Diabetes is primarily a self-managed disease. In order to stay healthy, a person with diabetes needs supplies like test strips, meters and insulin.
Adequate and affordable health insurance is important for people with diabetes to help them access the supplies, medications, education and health care to manage their diabetes and prevent, or treat, complications.
In the past, obtaining health insurance could be difficult for people with diabetes, however recent reforms improve access to coverage.
Our super-fast lifestyle, 24*7 connectivity and hectic work schedules have degraded our quality of life. As a result, the health barometer has dipped considerably in the country and lifestyle diseases have grown exponentially. According to National Health Portal, more than 60 million adults have diabetes. In almost 50% of the cases, it is not diagnosed and remains untreated.
Considering the challenges associated with timely diagnosis and management of diabetes, it is important for us to ensure that we take all necessary precautionary steps to fight this deadly disease. While a healthy lifestyle is a pre-requisite, many individuals are predisposed to diabetes due to hereditary or genetic conditions.
A good Health Insurance Plan hence becomes the next step in effective diabetes management. However, a regular policy is not sufficient to meet the expenses and frequent medication associated with diabetes. One needs a specialized policy which caters exclusively to the medical needs of this disease.
Find the balance No matter how type 1 diabetes has shown up in your life, you can find success by balancing your medications, and sticking to your daily exercise routine and nutrition plan. But wherever you are with this challenge, you can always reach out for help of any kind—from your caregivers, your family or other people who live with type 1 diabetes.
Pay attention to your mental well-being
Stress is natural part of fighting type 1 diabetes, so if you’re experiencing unusual stress, depression or anxiety of any kind, know that you’re not alone. A heightened risk for mental health challenges comes hand in hand with all of the physical challenges, so know that it’s not your fault—and there are plenty of resources and support to help you along the way.
You are in control
Knowing what to eat with type 1 diabetes can be tough. You need a strategy for balancing food, insulin doses, and physical activity to maintain your blood sugar levels. Learning how different foods affect your blood sugar and figuring out how to balance that within your daily routine is key. And remember, it can be a little bit of trial and error. Experiment with different foods and watch your blood sugar as daily activities change. You can also work with a dietician to build a personalized nutrition plan that works for you
Diabetes Health Plan Provider: Many insurance providers have come out with dedicated diabetes insurance plans. Here is a list of the top three health insurance policies for diabetics in our country:
The Energy Plan is a comprehensive health management program for individuals diagnosed with Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2 mellitus), pre-diabetes (Impaired Fasting Glucose, Impaired Glucose Tolerance) or hypertension. The core objective of this health insurance policy is not only to finance the medical expenses of these individuals but also to support them in leading an active lifestyle.
The key inclusions of this plan are:
Age Eligibility
One should be at least 18 years old and not more than 65 years at the time of entry into the policy
With a network of more than 9300 hospitals across the country, hassle free in-house claim settlement and quick turnaround time (90% cashless claims settled within two hours), Star Health insurance policies are a great catch for everyone.
The Diabetes Safe Policy by Star Health is a specialized and unique healthcare policy for diabetic individuals. It provides coverage against complications due to Diabetes (Type I and Type II) in addition to regular hospitalization, outpatient care and personal accident cover.
Product Features of this plan are:
30 days for accidental hospitalization or non diabetes treatment
2 years for specified diseases
4 years for pre-existing ailments
Individuals who are diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus and are in the age bracket of 18 to 65 years are eligible to take this policy
The Activ Health Enhanced plan by Aditya Birla is one step in the journey towards healthier living and well-being. It is a unique offering and has a wide range of benefits such as chronic management program for lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and asthma, rewards for leading a healthy and fit lifestyle, etc.
The key benefits of this plan are:
The minimum enrollment age is 91 days and there is no upper limit on the entry age
Final Words:
Do not let this silent killer take the sweetness out of your and loved ones’ lives. Protect your family with any of these plans as per your requirements. Not only will you lead a healthier life but also a wealthier one as you would not be shelling out your hard-earned money for medical bills. Above all, the premium paid towards these insurance plans also give you tax benefits as per Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.
