Multiple Sclerosis Health Insurance Plans

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system of the body attacks the protective layer covering the nerves (or myelin) in the central nervous system. This causes permanent damage or deterioration of the nerve fibres, leading to communication problems between the brain and the spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis can result in memory issues, muscle weakness, vision problems and numbness in the body.

Multiple sclerosis is growing gradually in India, with around 1.5 lakh people suffering from it. The disease is commonly diagnosed among people between the ages of 20 and 40 years, with women 2 to 3 times more at risk than men. Although multiple sclerosis cannot be cured, its progression can be slowed down with timely treatment.

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Take a look at the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis:

Blurry vision
Weakness or numbness in limbs, especially on one side of the body
Lack of coordination
Memory problems
Partial or complete loss of vision
Inability to walk
Prolonged double vision
Fatigue
Difficulty in breathing and swallowing
Tingling
Vertigo
Sensations of electric shock that occur with specific neck movements

Who Should Buy Health Insurance for Multiple Sclerosis?

Health insurance for multiple sclerosis should be purchased by:

People between the ages of 20 and 40 years
Women
People with a family history of multiple sclerosis
People with a low vitamin D level
People with childhood obesity
People with other autoimmune diseases, like thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes, etc.
Smokers
People living in a temperate climate
People with exposure to viral infections, such as mononucleosis

Benefits of Buying Health Insurance for Multiple Sclerosis in India

Check out some of the key benefits of buying health insurance for multiple sclerosis in India:

Rising Cases of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is slowly growing across India. As per the latest reports, around 1.5 lakh people in India have multiple sclerosis. Moreover, the disease is 2 to 3 times more common in women than men. Since type 1 diabetes, obesity, and smoking are highly prevalent in India, the chances of multiple sclerosis cases rising in future are highly likely. To stay prepared for any medical exigencies resulting from multiple sclerosis, buying health insurance plans is a must.
Coverage for Expensive Treatments

Curing multiple sclerosis is not possible, but its progression can be slowed down with proper treatment. However, these treatments come at a high cost that not everybody can afford. Besides, the treatment is long-term and, thus, can exhaust the patient and their family's savings in no time. Having a critical illness insurance policy will pay a lump sum amount to the patient, ensuring enough funds to take care of all their medical expenses without depleting their savings.

List of Health Insurance for Multiple Sclerosis in India

Check out the list of health insurance for multiple sclerosis in India:

