Arm yourself with a dengue policy this monsoon

The cost can be as low as ~500, and the advantage is that it covers all OPD expenses also

Shweta Mehta, 38, a freelancer from Delhi, was down with dengue last year.

She was first treated at an out-patient department for a few days and then hospitalised for three days.

She didn't have a health insurance cover of her own and being a freelancer, she was not even covered by an employee health cover. The bill of ~55,000 that the hospital presented to her hit her hard as she had to meet the entire expense from her own pocket.

A report by the Delhi Municipal Corporation says that in 2017 almost 9,300 people suffered from dengue in Delhi alone.

And recent reports suggest that over 30 people have already been diagnosed with the disease this year. With the onset of monsoon, dengue-related hospitalisations have already started making news. Buying a low-cost dengue cover (see table for premiums) can protect you against this annual epidemic.

The cost of treatment for dengue can range anywhere from ~35,000 to ~80,000.

Two companies currently provide specialised dengue covers – Apollo Munich and DHFL Pramerica. A key feature of dengue policies is that they cover both inpatient and outpatient treatment. A standard health insurance policy covers you only for the cost of hospitalisation provided you are admitted for at least 24 hours.

The value addition that a dengue cover provides becomes apparent when the patient undergoes treatment on an out-patient basis. A dengue plan covers all outpatient expenses, such as medical tests, medicines, and doctor’s consultation. “Only 12-15 per cent of people get hospitalised for dengue. All the rest are treated on an out-patient basis, something that is not covered by a standard health insurance policy,” says Mahavir Chopra, director-health, life and strategic initiatives, Coverfox. The way the premium is charged in these disease-specific policies is also different. A dengue cover charges the same premium from all customers, irrespective of age. In a standard health insurance plan, the premium is closely linked to age, and may increase slightly each year, with major hikes at intervals of five years or so.

The waiting period in these policies is also short. “These policies come with a very short waiting period of just 15 days, which is meant to ensure that the person is not infected with dengue at the time of purchase. It is also available to all categories of people, including those who have been rejected for normal medical insurance policies,” says Antony Jacob, chief executive officer, Apollo Munich Health Insurance. Policyholders are also not required to undergo a health check-up to buy these plans. A self-declaration in the proposal form suffices.

These are fixed benefit plans. “If you are diagnosed with dengue, these fixed-benefit plans pay you the full sum insured, irrespective of actual hospitalisation or medical bills,” says Vaidyanathan Ramani, head-product and innovation, Policybazaar.com.

A dengue insurance policy also helps keep the accrued no-claim bonus in your main medical insurance policy intact. “These policies are ideal for people who do not want small claims to affect the accumulated no-claim bonus in the medical insurance policy,” says Anoop Pabby, managing director and chief executive officer, DHFL Pramerica Life Insurance.

The key disadvantage of these policies, of course, is that they are of no use if you are diagnosed with any disease other than dengue. However, given that the premiums are as low as ~500-578 for a cover of ~50,000~100,000, they are very much worth it.