Coverage for alternative medicine and holistic healthcare

After a landmark judgement passed by the IRDA in 2013, alternative medical treatments have been covered in health insurance. Most of the reputed insurers like Zurich Kotak General Insurance, have provisions for alternative medicine treatment.

What is alternative medicine?

The Ministry of AYUSH in India brings Ayurveda, Yoga and naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy under its jurisdiction. Any treatment taken under these forms of medicine is known as AYUSH, or alternative treatments, and is recognised by the ministry.

Scope of health insurance for alternative medicine

Most of the comprehensive health insurance plans in India offer coverage for alternative medicine. Alternative medical practices such as Ayurveda and Yoga, which have become very popular globally, have all originated in India and so the government has validated their potency and worth by urging the IRDAI to offer health insurance for alternative medicine.

However, you can only make a claim for alternative medicine treatments on your health insurance plan if you meet the following criteria:

1. The treatment is required and has been prescribed by a registered, medical doctor

2. The doctor referring the treatment should not be a relative or family member of the policyholder

3. The treatment is taken in an AYUSH hospital registered under the AYUSH ministry. Random treatments taken at clinics or dispensaries would not qualify for a claim. Treatments taken outside India are not valid either

4. The treatment cost should be justifiable and not unnecessarily inflated by the medical centre

5. There is a limit on the amount you can claim and this is clearly stated in the terms and conditions. Read the policy wording carefully before you look to make a claim.

Benefits of health insurance for alternative medicine

There are several benefits you get when you opt for health insurance for alternative medicine. They are:

Affordable Ayush care

All forms of healthcare, including alternative healthcare options, are very expensive. If you want to undergo a procedure or require hospitalisation, the bills are often too high. This is why health insurance comes in handy. You can make a claim and manage the finances in an efficient way.

Holistic treatment

Believers of alternative medicine trust the process. A lot of them agree that natural cures are holistic and remove the problem from the roots. This is why AYUSH has become so popular of late. If you want to address the root cause of an illness, this is the route to choose. Getting health insurance coverage validates this point and encourages more and more people to opt for alternative cures.

Safety

Alternative healthcare is very mild and widely considered to be extremely safe. When you have health insurance coverage, you can seek this safe and reliable treatment option in a convenient and hassle-free way, which is always very beneficial.

Conclusion

The holistic health coverage that most comprehensive health insurance plans offer is very handy and beneficial. If you believe in alternative medicine and often seek naturopathy and other traditional treatments, opting for such coverage will do you a world of good.

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