Health Insurance Plans for Multiple Sclerosis	Entry Age	Sum Insured (₹)	Waiting Period	Survival Period
Aditya Birla Activ Secure – Critical Illness Plan	5 to 65 years	1 lakh to 1 crore	90 days, 180 days	15 days
Bajaj Allianz Criti Care Plan	90 days to 65 years	1 to 50 lakh	120 days, 180 days	7 days, 15 days
Care Assure Plan	18 to 65 years	1 lakh to 3 crore	90 days	-
Cholamandalam Critical Healthline Insurance Plan	5 to 65 years	1 to 10 lakh	90 days	30 days
Digit Total Protect Plan	91 days to 85 years	5,000 to 3.5 crore	30 days, 60 days, 90 days	30 days
Future Generali Criticare Plan	6 to 65 years	1 to 50 lakh	90 days	28 days
HDFC ERGO Critical Illness Insurance Plan	5 to 65 years	1 to 50 lakh	90 days	15 days, 30 days
ICICI Lombard Criti Shield Plus Plan	91 days to 65 years	1 lakh to 1 crore	90 days	No survival period
IFFCO Tokio Critical Illness Benefit Plan	3 to 65 years	1 lakh to 1 crore	30 days	28 days
Liberty Critical Connect Plan	5 to 65 years	1 lakh to 1 crore	90 days	30 days
Magma HDI OneHealth Insurance Plan	91 days onwards	2 lakh to 3 crore	90 days	30 days
ManipalCigna Lifestyle Protection – Critical Care Plan	18 to 65 years	1 lakh to 25 crore	90 days	30 days
National Critical Illness Plan	5 to 65 years	1 to 75 lakh	90 days	30 days
New India Assurance Criti Protect Plan	18 to 65 years	5 to 50 lakh	90 days	No survival period
Niva Bupa Health Assurance Plan	18 to 65 years	3 lakh to 3 crore	90 days	30 days
Oriental Critical Illness Plan	18 to 65 years	2 to 50 lakh	90 days	30 days
Raheja QBE Health QuBE Insurance Plan	90 days to 65 years	1 to 50 lakh	30 days	-
Reliance Critical Illness Plan	18 to 65 years	5 lakh, 7 lakh, 10 lakh	90 days	60 days
Royal Sundaram Critical Illness Lumpsum Plan	91 days to 65 years	25,000 to 25 lakh	90 days	30 days
SBI Critical Illness Insurance Plan	18 to 65 years	2 to 50 lakh	90 days	28 days
Star Critical Illness Multipay Insurance Plan	18 to 65 years	5 to 25 lakh	90 days	15 days
Tata AIG Criti MediCare Plan	18 to 65 years	5 lakh to 2 crore	90 days	7 days, 15 days
United India UNI CritiCare Plan	21 to 65 years	1 to 10 lakh	90 days	30 days
Universal Sompo Critical Illness Insurance Plan	5 to 65 years	2.5 to 20 lakh	90 days	30 days
Zuno HealthPlus Plan	91 days onwards	1 lakh to 5 crore	90 days	-
Zurich Kotak Secure Shield Plan	18 to 65 years	10,000 to 65 years	90 days	-

Inclusions of Health Insurance for Multiple Sclerosis

The following coverage are included under health insurance for multiple sclerosis:

In-patient hospitalization expenses
Diagnostic investigations, such as MRIs, CSFs, etc.
Ambulance charges
Second medical opinion
Child education
Pre-hospitalization expenses
Post-hospitalization expenses
Non-medical expenses
Hospital cash allowance
Health benefits

Note: The coverage may vary from one multiple sclerosis health insurance plan to another.

Exclusions of Health Insurance for Multiple Sclerosis

Health insurance for multiple sclerosis excludes the following coverage:

Neurological damage due to SLE and HIV
Treatment for alcohol or drug addiction
Treatments taken outside of India
Respite care, rehabilitation and rest cure
Unproven treatments
Investigative and evaluative treatments

Tips to Lower the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Here are some of the essential tips to reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis:

Eat nutritious meals rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains
Sleep for at least 7-8 hours to repair and rejuvenate the body
Exercise regularly to stay healthy and fit
Avoid smoking and reduce the consumption of tobacco products
Reduce consumption of sweets to keep the sugar levels in check
Get enough sun exposure early in the day to improve vitamin D levels
Consume a diet low in saturated fat and avoid a lot of fried and junk food
Practice yoga and meditation to manage the stress levels
Moderately consume coffee and red wines to prevent the disease

FAQs

Q1. Is multiple sclerosis covered by health insurance?

Ans: Yes. All health insurance companies cover multiple sclerosis, mostly under their critical illness insurance plans.
Q2. Is MS covered by critical illness insurance?

Ans: Yes. Most critical illness insurance plans cover MS or multiple sclerosis.
Q3. Is multiple sclerosis a critical illness?

Ans: Yes. Multiple sclerosis is considered a critical illness by health insurance plans in India.
Q4. Can I claim health insurance benefits if I have multiple sclerosis?

Ans: If you have health insurance for MS patients, you can file a claim when diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Q5. What is the average cost of health insurance for MS?

Ans: To know the average cost of health insurance for multiple sclerosis, you can use a critical illness insurance calculator, as most insurers cover MS as a critical illness.

Health insurance companies

View more insurers

Disclaimer: The list mentioned is according to the alphabetical order of the insurance companies. Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by any insurer. For complete list of insurers in India refer to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India website www.irdai.gov.in