
Medical
Tests
Medical tests are
mandatory before
purchasing the standard
policy. An alternate plan
with certain conditions is
available without medical
tests.
The individual will have
to undergo medical tests
and the company will
offer a cover
accordingly.
Pre-medical check-ups are
not required if the client
has not been insured for the
last 3 years else it is
required.
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Policy
Name
Star Health Apollo Munich Energy National Insurance Varistha
Mediclaim
Exclusions
Cataract, AIDS etc. are
excluded.
It covers pre-existing
diseases with the insured
paying about 50% of the
amount.
Pre-existing conditions
have a waiting period of
3 years
AIDS, Congenital
diseases, mental
disorders, pregnancy,
dental treatments are
not covered.
The following are not
covered -
Treatment taken within 30
days of policy
commencement
Vaccinations
Dental Treatment and
Cataract Operations
AIDS
If patient smokes 40
cigarettes or more (or
equivalent cigars), the
claims will not be
entertained.
Unique
Features
Hospitalization up to a
limit is covered.
Kidney transplantation is
covered. If the first one
fails, a second transplant
is covered.
A personalized web
portal tracks the health
of the insured.
A health coach will
guide the insured in diet
and fitness plans.
Based on medical tests
and key medical
parameters, the
premium can be reduced
if these show
improvement.

Covers old age people with
medical conditions.


Comments
It is more cost effective
than the other plans. A
basic health plan might
It is an expensive policy
but has a more
comprehensive cover
It is a unique policy for
senior citizens. If you are
not getting a normal health
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Policy
Name
Star Health Apollo Munich Energy National Insurance Varistha
Mediclaim
not cover diabetes. So if
you have diabetes or have
a high risk of getting
diabetes, you should
consider this product.
than other policies. It
even gives discounts in
health foods. Check the
premiums for other
policies and assess your
diabetes risk and decide
if you need to take this
cover.
plan given your age and
health condition, you
should consider this
product.

* Please understand the terms and conditions and premium to be paid for your policy when you purchase it.
This is indicative.

Before you go for a specialised insurance product, apply for a normal health plan even if you have
diabetes or are a pre-diabetic. Sometimes insurance companies do consider certain less risky cases,
health conditions and client's commitment to keep the disease at bay and decide to insure the
client. If that does not happen, consider these alternatives only after understanding them
thoroughly or running them through your financial planner.