Health insurance for special individuals, check details here

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Life is full of uncertainties and health insurance is one of the key tools to mitigate some risks. It offers financial protection during medical emergencies by picking up treatment-related costs. The importance of health insurance is equally applicable for differently-abled individuals too. According to the 2011 census, there were 26.8 million people in India suffering from different disabilities, mental or physical. This is equivalent to 2.1% of the population. However, options of health insurance for special individuals are quite limited in the country.

Types of disabilities

In India, a person needs to be at least 40% impaired to be considered as a differently-abled person under the law. People suffering from any one of the disabilities mentioned below are considered as differently-abled people.

i) Congenital disabilities: Congenital disabilities, also known as birth defects, are functional disorders that occur right from when an infant is born.

ii) Mental disability: Any kind of brain-related disability including behavioural stress and psychiatric disorders come under mental disability.

iii) Accidental disability: Conditions caused due to accidents qualify under accidental disabilities.

Health insurance for special individuals

The government has taken various schemes to ensure that differently-abled persons can also avail the facility of health insurance. But such schemes only cover basic medical treatment.

Here is what you need to know about government-sponsored health insurance policies for differently-abled individuals.

Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme

Niramaya health insurance scheme is specially designed for physically and mentally challenged individuals. This government-backed insurance policy offers coverage for cerebral palsy, autism, multiple disabilities, and mental retardation. This policy is also available for mentally challenged individuals. Under this plan, coverage of Rs 1 lakh is offered to the person with a disability. The government also provides premium support. The premium is to be paid by the trust.

Swavlamban Health Insurance Scheme

Swavlamban is another government-sponsored health insurance plan. This plan is a group mediclaim policy designed for differently-abled persons. The plan offers coverage for locomotor disability, blindness, low vision, and hearing impairment among others.

The minimum and maximum entry age for this policy is 18 years and 65 years respectively. One of the criteria to opt for Swavlamban insurance is that the annual income of the family of the insured is required to be below Rs 3,00,000 per year. The plan covers pre-existing medical conditions. It offers a cover of a maximum of Rs 2,00,000 per year for the insured and the other members included in the policy.