What Health Insurance Options exist for People with a Disability in India?
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Health insurance policies for individuals with disabilities help cover the medical expenses of disabled persons. This includes issues like mental illnesses, blindness, autism spectrum diseases, Parkinson’s disease, etc.
With this policy, disabled individuals can reduce their out-of-pocket medical expenses. It comes with features like cashless hospitalisation, day care treatments, ambulance charges, AYUSH treatment, etc.
You can avail these features after an initial waiting period of 2 years for a pre-existing disability.
Which Government Health Plans are Available in India for People with Disabilities?
There are multiple government-backed health insurance plans for disabled individuals in India. Here are some of them:
Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme
The National Trust has introduced the Niramaya health insurance plan for individuals with intellectual disability, autism, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and related illnesses. Individuals with such disabilities can avail health insurance coverage at only ₹250.
Swavlamban Health Insurance Scheme
This is a group mediclaim policy for the disabled individuals with an objective to provide affordable healthcare to disabled persons. It covers individuals with hearing disability, blindness, mental disabilities, loss of motor functions, leprosy, etc.
Which Disabilities are Covered Under Health Insurance Plans?
As per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, health insurance plans in India cover the following disabilities:
Category 1 | Category 2 |
Specific disabilities with learning | Chronic neurological conditions |
Blindness | Locomotor disability |
Low vision | Muscular dystrophy |
Persons whose leprosy has been cured | Multiple sclerosis |
Hearing imparity | Thalassemia |
Disability of speech and language | Haemophilia |
Mental illness | Sickle cell disease |
Intellectual disability | Multiple disabilities, including deaf/ blindness |
Mental illness | Cerebral palsy |
Autism spectrum disorder | Acid attack victim |
Dwarfism | Parkinson's disease |
Dwarfism | Chronic neurological conditions |
What are the Inclusions and Exclusions of Health Insurance for Disabilities in India?
Health insurance for disabled individuals covers a list of medical procedures depending on the policy you choose. Here are the inclusions and exclusions of health insurance coverage for disabled individuals in India:
Inclusions
- Hospitalisation
- Doctor visits
- Rehabilitation services
- Prescriptions
- Mental health services
- Medical equipment and supplies, etc.
Note: It may vary from one insurer to another
Exclusions
- Non-allopathic treatment
- Experimental therapies or treatments
- Cosmetic procedures or surgeries
- Specific pre-existing conditions
Who is Eligible for Purchasing Health Insurance for the Disabled in India?
Here are some of the eligibility criteria for purchasing health insurance for disabled persons in India:
- Individuals applying for disability health insurance in India should be citizens of India between the ages of 18 and 65 years.
- To apply for disability health insurance, you should have a government-issued disability certificate and medical reports to support your health conditions.
According to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, coverage for disability health insurance depends on the severity and type of disability. There are some family floater health insurance plans in India that allow the parents to include their disabled kids in the insurance plan.
Before selecting a health insurance plan for disabled individuals, always check the coverage to ensure that it fits your needs. Moreover, match the eligibility criteria for the insurance plan and proceed to receive coverage for your disability.