Are Allergies Covered In Health Insurance?

Are Allergies Covered In Health Insurance?

An allergy is a condition in which your body is overly sensitive to certain triggers in the surrounding environment. The level of reaction can range from mild to extremely severe. Mild cases can be treated on their own, but serious allergic reactions will see the patient get hospitalized. Allergies do affect many Indians with foods like milk, eggs, and peanuts being noted for triggering allergies. This might make you wonder whether treatment for allergies is covered in health insurance. Let’s find out.

What are some common allergies?

Mould, pollen, animal fur, and certain plants can trigger an allergic reaction. Many people are allergic to foods like nuts, shellfish, eggs, and milk. High levels of pollution in big cities can also trigger an allergic reaction. The symptoms and signs of an allergy can vary depending on the type of allergy or trigger. The most common symptoms include a runny nose, hives, nausea, and swelling. These symptoms may range from mild to moderate and can often be managed by the patient at home. Extremely serious cases of allergies can lead to anaphylaxis which may prove to be fatal, thus requiring emergency medical treatment.

Coverage for allergies in health insurance

The rising costs of medical treatment make it extremely important to have health insurance these days. If you aim to pay for hospitalization costs, surgeries, and other medical procedures out of your own pocket, you might just end up draining out your savings. 

If you are hospitalized for an allergic reaction, you would most certainly receive coverage from your health insurance plan. The coverage will generally include your room rent costs, ambulance charges, and pre-and post-hospitalization expenses within policy limits.

Some of the top health insurance companies also include coverage for AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) treatment. So, you can definitely ask your insurer whether your plan includes AYUSH treatments and what are the criteria for getting coverage.

Now, your insurer may consider your allergies to be a pre-existing health condition especially if you already have had a confirmed diagnosis prior to buying the policy. This is why it is extremely important for you to keep your insurer informed of your history with allergies when you buy health insurance. This way, they can also keep you notified of the waiting period for pre-existing conditions post which you may be able to claim coverage. This waiting period generally ranges anywhere from 24 to 48 months. Try to choose a health insurance policy that has the least waiting period if you suffer from severe allergies.

Under no circumstances must you try to hide your medical history from your insurance provider. If you have been caught hiding information after you file a claim, your claim might get rejected. Remember that your insurance provider will evaluate the validity of every claim based on medical reports submitted. If these reports show that you hid a pre-existing condition from the insurer, you would face a lot of hassles in proving your point and getting your claim.

Furthermore, you must ensure that you select a proper coverage amount keeping your allergies in mind. If you have frequent allergic reactions that range from moderate to severe, you might want to opt for higher coverage. When buying health insurance, do speak to a customer service representative from the insurer’s office or with an agent to fully understand the specific coverage you can expect for your allergy. Remember that the benefits of health insurance policies can vary between insurers; you would not want to face any unexpected surprises at the last minute.

If you are a parent to a child who has allergies, do look into getting them health insurance too. You may consider covering them under a family floater plan so that any expenses arising from their allergies get covered.

Tips for selecting a good health insurance policy

If you are buying health insurance for the first time, here are some tips that might help you –

  • Look for wholesome coverage

A good health insurance policy should cover you for hospitalization costs, pre and post hospitalization expenses, hospital registration costs, ambulance fees, day care procedures and AYUSH, among other things. If you are buying a family health insurance plan, look for an option that permits you to cover as many blood relatives as possible (in case you want to add anyone later).

  • Check the location of  network hospitals

When buying health insurance, you need to also check the location of the insurer’s network hospitals. If these hospitals are located too far away from your residence, you might not benefit as much from the coverage as you should. Remember that you can get the benefit of cashless treatment at network hospitals, so this is an important consideration.

  • Opt for an insurer with a good claim settlement ratio

The claim settlement ratio of the insurer tells you a lot about what you can expect in terms of your own claims. Look for a good claim settlement ratio when comparing insurance providers.

  • Read customer reviews

It is always good to know what other customers have to say about an insurer. The reviews will give you much insight into the kind of customer support you can expect from the insurance provider. You can also check how accessible the insurer is – for instance, look whether they have free helpline number or 24/7 accessibility.

  • Select an affordable plan

It makes sense to choose a medical insurance policy that you can afford in the long run. This is because maintaining continuity of coverage holds many benefits for you. For instance, you will get the no-claims bonus for every claim-free year. You may also get a free medical check-up after completing a certain number of claim-free years.

Go ahead and explore health insurance policies today and select the best coverage to stay secured against your allergies. Medical insurance truly works to give you real peace of mind against life’s unpredictable twists and turns.

We hope that this article will help you in your search for the best health insurance plan for yourself and your loved ones.

All the best!