The Covid-19 pandemic brought about many health care and health insurance sectors. Many people realized how important proper insurance coverage is, which is evident from the growth in the sale of health insurance policies in the past few months. This demand made health insurance companies develop more attractive and relevant schemes. One such improvement is the offering of wellness programs in health insurance policies.
What is health insurance?
Now let’s understand that what health insurance is. It is an insurance policy that will cover your medical and hospitalization expenses in case of an illness or an accident. A proper health insurance plan will help you and your family financially while navigating through difficult times in your life.
What are wellness programs under health insurance?
Health insurance with wellness programs is a bonus to your regular health insurance policy. Through offerings like free medical check-ups, gym memberships, etc., these programs motivate and nudge you to stay fit, thereby preventing some illnesses.
Some insurance companies are driving these changes and actively being promoted by the sector regulator. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India’s (IRDAI) guidelines dated 4th September 2020 promotes wellness programs and provide a clear policy on what insurance companies can offer. You can visit the official website of IRDAI for further details.
Let’s look at some of the wellness programs insurance companies can offer according to IRDAI –
- Outpatient consultations or treatments – In most cases, your regular insurance will only cover inpatient treatments. But many insurers now offer outpatient consultations as part of wellness programs.
- Health check-ups – Some wellness programs offer diagnosis help and health check-ups, helping you find irregularities before they turn serious.
- Vouchers to obtain health supplements can be for your vitamin pills or even your protein powder – many wellness programs come with coupons for health supplements these days.
- Memberships – Many wellness programs offer membership to programs that help you stay fit. These could be membership to a gymnasium, a yoga center, a sports club, or a fitness center.
* Standard T&C Apply
Why are wellness programs important?
A July 2021 report by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), a non-governmental trade association, showed that 116 people in every 1,000 surveyed in India have non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, stroke, cancer, or diabetes. Many believe that our lifestyle changes, including lack of physical activities and increased consumption of junk food, have caused this health crisis. This makes keeping your health in check very important in today’s times. And wellness programs could be of help here.
How can you benefit?
Vouchers, credits, and subscription benefits in the wellness programs encourage you to keep your health in check. There are wellness programs that reward you for exercises like running or swimming, which can be redeemed as per the terms and conditions of the insurer. Health check-ups associated with the wellness programs could help you find out NCDs at their root and prevent something serious from happening. * Standard T&C Apply
These all make choosing health insurance with wellness programs a wise choice, especially if you are looking for health insurance plans for your family. These wellness programs, if utilized properly, could make a big difference in your overall health.
Please note insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.
