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Today, about 8% of the Assam population are senior citizens (aged 60 and above). With the increasing population, there is an urgent need for reliable health insurance for senior citizens. As people age, their healthcare needs increase, which can create substantial medical expenses. Finding a suitable medical insurance for family ensures that senior citizens in Assam can access quality healthcare without financial stress.
Health problems are common among senior citizens, and they require treatment more often. Good health insurance for seniors can ease the burden of having to find the money to pay for medical expenses and can bring peace of mind to seniors and their families in turn. Similarly, if the healthcare needs of all members of a family require medical insurance, they should choose medical insurance for family, which covers all the members financially.
It's important to provide appropriate health insurance to the senior citizens in Assam. Here are a few options available:
These are pre-packaged policies available for persons 60 and above, covering inpatient coverage, pre-existing conditions (after the waiting period) and critical illnesses. A few options include:
These policies offer a single sum insured for the entire family, including seniors. However, it's important to note:
Premium Considerations: Premiums can go up because older adults raise health risks.
Coverage Adequacy: The sum insured amount should be sufficient to pay all the medical bills of all family members, especially seniors who might need more medical care.
Government initiatives in Assam include various health insurance programs for senior citizens to ensure affordable healthcare.
Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY): It covers secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation up to rupees five lac per family in a year. It proposed another top up cover of up to ₹ 5 lakh per annum for all senior citizens of the country above 70 years of income.
Atal Amrit Abhiyan: This scheme provides cover for critical illnesses to all individuals in the age group of 18 to 65 years, up to ₹2 lakh per individual per annum, as an initiative by the Government of Assam. The focus of this is on six key disease groups: cancer and cardiovascular diseases, with the intention of making healthcare more affordable to lower-income institutions.
Assam Arogya Nidhi (AAN): Launched by the Health & Family Welfare Department of Assam, this scheme provides financial support to individuals who need treatment for major life-threatening diseases or injuries caused by natural and man-made disasters. This benefits BPL families as well as those living below the income of ₹ 5 lakh per annum, and both general and specialized treatment.
The following are some of the key benefits to be aware of:
Hospitalisation Coverage: It covers room rent, surgeries, and doctor's fees.
Pre- and post-hospitalisation: This includes costs for diagnostic tests and follow-up care.
Daycare Procedures: It covers treatments such as chemotherapy or cataract surgery but without 24-hour hospitalisation.
Domiciliary Hospitalisation: Covers at-home treatments that come under medical supervision.
Pre-Existing Conditions: Covers chronic illnesses after a specified waiting period.
One must consider various conditions before choosing their next health insurance plan. Here are the key points to take note of:
Your coverage should be in plans with a high entry age limit (aged 60+) and lifelong renewability to enjoy uninterrupted coverage.
Waiting periods for pre-existing conditions are very common in policies. Go for plans with shorter waiting times to get your benefits quicker.
Choose a plan that offers a large enough sum insured to cover rising medical costs.
Find out if the insurer’s empanelled hospitals are close by and offer cashless treatment options.
Check if the claim is covered with co-payment, meaning that the insured is expected to make a part contribution. It can influence possible payment concerns during high-cost treatments.
Avoid unexpected expenses by reviewing exclusions, especially if you are a senior and using health insurance for senior citizens.
Managing healthcare expenses and financial stability can only be possible with health insurance for senior citizens in Assam. Exploring options such as senior-specific plans, family floaters, and government schemes is a way for families to weigh in on things like waiting periods and sum insured and can help inform decisions of what's best for them. Seniors in their golden years can find medical coverage and peace of mind with a well-chosen health insurance plan.
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