Maintaining good health has become a challenge for many people because of our current lifestyle. In India, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases are becoming more common. Recent studies show that around 53% of deaths in India each year are due to NCDs. Diabetes is particularly common, with around seventy-seven million people living with it in India. Cardiovascular diseases are also prevalent, especially among young people.
Health Insurance can help people stay healthy through wellness programs. All Health Insurance companies have wellness programs as per the IRDAI mandate, but the activities and programs they offer might vary between insurers. The wellness programs let policyholders self-assess their health through questionnaires and offer various activities like steps tracking, walkathons, and marathons. Some programs are designed for people with chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension, with specialized coaches to help guide them.
The wellness programs don’t just focus on physical health but also mental well-being. There is a strong correlation between various health conditions and mental health, so there are now an increasing number of wellness programs that focus on mental health like stress management, yoga, and meditation sessions.
Taking part in wellness programs offered by Health Insurance has monetary benefits associated with it. People can earn reward points for participating in such programs, which they can redeem for discounts on their Health Insurance premium at the time of renewal of the policy.
Health Insurance plans offer various discounts that considerably reduce the premium. People can also avail tax deductions under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for buying medical insurance. There are Individual Health Insurance plans as well as Family Health Insurance plans, and people can even gift Health Insurance plans to their parents as they also offer various wellness benefits.
In summary, Health Insurance not only provides financial support but also motivates people to keep their health on track through wellness programs.