- What is Tuberculosis?
- Health plans for tuberculosis
- Treatments for tuberculosis
How is Health Insurance for Tuberculosis Beneficial for You?
Did you know that even today millions of people fall sick with Tuberculosis each year? As per a report by The Hindu, India noted 25,37,235 cases of Tuberculosis in 2023. Although the treatment for tuberculosis is available, the cost can be a barrier. Here is how health insurance for tuberculosis can help you. This article will update you about tuberculosis and top health insurance for tuberculosis. Have a look.
What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis also known as TB, is an infectious disease. It can be caused by the bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lungs but can also spread to other parts of the body. It is one of the world's 10 fatal diseases, according to the WHO. Tuberculosis is highly contagious if left untreated. Because of its severity and potential complications, TB treatment is lengthy and expensive.
Why is Tuberculosis a Cause of Concern?
Tuberculosis attacks our lungs, which are vital organs of our body. It can cause severe respiratory problems. Also, it can spread to other body organs such as the spleen, liver, kidneys, and brain. Treating the infection takes a lot of time and intensive care.
Some of the symptoms of Tuberculosis are:
- Fatigue
- Loss of Appetite
- Weight Loss
- Weakness
- Night Sweats
- Persistent Cough
- Painful Breathing
Moreover, latent TB infects the person but does not show any symptoms. This kind of TB is more harmful as the germs can remain sleeping in your body without displaying any symptoms. In case the germs of latent TB become active, it can make you fall seriously sick.
Health Insurance for Tuberculosis
As you might have read the complete treatment course of tuberculosis takes 2-3 years. So, to save you financially, several health insurance plans cover the expensive treatment of tuberculosis.
Here are some of the health insurance plans that cover tuberculosis:
- Niva Bupa Health Companion
- Bajaj Allianz Critical Illness Policy
- Future Generali Health Suraksha
How Can Health Insurance for Tuberculosis Help?
If you plan to undergo tuberculosis treatment, you must have good health insurance. It is very important to choose the right treatment at the right time. According to the survey conducted by the Union Government in India in 2022, it has been stated that more than 64% of the TB patients did not seek proper medical care. The main reason behind this is the cost of medical care. But do not worry, tuberculosis health insurance can safeguard you. Following are the benefits you will get if you have health insurance that can cover tuberculosis.
-
Financial Protection
For lengthy treatments like in the case of TB, the medicine, hospitalisation etc. can be expensive. Health insurance helps to cover a significant portion of these costs, preventing financial hardships during your treatment journey. -
Peace of Mind
When you know that your hospital bills are paid, your major focus will be on recovery. You do not have to be worried about the financial burden, hence reducing stress. -
Hospitalisation Coverage
You will get comprehensive coverage for hospitalisation in case you need to be hospitalised during the treatments. -
Ambulance Coverage
In case of emergency, the plan also gives coverage for ambulances, which will take you to the nearest hospital. -
Doctor's Fees
Before and after hospitalisation, the fees of doctors will all be covered in the health insurance policy for tuberculosis.
How Doctors Diagnose TB?
Your doctors will choose the most appropriate tests based on your situation and risk factors. However, TB diagnosis involves a few prolonged approaches, which are:
-
Skin Test
The lab testing person will inject a small amount of fluid under the skin. This fluid contains TB proteins which will be included in your blood and will tell you if you have been exposed to TB bacteria in the past. If you get a bump then there is a chance of tuberculosis in your system. -
Blood Tests
A blood test is a new method of detecting exposure to tuberculosis in your blood. It is more specific than the skin tests, especially in the people who have received the BCG vaccine for TB prevention. -
Chest X-Ray
The X-ray reveals abnormalities in the lungs that suggest there is a TB infection in the body or not. -
Sputum Smear and Culture
The sample of coughed-up mucus or sputum is collected from the patients who are having productive coughs. This test will confirm the presence of TB bacteria and determine which antibiotics are most effective against the specific TB strain. -
Biopsy
In some cases, doctors suggest a biopsy in which tissue samples may be needed from the infected area, especially if organs get affected due to TB.
Treatment for Tuberculosis
The treatment of tuberculosis depends upon the severity of the case. Some of the treatment procedures are as follows:
-
Immune Therapy
If it is latent TB, then doctors suggest immune therapy or similar preventive therapy with antibiotics, usually isoniazid (INH) for 3 to 6 months. -
Combination therapy
It is the medication process prescribed for 6 to 12 months in which a combination of several antibiotics is given to the patients. -
Continuation Phase
After the initial combination phase, you might need to continue taking a few antibiotics to complete the treatment course.
All in all, the treatment for tuberculosis takes a couple of years. It is very important to complete the entire course for complete protection, otherwise, there are high chance that TB bacteria can attack your body again.
Bottom Line
The cost of tuberculosis can be as much as your CTC and can be more than that. But, choosing the right health insurance can save your finances and provide the proper medical treatment that you need. Therefore, it is important to get medical insurance, as it serves as the best decision of your life. It will protect you further from the rising cost of medical care. The policy will help you to get cashless hospitalisation and health checkups to treat tuberculosis and also to prevent the relapse caused by the disease.
In case of any further understanding, you can reach out to us at PolicyX.
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Health Insurance for Tuberculosis: FAQs
1. Is TB covered by health insurance?
Yes, the health insurance that provides coverage for critical illness covers TB as well.
2. How much does TB treatment cost?
It is estimated that the total treatment cost of tuberculosis is somewhere around INR 8 Lakh to INR 10 Lakh.
3. Is TB permanently curable?
Yes, TB is curable and preventable.
4. Is tuberculosis a critical illness?
Yes, TB is covered under critical illness coverage.
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Written By: Simran Saxena
An explorer and a curious person, Simran has worked in the field of insurance for more than 3 years. Travelling and writing are her only passion and hobby. Her main agenda is to transform insurance information into a piece that is easy to understand and seamlessly solves the reader’s query.
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