Should You Opt for a Women-specific Health Insurance Plan?

In spite of continuing to perform the best in their personal and professional life, many women, especially in India, tend to sideline their health. There is still no complete awareness about Health Insurance for women in India, which is why the number of women covered under health insurance is significantly lower than that of their counterparts.

Why do women need Health Insurance?

Women are human beings, and that should be enough reason to cover them with health insurance. Besides, they are more prone to critical illnesses like immune disorders, irregular blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, breast cancer, bone-related disorders, etc. Women give birth that can make them vulnerable to health issues, typically after the age of 40. However, whether you are a student, working woman, or homemaker, and irrespective of your age, a medical emergency can occur to anyone and any time.

While fulfilling their daily chores and the family's needs, most women tend to ignore their own health. Many women have to balance both work and family responsibilities. Work and family pressure can further contribute to their health issues. If these issues aren't resolved on time, they can affect their mental well-being.

We all are aware of the skyrocketing medical expenses that can cost a pretty penny. If you think you are fit and healthy and do not need a health insurance policy, you are mistaken. Buying a health insurance policy after a certain age or detecting a certain illness could be difficult or even impossible as health insurance providers will consider you a risky individual. A rightly chosen health insurance plan will help you stay financially protected in case of an unpredictable event. Considering these facts, it is obvious that women need health insurance cover, in some cases even more than men.

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What are the benefits of buying a Women-specific Health Insurance Plan?

Considering the above-mentioned factors and the need for women's health insurance that might not be fulfilled with a regular health insurance plan, many health insurance providers have launched Special Health Insurance Plans for women. These plans work exactly like our regular health insurance plans and offer the same ease and convenience of purchase and claim settlement, in addition to the added features and benefits that are required for women. Although the plan offerings may vary from insurer to insurer, typically, Women's Health Insurance generally includes these added benefits:

1. Cancer Cover:

Critical illnesses like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, etc., are widespread in women. Therefore, most Women-specific Health Insurance Policies provide cancer cover within their base plans. However, many regular health insurance plans also offer cancer cover within their base plan. Otherwise, it can be purchased separately as an add-on for a nominal increase in the premium.

2. Loss of Job Cover:

A considerable number of women have to leave their jobs due to pregnancy and childbirth-related reasons. Such a situation can be financially stressful to manage household expenses. A Loss of Job Cover can help you share your financial burden during such challenging times.

3. Congenital Disorder Cover:

Congenital disorders can be inherited or caused by environmental factors. Many health insurance providers offer a 50% sum insured in case of congenital disorder. Before buying the policy, it is advisable to check if the insurer offers this cover, as some insurers offer it as an add-on cover that needs to be purchased separately.

4. Maternity Cover:

Childbirth is not only mentally and physically challenging and can also be financially draining depending on the type of delivery and the hospital you prefer. If you are expected to need maternity coverage in the future, you should buy a health insurance plan that covers normal as well as c-section deliveries. You should know that most health insurance providers offer maternity cover after the waiting period of 1 to 2 years. Hence, it makes sense to buy a Health Insurance Policy in advance. You should know that the maternity cover is provided in the regular health insurance plan, but the waiting period could be lower in Women's Health Insurance Plans.

5. Coverage for Heart And Blood Pressure-related Ailments:

Heart and blood pressure-related ailments are very common nowadays, irrespective of gender. But, women typically face these issues once they reach menopause. Therefore, many Women-specific Health Insurance Plans provide coverage for heart and blood pressure-related ailments.

6. Auto-immune Diseases Cover:

Auto-immune diseases are where your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in your body, a common disease in women above 60. Multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, myasthenia gravis, and reactive arthritis are some examples of auto-immune diseases. Having a woman's health insurance that provides the Auto-immune Diseases Cover will help you avoid spending your retirement funds to fight against such diseases.

Should you opt for a Women-specific Health Insurance Plan?

Traditionally, women get insured under a Family Floater Health Insurance Plan or a Corporate Health Insurance Plan in case they are working. Women generally do not opt for individual cover by themselves. However, due to the increased medical inflation and fast-paced lifestyle, having sufficient Health Insurance Cover for the women in the house is absolutely essential.

But do you need to buy the Women-specific Health Insurance Plan? Well, since Women's Health Insurance Plans offer several added benefits, it is advisable to consider them before opting for an individual health insurance plan. However, you should compare them with regular health insurance plans as the individual plans may also offer all the benefits at a comparatively lower premium. Even if the individual plan does not offer the added benefits, it makes sense to check the premium by adding the required add-ons. If you have a family that needs health cover, it is advisable to opt for a Family Floater Health Insurance Policy, as it provides several benefits to your entire family at an affordable premium. Apart from the premium, you should also consider the claim settlement ratio, claim process, customer service, customer reviews, etc., when choosing the right insurer.

Warm Regards,
Ketki Jadhav
Content Writer