Health Insurance in Jharkhand

Health Statistics of Jharkhand

Take a look at the health statistics of Jharkhand:

• Respiratory diseases have the highest prevalence in Jharkhand
• 13% of people in Jharkhand are suffering from heart diseases
• Cancer cases in Jharkhand are increasing at a rate of 13%
• Diabetes cases have increased by 10% in the last 5 years

Why Do You Need Health Insurance in Jharkhand?

Check out some of the top reasons why you must buy health insurance in Jharkhand:

1. High Prevalence of Lifestyle Diseases

   Lifestyle diseases, like high blood pressure and diabetes, have a high prevalence in Jharkhand. According to a Harvard study, 30% of people in urban areas of Jharkhand suffer from high blood pressure. The study also said that around 14-20% of the urban population of Jharkhand have diabetes. Since the treatment for these disease are expensive and long-term, it can exhaust your savings in no time. But if you have the best health insurance policy, your savings will stay untouched as the insurer will take care of your medical bills.

2. Deteriorating Air Quality

   The air quality of Jharkhand has been deteriorating with each passing year. As per the Global Air Quality report, residents of Jharkhand are losing life expectancy by 5.8 years, according to the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Moreover, air pollution is also a leading cause of respiratory diseases in the state, such as lung cancer and asthma. Given the high treatment cost of such diseases, buying a critical illness insurance policy is recommended to prevent your hard-earned savings from getting exhausted.

3. Poor Access to Quality Medical Facilities

   Jharkhand has a poor healthcare infrastructure system that lacks accessibility to quality medical services. Moreover, the state has high out-of-pocket expenses that create a financial burden on the people. Some people end up losing their lifelong savings while paying for the treatment of a major illness. However, this problem can be solved by buying a mediclaim insurance policy as it will pay for all your treatment expenses.

4. No Compromise on Treatment Quality

   Obtaining quality medical treatments is quite expensive in Jharkhand. As a result, people often delay their treatment or opt for a substandard one to save money. By doing so, they compromise their health and their lives. But if they have a health insurance policy, they can obtain top-quality treatment whenever needed without losing all their savings.

Major Health Problems in Jharkhand

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

1. Hypertension

   Hypertension is a major cause of concern in Jharkhand. As per National Family Health Survey-5, 22.6% of men and 17.8% of women in Jharkhand have high blood pressure. Rapid changes in lifestyle and environment are believed to be the main reasons for hypertension cases in the state.

2. Obesity

   Obesity has a high prevalence in Jharkhand. According to the National Family Health Survey-5, 15.1% of men and 11.9% of women are obese in Jharkhand. Moreover, Jharkhand has a 23.9% prevalence of abdominal obesity.

3. Diabetes

   Diabetes has a high incidence in Jharkhand. As per National Family Health Survey-5, 14.1% of men and 10.2% of women have diabetes in Jharkhand. Obesity and poor dietary habits are the primary reasons for an increase in diabetes cases in the state.

4. Cancer

   Cancer is one of the most common diseases in Jharkhand. According to the National Family Health Survey-5, 70 people per 1 lakh population have cancer in Jharkhand. The data also suggests that around 47.4% of men in the state use tobacco or its products, leading to a high prevalence of oral cancer.

5. Dengue

   Dengue has a major presence in Jharkhand. As per the state health department, 1827 cases of dengue have been registered in Jharkhand in 2023 as of October 6. Experts blame stagnant water in households and containers for providing the ideal breeding ground for dengue larvae in the state.

How Much Health Insurance Coverage Do You Need in Jharkhand?

As a rule of thumb, every person must have a health insurance policy with a sum insured of at least 50% of their annual income. Nonetheless, it is essential that your health insurance coverage amount is sufficient to cover all your medical expenses in Jharkhand, including the treatment of major illnesses, such as heart diseases and cancer.

Given the high out-of-pocket expenses in Jharkhand, a health insurance policy of at least ₹5-10 lakh is recommended. For families seeking a single health policy, buying a family floater health insurance policy of ₹20 lakh and above is recommended.

Similarly, senior citizens should buy a senior citizen health insurance policy of at least ₹15 lakh to cover all their age-related medical expenses.

Health Insurance in Jharkhand for NRIs

NRIs from Jharkhand can also purchase medical insurance from any health insurance companies in India. They can use this policy to pay for the medical treatments availed during their visit or stay in Jharkhand. Moreover, those who plan to move back to Jharkhand after a few years abroad can also use the same health insurance for NRIs policy without serving any fresh waiting periods.

In fact, if the parents of the NRIs still stay in Jharkhand, they can purchase a health insurance for parents policy for them. This policy can be used by NRIs to support their parents financially in case they face a medical emergency in Jharkhand. Moreover, NRIs can also get an 18% GST refund paid on premiums at the time of buying medical insurance from an insurance company in India.

People also read: GST Refund on Health Insurance for NRIs

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

No.

The Government of Jharkhand launched the Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Bima Yojana (MMSBY) in 2017 to provide quality healthcare services to poor and vulnerable families in the state. However, the coverage is not enough to pay for all their medical expenses in Jharkhand. The following table illustrates why the Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Bima Yojana is not sufficient to cover medical expenses in Jharkhand:

Wellness and Prevention Tips in Jharkhand

Here are a few wellness and prevention tips to stay healthy in Jharkhand:

• Prefer home-cooked food instead of junk food to stay fit in Jharkhand
• Sleep for at least 7-8 hours to help your body revive and rejuvenate
• Drink at least 2-3 litres of water every day in Jharkhand to keep yourself hydrated
• Practice a 5-minute meditation session to manage stress and cultivate mindfulness
• Wear full clothes and use mosquito repellents in Jharkhand to prevent mosquito bites
• Exercise regularly to stay fit and get your heart pumping
• Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables in Jharkhand to boost your immunity
• Remove stagnant water to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes in Jharkhand
• Prevent high consumption of sugar and salt in your diet