Organ donation is the best way to give someone the gift of health or life. While donating an organ is considered to be a noble cause, in recent years, the range of malpractices surrounding organ donation has undermined the practice of organ transplantation. Apart from safety concerns, the high costs of organ transplant surgeries are a cause of concern for many people looking to donate or receive organs. For example, a liver transplant can set you back by almost ₹25 lakh! Health insurance companies have identified this growing concern and have started offering medical insurance packages that include coverage for organ transplantation.
While there are numerous benefits of health insurance, before buying a policy, it is important to assess your medical needs and choose a plan that offers optimum protection. Based on your needs, you can look at an individual health insurance policy or health insurance plans for family. Today, we will be talking about the benefits of having a health insurance policy for organ transplant surgeries.
Benefits of Having a Health Insurance at the Time of Organ Transplant Surgery
● Donors and Recipients Both Get Coverage
In an organ transplant surgery, there are two people – the donor and the recipient. If the recipient has an active health insurance plan, it will cover all expenses, including hospitalisation, surgery, and pre and post-hospitalization costs. For the transplant to take place, the donor will have to be operated on first, and the organ will be stored by the hospital. This involves certain costs too. A medical insurance policy that includes comprehensive organ transplant insurance will also cover all the costs associated with the donor’s surgery and hospitalisation. Hence, if you want your health insurance plan to include organ transplant surgeries, then make sure that you look at the scope and extent of the coverage before buying.
● Exclusions for organ donors
If you decide to donate your organ, your individual health insurance policy will not cover the costs associated with the hospitalisation and surgery required for organ donation. The recipient’s insurance plan will cover these costs. However, most insurers only offer coverage for hospitalisation and surgery costs for organ donors. Other expenses like screening costs and pre and post-hospitalization expenses are not covered by these policies. Therefore, before agreeing to donate your organ, make sure that you check if the recipient’s insurance will cover all such costs.
Remember, organ transplant is a complex process. The doctors will put the donor and recipient through a lot of tests before determining a match. Once the donor is confirmed, the recipient and the donor have to be prepared for the surgery. This may require some tests or even hospitalisation in some cases. Sometimes, donors are required to stay hospitalised for a few days before they can go home too. The entire process involves high costs. Therefore, as a donor or a recipient, it is important to understand these costs and be prepared for them before initiating the process. If you are banking on health insurance to cover the costs, talk to the insurer to understand the inclusions and exclusions carefully and prepare for the rest.
Summing Up
Remember, hospitals usually quote the transplant costs that involve the costs associated with the recipient. Hence, if you are going to receive an organ, ask the hospital to give you a detailed break-up of the costs associated with the recipient and the donor so that you can talk to your insurer accordingly. Also, if you are planning to avail of cashless health insurance, you will need to check with the insurer if organ transplant surgeries are included. Clarify all doubts and prepare yourself financially to ensure a smooth transplant process. Good Luck!