Coverage for Tonsillitis in your Health Insurance Plan

Does Your Health Insurance Cover Tonsillitis Treatment?

What is Tonsillitis?

Tonsils are part of our body’s infection-fighting system that keeps you away from falling sick. They are required to develop the body’s immune system. At times the tonsils become infected and swollen. This condition is called Tonsillitis.

Sore throat is one of the most common health complaints in children and adolescents, especially during the colder months of the year. Sometimes, sore throat is caused by Tonsillitis – inflammation of the tonsils. The inflammation is due to bacterial or viral infection. This leads to fever, stiffness in the neck and other discomforts. Hence, it is important to consult your ENT specialist or family physician for treatment.

Symptoms of Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is rarely a life-threatening condition. Its symptoms include enlarged tonsils, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, strep throat, fever, headache, trouble in swallowing, severe pain and irritation, bad breath, scratchy or rough voice, etc.

Prevention of Tonsillitis

To reduce the risk of developing Tonsillitis,

Ensure to wash your hands often, before and after touching your nose or mouth.
Avoid sharing food and drinks or utensils with an infected person.
Make sure to replace your toothbrush regularly.

Treatment for Tonsillitis

If the cause of Tonsillitis is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are prescribed in the earlier stage of the disease. The most common methods of treating severe Tonsillitis is through Tonsillectomy.

Tonsillectomy is the surgical procedure of removal of the swollen and infected tonsils. It is advised by the doctor in the case of recurring Tonsillitis, strep throat or swollen tonsils that affect your breathing. It is also done to treat obstructive sleep apnea and malignant cancerous tissue in tonsils.

The recovery time after the treatment of this surgery is usually from 10 days to 2 weeks.

Health Insurance coverage for Tonsillitis

Tonsillectomy is done as a day care procedure, which means the patient can be discharged on the same day of the surgery. An overnight stay is needed if the surgery is done on a young child or when the patient has a complex medical condition.

When planning for surgery, you may not only consider the recovery time and post-hospitalisation initiatives, but it is also important to plan the budget for the surgery cost. Make sure to choose a health plan that covers Tonsillitis.

Most health insurance companies in India offer coverage for Tonsillectomy after a waiting period of 2-3 years.
Star Health Insurance offers a wide range of health insurance plans both on an Individual and Family Floater basis, covering children and adults for specific ailments.

Star Health’s indemnity-based Health Insurance policies offer coverage for Tonsillectomy after a waiting period of 2 years. For more information, refer to the policy clause.

Criteria to be ensured in your policy for Tonsillitis coverage

Tonsillitis is covered after completing the 2 years waiting period, provided it is not a pre-existing condition while proposing insurance.

Selecting the Best Health Cover

Critical Criteria: Selecting a good health insurance cover for treatment of tonsillitis should focus on the following features:

Scope of Cover: The plan should cover outpatient and inpatient treatment for tonsillitis.

Waiting Periods: Inquire about the waiting periods for pre-existing conditions, as they can easily prohibit you from undergoing treatment for your tonsillitis under the cover.

Network Hospitals: The plan should ensure there is a network of hospitals and clinics where you can treat yourself free of cost.

Premium Rates: Compare premium rates between insurers to get a plan that offers complete coverage at a value for money.

Prevention and Management of Tonsillitis

Lifestyle and Home Remedies: While it may not be possible to prevent it, certain lifestyle choices may contribute to reducing the risk of tonsillitis

Good Hygiene: Throat infections can be avoided by proper hand hygiene and not touching an infected person.

Hydration: Drinking proper fluids maintains the moistness in the throat and reduces irritation.

Healthy Diet: A balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals boosts immunity.

Avoid Irritants: Don't inhale smoke or smoke and irritants as it reduces the inflammation in the throat.

Before you subscribe to a Health Insurance plan, make sure that you read the terms and conditions of the policy, the permanent exclusions, waiting periods for specific conditions and pre-existing diseases, and also the sub-limits set for some of the covered diseases and treatments.