The Impact of Obesity on Health Insurance Plans

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Contemporary society has witnessed the rise of obesity as a significant threat to health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 1.9 billion people aged 18 and older were overweight in 2016. Among these, 650 million were obese. Obesity cases are rising for several reasons, including improper dietary factors, eating disorders such as binge eating, and excessive junk food intake.

Obesity is associated with various conditions, so it could significantly affect your medical insurance plans if you’re considering purchasing one. This article will explain how obesity can impact health insurance plans in India.

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a severe, multifactorial condition that can result in substantial body fat and, occasionally, bad health. Having excess body fat does not exactly label it as a sickness. Yet, too much extra body fat could change how your body functions. Persistent alterations like these have the potential to become more drastic over time and have a detrimental effect on one’s health.

What are the Causes of Obesity?

Here are some of the factors that cause obesity.

1. Poor Diets

One of the top contributors to obesity is what has come to be the standard Western diet, which consists of occasional, high-calorie meals heavy in coarse carbohydrates, animal fat, fried foods, and sweetened beverages.

2. Less Physical Activity

Even though physical fitness can prevent weight gain, it remains unpracticed by many people worldwide. Screen time is a significant risk factor for obesity, particularly due to the ability of meal and beverage advertisements to affect consumer behaviour.

3. Specific Medicines

Weight gain is a common adverse reaction to pharmacological medicines. Antidepressants, for instance, have a history of causing gradual weight gain. Antipsychotic drugs and diabetic medications are some further examples. These medications do not weaken your self-control. Your body’s and brain’s functions get altered, which can result in changes to your appetites or metabolism.

4. Misinformation

People worldwide get deceived about health and fitness. Primary contributors to this are food corporations. Some advertise things, like diet pills, that do not work. False information-based weight reduction techniques can impede your results.

How Does Obesity Impact Health Insurance Plans?

Whether you’re purchasing health insurance for parents or yourself, obesity significantly impacts the policy in various ways. Let’s understand how.

1. Greater Premiums

Obesity is a health problem that can lead to a higher premium for some people. It can result in underlying heart, high blood pressure, and blood sugar problems. Health insurance in India factor in these risks before offering premiums.

2. Wider Coverage Requirement

Obese people are more likely to experience a stroke or cardiac arrest. Moreover, obesity may result in stomach cancer. Health insurance plans in India include a robust support network for policyholders. The best health insurance companies offer long-term disability riders and an expanded coverage package by incorporating all the various factors.

3. Weight-Loss Surgery Coverage

The prevalence of gastric bypass has surged with the number of instances of severe obesity. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has expanded insurance coverage to include surgical weight loss. The costs associated with surgically treating obesity will get excluded from healthcare insurance coverage if the operation is performed against a doctor’s recommendation or diagnostic procedures do not validate it.

What are the Benefits of Having a Health Insurance Plan if you are Obese?

By purchasing health insurance for parents who are obese or for yourself, you will receive the following benefits.

1. Decreased Risk

Each year, significant health issues brought on by obesity cause numerous individuals to pass away. You can receive high-quality care without fretting over the price if you have healthcare insurance.

2. Shorter Waiting Period

Before they become accessible to their full potential, plans related to obesity have a brief waiting period.

3. Family Protection

Moreover, health insurers provide coverage for obesity for both individuals and families under floater plans. It enables you to include your family members in the insurance.

4. Simple Claim

Most obesity-related healthcare insurance plans provide a lump sum of cash needed for the procedure after filing a claim. This characteristic enhances the value of healthcare insurance.

Conclusion

Obesity’s negative health impacts are now a major worry for everyone. Luckily, there are several health insurance plans in India for obese people. However, obesity and related health concerns drive up the cost of healthcare insurance. The best course of action is to strive to achieve a healthy weight if you intend to buy healthcare insurance.

Visit Niva Bupa Health Insurance if you’re looking for the best health insurance companies. They provide obese individuals with flexible insurance options.