Various types of diseases have been discovered in the last few decadeswhose treatments are widely available. But some illnesses can be gruesome and of such severity that it might have long term damage to your organs. At such times, an organ transplant is the only way that can help you survive.
What is organ transplantation?
Organ transplantation is the process where the damaged organ of your body is replaced with a suitable and matching organ from a donor’s body. This medical procedure is recommended as a last resort after trying all possible medications. It is rare and critical since the availability of donors is not easy, and even after finding one, for the donation to take place, various factors are essential. Organ transplantation is advised for those whose organs are beyond the stage of recovery, and it threatens the survival of the individual.
Advancement in medical technology now makes it possible to transplant the kidney, liver, lungs, heart and more. Although it may seem straightforward, there is risk and complications involved. These can be in the form of finding the right donor along with compatibility of the organ with the donee’s body. Furthermore, the treatment cost is not cheap and can easily range between ₹5 lakhs to ₹20 lakhs. While the adage rightly states, health is wealth, but it isn’t easy for all to afford an organ transplant surgery. Thus, make sure to explore health insuranceas part of your smart financial planning. Here’s when a health insurance plan can offer your financial cover for these critical yet necessary treatments.
Although an ordinary health insurance policy covers the hospitalisation cost, it does not provide for organ transplantation expenses. A critical illness policy is that which includes the cost of organ transplant. Let us look at the typicalcosts that are covered by a critical illness insurancepolicy:
- Organ screening expenses where the right donor is found. This is the first step before actual transplant begins.
- Pre-hospitalisation expenses which prepares the donee’s body for the transplantation process.
- Expenses during hospitalisation like room rent, doctor’s fees, etc.
- Surgery expenses where the actual transplantation process is carried out.
- Post-surgery hospitalisation which monitors the donee’s body for abnormal changes and reactions. It is a critical step to monitor whether the transplant procedure is successful or not.
While not all critical illness insurance policies cover these expenses, it is essential you look for a plan that includes all of them.
How to select a critical illness policy?
- When buying critical illness insurance, ensure you check the coverage for the various treatments available under it. If you are prone to a particular disease due to family history, ensure organ transplantation expenses are covered.
- Check the waiting periods that are applicable for different treatments. Critical illness insurance can be either purchased as a standalone or additional rider to a standard health policy.
- The sum insured under the policy should be sufficient to cover for any costs that may be required for the treatment. Thus, check the adequacy of the sum insured when buying a critical illness cover.
To conclude, ensure you have sufficient coverage that can be helpful to take care of the medical costs during organ transplant. Lastly, do not forget to compare health insurance plans so that you get a policy that checks all the right boxes.
