Health Insurance Cover for Vector-Borne Diseases

Safeguarding Health: Insurance for Vector-Transmitted Diseases

What are Vector-Borne Diseases?

Spread of harmful viruses & bacterial infections or diseases by blood-sucking insects like mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, lice, mites
The majority of the Indian population is affected by Vector-Borne Diseases like Malaria, Chikungunya, Dengue, Filariasis and the Zika virus. These diseases are widespread both in rural and urban areas. Common symptoms of these diseases include fever, body pain, weakness, etc. If not treated on time, it can lead to critical illness and be fatal.

Vectors are active organisms like mosquitoes and fleas that spread the virus and bacterial infections. These diseases are a major threat to humans and breed in residential areas and stagnant water bodies. “Over 700000 deaths are caused every year by vector-borne diseases, which account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases,” says WHO. Some people who suffer from vector-borne diseases also lose their lives due to a lack of money for treatment or don’t receive the right treatment at the right time.

What is the cost of treatment for vector-borne diseases in India?

A typical treatment for dengue fever and malaria costs Rs 25,000 to Rs 75,000 when all expenses are taken into account (depending on your stay in the hospital, the severity of the condition, and the medications).

Why do you need a health cover for vector-borne diseases?

India has always experienced a high incidence of vector-borne diseases. However, they are often overlooked in the early phases because vector-borne diseases begin with flu-like symptoms. Thus, proper diagnosis and treatment are not accurate in the early stages. It is sometimes fatal or even more serious when the diagnosis and treatment of vector-borne diseases are not done on time, thereby deteriorating the situation.

Inadequate money, or lack of care, can seriously harm the patient in such circumstances. So, buying health insurance prepares oneself or a family for financial freedom against medical emergencies. Investing in a health insurance premium will never bring monetary instability, but achieve planning for their medical expenses and Peace of Mind.

How do we prevent vector-borne diseases?

You must have heard the wisdom “Prevention is better than cure”. During the monsoon season, when mosquitoes breed in large numbers, you can prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases. The following are some measures to be considered:

1.Don’t allow water stagnation around, as it would be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
2.Keep your windows & doors closed in the evening and early morning hours to avoid mosquitoes entering the house. Otherwise, fixing mesh on the windows would be ideal for better ventilation.
3.Eat more homemade food instead of junk food or food from outside.
4.Avoid infection from insects, fleas, and mosquitoes biting yourself and your pets.
5.Stay protected against pathogens and maintain healthy practices.

The spread of pathogens, viruses, and bacteria transmitted by these vectors causes these diseases/illnesses in Humans and Pets. Vectors like fleas or mosquitoes breed and multiply rapidly in the monsoon season, which concerns human beings and pets.

Health insurance policies pay a large amount of money for vector-borne diseases like chikungunya, zika, dengue, malaria, kala-azar, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, and many more.

All Health insurance policies do not cover any illnesses during the first 30 days from the first policy inception date. The initial waiting period of 30 days is not applicable for renewal policies.

“Buying Health insurance while being healthy is the best to do.”

Health insurance policyholders can receive benefits like treatment expenses, inpatient costs, ambulance costs, and free health checks. Choosing the Star Health plan comes with benefit options like cashless or reimbursement facilities.

All vector-borne diseases/illnesses are covered by health insurance policies offered by Star Health Insurance.