Mental health care is often considered a stigma, and people avoid approaching a doctor for treatment. In most parts of our country, mental health is not given importance, and thus people don’t feel the need to talk openly about it.
Earlier, mental health and its expenses were not covered under insurance policies. But after the government of India declared mental health equivalent to physical health, more and more insurance companies started including it in their various health insurance policies.
Just like it is essential to take care of physical health, it is imperative and necessary to manage and maintain one’s mental health, irrespective of age of the person. Therefore, if you are a senior citizen or someone looking to buy a policy for their parents, look for health insurance plans for senior citizens that include mental health care.
What Are Some of the Barriers People May Face?
It is difficult for anyone to talk about their health-related problems, especially their mental health. However, before breaking the barrier, one must understand that psychological disorders do not mean the person is unfit to be in society. Instead, it indicates the importance of understanding and taking the person out of the situation.
Additionally, people may feel that the cost attached to the treatment may need to be corrected or may not be able to cure them perfectly. Such thoughts are later attached to the high price of meeting a qualified professional. Therefore, when choosing the best health insurance for senior citizens, it is always recommended to check these parameters. If these costs and treatment expenses are included in the plan, people will be open to going and meeting a specialist.
What is Covered Under Mental Health Care?
Some of the diseases that are covered under mental health care in the health insurance for senior citizens in India are:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Attention deficit
- Bipolar condition
- Mood instability
- Schizophrenia
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Psychotic turmoil
Besides the coverage of diseases, if someone is hospitalised for treatment, various health insurance plans for senior citizens provide hospitalisation coverage. This coverage usually includes room rent, diagnosis, ambulance charges, treatment costs, and medicines.
In most cases, a person may not need hospitalisation, just regular doctor visits or daycare facilities. For such situations, check for the OPD costs inclusion in the policy you wish to purchase.
Who Should Consider Mental Health Care in Their Package?
There are no particular criteria for anyone to consider before seeking health insurance plans for senior citizens with mental health care options. It is a condition that can not be predefined, just like physical health, and anyone may require it.
But people with a family history or who have undergone any traumatic phase should consider adding it to their health insurance. Additionally, people who have a record of clinical depression or taking medicines to reduce anxiety should also look for an insurance plan that covers mental health.
Why is Buying Health Insurance Essential, and How Can it Help?
Mental well-being should be a priority for everyone, irrespective of old or young. People become prone to medical conditions with age; just like physical health, mental health can also deteriorate. Therefore, having a plan that includes mental health coverage will give many benefits to the policyholder, some of which are as below:
- An insurance policy that provides mental health care will help you save money during your doctor or specialist visits.
- Health insurance will also cover daycare or domiciliary care for senior citizens if they don’t require hospitalisation.
- Health insurance policies come with tax-saving benefits under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.
- With the help of insurance policies, senior citizens will not have to worry about arranging money for their treatment since it will be covered under a cashless facility.
- Moreover, in the case of a senior citizen’s health insurance policy, many companies offer a higher sum assured since the risks associated with their health are also higher.
Senior citizen health insurance differs from others since it is designed for people over 65. Their health insurance plans will cover the medical and financial needs of the senior citizens while also giving them a yearly medical check-up facility. In addition, a health insurance plan for senior citizens includes psychiatric and domiciliary care, offering them peace of mind concerning their health.