How Health Insurance for Tuberculosis can save your life

The medical sciences have advanced by leaps and bounds in the past few decades. Diseases like tuberculosis, although highly infectious, are now fully treatable. But thousands and thousands of people die from tuberculosis every year. In 2021 alone, it caused 1.6 million deaths.

Health insurance for tuberculosis has never been more important. It can be the key to getting the right medical attention at the right time. It can also reduce stress of financial liabilities so that you can focus your full attention on getting better.

How?

Keep reading to know more.

Why is tuberculosis dangerous?

Apart from the risk to life, the main reason why tuberculosis is so dangerous is the fact that it is highly contagious. It is an airborne bacteria that spreads from person to person. If someone has the TB bacteria, it can spread quite easily through coughing or sneezing.

According to Dr Ravichandra C from the National Tuberculosis Institute (NTI), more than 40% of Indians are carriers of the TB bacteria. It’s not all gloomy though. There is only a 10% chance that someone who has the TB bacteria will get tuberculosis. 

This means, just because you’re a carrier doesn’t mean you will actually get TB. The bacteria could simply remain latent in your system and use you as a stepping stone to spread to other people around you.

What are the main causes of developing tuberculosis?

The main reason why someone carrying the TB bacteria develops tuberculosis is low immunity. 

For instance, people who are HIV positive have a high chance of developing TB. Apart from that, anyone who has preexisting medical conditions or weak lungs can also develop TB. Smokers and alcoholics are especially high risk.

In fact, tuberculosis is the most common cause of death for people who have HIV.

What are the main symptoms of tuberculosis?

The main symptoms are as follows:

• Constant cough
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight
• Overall fatigue
• Night sweats
• Fever

These symptoms can manifest in varying degrees of severity, depending on what the medical conditions of the patient are.

Although tuberculosis begins in the lungs, it can fast spread to the other organs of the body such as the brain, liver, kidneys or others. In fact, according to Dr Somashekhar N from the National Tuberculosis Institute, tuberculosis can reach anywhere the blood flows in your body. Apart from your nails and your hair, nothing is safe from the clutches of the TB bacteria.

If left untreated, tuberculosis can lead to the death of the patient.

What are the main treatments for tuberculosis?

The main treatment for tuberculosis is antibiotics. A strong course of specialised antibiotics can weed out the persistent TB bacteria in your bloodstream. Generally, the medications for tuberculosis continue for at least six to nine months.

Sometimes, it so happens that the TB bacteria develop resistance to certain strains of antibiotics. In such cases, you might have to switch medications or level up the intensity of the treatment. It is very important that you get continued medical care during the treatment period, to ensure that you are making progress.

Even after the TB bacteria has been eliminated from your bloodstream, some weakness remains. People are particularly susceptible and may relapse if the correct course of medications is not followed.

How can health insurance for tuberculosis help?

If you’ve succumbed to tuberculosis, the right medical care can be the difference between life and death. It is very important to get the right treatment at the right time. However, according to the National TB Prevalence Survey conducted by the Union Government in India in 2022, more than 64% of TB patients did not seek proper medical care.

Why?

One of the main reasons is the cost associated with the medical treatments for tuberculosis. Make no mistake — medical treatments are expensive. If you don’t have health insurance for tuberculosis and you are paying out of your pocket, you will certainly feel the pinch.

This is where a comprehensive health insurance plan like the Aditya Birla Capital Activ Assure Diamond Health Insurance Plan can come to the rescue! It has the following benefits:

Hospital expenses

If you have to stay in the hospital for more than 24 hours, all the myriad expenses like the room rent, the doctors’ fees, medicines and other miscellaneous things are included. You won’t have to pay anything extra.

Pre and post hospitalisation expenses

All diagnostic tests, fees for doctor consultations and medicines are included in the plan. This means, all the screening tests that you have to do before you are diagnosed with TB and the tests that you have to do after your treatment to make sure you don’t relapse are all covered.

Ambulance cover

This plan also covers the cost of the ambulance which will take you from your house to the nearest hospital.

How much does health insurance for tuberculosis cost?

The premium amount for the Aditya Birla Capital Activ Assure Diamond Health Insurance Plan starts at only Rs 7,149 per year. 

Please note, however, that this amount will depend on your age and your medical condition when you buy the health insurance policy.

Conclusion

If health insurance for tuberculosis can ensure you will get the proper medical attention at the right time, you should go for it. Your life is a lot more valuable than anything that you’ll spend on the health insurance premiums. 

Aditya Birla Capital Health Insurance has a whole range of policies designed to fit your varying needs. From the below mentioned ABHI's health insurance plans, pick one that is the best fit for your needs and the needs of your family.

https://www.adityabirlacapital.com/healthinsurance/activ-assure-diamond

https://www.adityabirlacapital.com/healthinsurance/super-health-topup

https://www.adityabirlacapital.com/healthinsurance/active-health-enhanced-insurance

https://www.adityabirlacapital.com/healthinsurance/activ-fit