High-Cost Diagnostic Tests for Depression: What Expenses Are Included

Specifically, comprehensive healthcare plans, diagnostic tests for depression are covered if they are required during an inpatient hospitalisation lasting at least 24 hours in an authorised psychiatric facility. Routine outpatient department (OPD) consultations and standalone diagnostic tests are generally not included unless you have specifically purchased an OPD health insurance plan. If hospitalisation is required to diagnose or treat severe depression, your specific health plan will generally cover the following associated diagnostic and medical expenses up to the sum insured. Let’s discuss the key inclusions of expenses for inpatient treatment:

• Expensive Imaging & Scans: MRI, CT scans, and PET scans are used to rule out existing brain and physiological disorders.


• Laboratory Investigations: Blood and urine tests required during hospitalisation (e.g., thyroid panels, complete blood count to screen for medical causes of depression symptoms).


• Psychiatric Evaluations: Expenses for formal mental evaluations administered by the hospital staff during admission.


• Pre- and Post-Hospitalisation Expenses: Diagnostic tests and medicines taken 30 to 60 days before admission and 90 to 180 days after discharge, provided they relate directly to the condition resulting in the hospitalisation.


• OPD Coverage: If you are undergoing expensive diagnostic testing for depression as an outpatient without being admitted to a hospital, regular health insurance plans will usually not pay for these expenses. Insured individuals must rely on specialised standalone plans to cover these expenses.

Does Depression Have a Waiting Period?

Yes, depression comes with a waiting period. As depression is considered a mental illness, health insurers will cover it after a certain waiting period, as outlined in your policy.

If an individual has been suffering from depression before purchasing a healthcare plan, the medical records are procured from the policyholder, and an underwriting decision is taken. It is considered a pre-existing disease (PED). The person can avail the policy benefits, same as the other diseases, after the completion of a certain waiting period mentioned in the policy.

Important Health Policy Guideline You Should Review

• Waiting Periods: Psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders often have a 24-month waiting period on specific policies, meaning policyholder can only filed the claims when they complete specific waiting period without breaks.


• Authorised Facilities: Inpatient diagnostic tests must take place at an authorised psychiatric hospital licensed by the Mental Health Authority or a similar central/ state government body.


• Sub-limits: Coverage for mental illnesses may be subject to specific sub-limits.

Thus, people must pay attention to depression as it is a growing lifestyle disease. This medical condition is covered up to the basic sum insured under a specific health care plan.