Delving into the AYUSH Treatments

Traditional Indian medicines and courses of treatment are still quite prevalent. Despite the exceptional advancements in healthcare, several people still prefer traditional systems over modern treatment. So much so that a lot of them are covered by Health Insurance policies. 

AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy. These alternate treatments were covered by many Health Insurance policies, however, in most of them, there were certain limits on the coverage. However, according to the guidelines of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), from 1st April 2020, all Health Insurance companies in India need to cover AYUSH Treatments up to the sum insured. 

If you are someone who prefers alternate treatments and you are planning to invest in a Health Insurance policy, then choosing a policy covering AYUSH would be an ideal choice.  Because:

• Such treatments are very useful, especially when there is no immediate surgical intervention required. 

• Also, as the licence and patent costs are low, the cost of the overall treatment is quite low compared to allopathic treatments. You may want to opt for a suitable sum insured and save on premium costs. 

• If you reside in a rural area, you would be easily able to get such treatments. 

• AYUSH Treatments follow a more mild course of action; they come with hardly any side effects and thus are suitable for children and the elderly. 
  

There are, however, a few things that you need to keep in mind when raising a claim for AYUSH Treatment:

• To claim the expenses, you need to take treatment in government-recognised hospitals, from a certified medical professional. 

• The hospitalisation should be for more than 24 hours.

• AYUSH coverage can only be a part of a health plan, it is not available as a standalone product.

• At a network hospital, you may be able to make a cashless claim.

•  The treatment costs would be covered only up to the sum insured. In case there are some uncovered expenses, or the treatment crosses the SI limit, you’ll have to bear the costs. 

Keep in mind that while coverage for AYUSH is a great benefit, in case of an emergency, you may have to go for a regular course of treatment, so choose the coverage accordingly.