Health Insurance for TB Patients

What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious air-borne disease caused by a bacterial infection in the human lungs. It is caused by the ‘Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ bacteria, which spreads when a healthy person comes in close contact with a TB patient. In severe cases, the infection can also spread to other body parts, like the kidneys, spine, and brain.

Tuberculosis has three stages - primary infection, latent infection and active TB infection. When the TB bacteria enters the body, it is considered the primary infection stage. If a person gets infected with TB but doesn’t show any symptoms, as the TB bacteria remain dormant, it is called the latent TB or inactive TB infection stage. But when the person develops TB symptoms, the infection enters the active TB infection stage. An active TB infection can turn fatal if no treatment is taken.

Symptoms of TB

Listed below are some of the most common symptoms of tuberculosis:

• Persistent cough (that lasts longer than 2 weeks)
• Chest pain while breathing
• Fatigue
• Night sweats
• Weight loss
• Appetite loss
• Coughing up blood or mucus
• Chills
• Fever

Who Should Buy Health Insurance for TB Patients?

The following people must buy TB cover in health insurance:

• People living with someone with an active TB disease
• People with weaker immune systems, including those suffering from HIV/AIDS
• People with diabetes or severe kidney disease
• People with cancer of the neck, blood or head and undergoing treatment like chemotherapy
• Malnutrition people or those with low body weight
• People using prescription steroids for a long time
• Those using drugs to prevent rejection of transplanted organ
• People with excessive smoking or consumption of alcohol
• People who unlawfully inject drugs

Benefits of Buying Health Insurance for TB Patients in India

Take a look at the key reasons for buying health insurance for TB patients in India:

1. Massive Prevalence in India

   Tuberculosis is highly prevalent in India. According to the India TB Report 2024, about 25,37,235 TB cases were notified in 2023. Moreover, as per the World Health Organization (WHO), tuberculosis is the second largest cause of death through infectious disease across the globe. Besides, it is not possible to avoid crowded places in India that make a person vulnerable to TB infection. In such a situation, buying a mediclaim insurance policy is a smart idea to be prepared in advance for any financial liability resulting from TB infection in future.

2. High Cost of Hospitalization

   Over the past few years, the cost of hospitalization has increased drastically in both rural and urban areas. When it comes to TB, severe cases often require hospitalization. However, getting admitted for TB for even a few days can cost lakhs of rupees, depending on the city and the type of hospital. Getting a comprehensive health insurance policy is the only solution to cope with such exorbitant medical expenses.

3. TB Can Happen to People of All Ages

   Tuberculosis can be life-threatening for people of all ages, especially those with a weaker immune system. Besides, the treatment is lengthy, as it takes months to complete the entire course of medications so that the disease does not relapse. With OPD cover in health insurance, people can reduce their out-of-pocket expenses, as the insurer will pay for the outpatient expenses.

List of Health Insurance for TB Patients in India

Check out the list of health insurance for TB patients in India:

*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. This list of plans listed here comprise of insurance products offered by all the insurance partners of Policybazaar. For complete list of insurers in India refer to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India website www.irdai.gov.in.

Inclusions of Health Insurance for TB Patients

TB insurance includes the following coverage:

• In-patient hospitalization expenses
• Pre-hospitalization expenses
• Post-hospitalization expenses
• OPD doctor consultations
• Medicine expenses
• Diagnostic test cover
• Ambulance cover
• Day care treatment
• Vaccination cover
• Daily cash allowance
• Health check-up
• Recovery benefit
• Non-medical expenses

Note: TB cover in health insurance may vary from insurance plan to another.

Exclusions of Health Insurance for TB Patients

The following expenses are excluded from tuberculosis health insurance:

• Non-allopathic treatments
• Unproven treatments
• Artificial life maintenance
• Experimental and investigative treatments
• Dietary supplements and substances
• Treatment taken outside of India

Tips to Reduce the Risk of Tuberculosis

Here are a few tips to prevent a TB infection:

• Avoid close contact with an active TB patient
• Wash your hands thoroughly and at regular intervals
• Eat a healthy diet rich in nutrients
• Exercise regularly to keep your immune system strong
• Get the TB prevention vaccination to prevent the disease
• Wear a mask and gown before going near a TB patient if you are a medical professional

FAQs