Health Insurance in Bangalore

Health Statistics of Bangalore

Take a look at some health statistics on Bangalore:

• 25% of people have diabetes in Bangalore
• 21% of people have high blood pressure in Bangalore
• Bangalore air is 5.8 times more polluted than WHO guidelines
• Dengue cases have doubled from 2022 to 2023 in Bangalore
• 25-30% of people suffer from mental disorders like depression, OCD and anxiety in Bangalore

Why Do You Need Health Insurance in Bangalore?

Check out some of the reasons why buying health insurance in Bangalore is a must:

1. Massive Air Pollution

   The city of Bangalore is struggling massively with air pollution. As per the Greenpeace India report, Bangalore’s air is five times more polluted than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe levels. Poor air quality can lead to several diseases like asthma, lung cancer, diabetes, stroke, etc., that are expensive to treat. However, people with health insurance can afford to pay for the treatment of these diseases without losing their savings.

2. Huge Burden of Lifestyle Diseases

   Lifestyle diseases are growing at an alarming rate in Bangalore. Sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits and long working hours are said to be the root causes of the surge in lifestyle diseases in the city. Moreover, treatment for lifestyle diseases can easily exhaust your entire life’s savings. The only way to avail the treatment while safeguarding your savings is by buying a critical illness insurance policy.

3. Costly Healthcare Services

   Healthcare services in Bangalore are extremely costly. Even a week’s hospitalization can easily cost you lakhs of rupees, which not everyone can afford. As a result, a lot of people delay their treatment instead of taking it at an early stage. But by buying mediclaim insurance, you can avail treatment at the right time as your insurance company will pay for your medical bills.

4. Access to Quality Treatment

   Given the high cost of medical treatment in Bangalore, many people compromise on the quality of healthcare services. They tend to opt for affordable treatment options due to lack of funds and eventually risk their lives. However, buying the right health insurance policy allows you to afford the best quality treatment at a hospital of your choice in Bangalore.

Major Health Problems in Bangalore

Given below are some of the major health problems in Bangalore:

1. Diabetes

   Diabetes is the most prevalent lifestyle disease in Bangalore. As per a study by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), about 50% of people living with comorbidity in Bangalore have diabetes. In fact, diabetes is found to be more prevalent among Bangalore women under 40 years.

2. Hypertension

   Hypertension is the second most prevalent comorbidity in Bangalore. In fact, the BBMP study revealed that about 72.1% of people with hypertension in Bangalore remain undiagnosed. In fact, the disease is becoming extremely common among young people.

3. Obesity

   Obesity is a common problem in Bangalore, especially among children. In fact, one in every 5 children in Bangalore is overweight. A sedentary lifestyle, increased screen time, lack of sleep and lack of supervision from parents are some of the reasons for obesity among children in Bangalore.

4. Dengue

   Dengue is growing rapidly in Bangalore. In fact, about 7256 cases of dengue have been reported in Bangalore in 2023, which is the highest in the last few years. Intermittent rainfall and the effect of cyclones are believed to be the reason for the surge in dengue cases this year.

5. Mental Illnesses

   Mental illnesses are highly prevalent in Bangalore. In fact, severe mental disorders like schizophrenia saw a 41% increase in Bangalore from 2018-19 to 2020-21. Similarly, common mental disorders like depression, anxiety and OCD grew by 74% in Bangalore during the same period.

How Much Health Insurance Coverage Do You Need in Bangalore?

Residents of Bangalore should opt for health insurance coverage that sufficiently covers all their medical expenses. Experts suggest that your health insurance policy should have a sum insured of at least 50% of your yearly income. In fact, the coverage amount should adequately cover the treatment cost of a critical illness like cancer.

Considering medical inflation and high healthcare expenses in Bangalore, a health insurance policy of at least Rs 10 lakh is recommended. If you want coverage for your entire family, a family health insurance policy of Rs 30 lakh or more is recommended.

For older people, a senior citizen health insurance policy of at least Rs 20 lakh & above is recommended to meet their healthcare expenses in Bangalore.

Health Insurance in Bangalore for NRIs

Non-resident Indians or NRIs are eligible to buy medical insurance from an insurer in India. They can use this health insurance for NRIs policy to pay for the medical costs incurred during their stay or visit to India. In fact, NRIs who plan to shift back to Bangalore eventually can buy this policy early so that the waiting periods are over by the time the policy is claimed.

Moreover, NRIs can also buy health insurance for parents living in Bangalore. This will enable you to support your parents financially during a medical emergency, even if you are in another country. Besides, NRIs who have purchased health insurance in Bangalore can get a GST refund on the paid premium amount.

You can also read: GST Refund on Health Insurance for NRIs

Is Government Health Insurance Enough to Cover Medical Expenses in Bangalore?

The answer is NO.

The Karnataka Government launched the Ayushman Bharat - Arogya Karnataka Scheme in 2018 to provide universal health coverage to BPL (Below Poverty Line) and APL (Above Poverty Line) people of Karnataka. However, the scheme does not offer comprehensive coverage to the people of Bangalore.

Check out the table given below to know why the Arogya Karnataka Scheme is not enough to cover all medical expenses in Bangalore:

Wellness and Prevention Tips in Bangalore

Here are some wellness tips to stay healthy in Bangalore:

• Get uninterrupted sleep of at least 7-9 hours every day.
• Include more fruits and vegetables in your diet.
• Drink at least 2-3 litres of water daily in Bangalore.
• Avoid watching TV while eating to prevent overeating.
• Reduce the consumption of sugar, salt and junk food in Bangalore.
• Exercise or walk daily in Bangalore for 30 to 45 minutes to stay fit.
• Always drink boiled water in Bangalore to avoid consumption of contaminated water.
• Use mosquito repellents to prevent contracting dengue and malaria in Bangalore.
• Keep your surroundings clean in Bangalore and remove stagnant water to prevent mosquito breeding.