Ensuring a Safe and Healthy Diwali: Protecting Parents with Health Insurance

Diwali is a joyous occasion to celebrate amidst love, blessings, laughter, and fireworks. Yes, firecrackers are a pivotal part of Diwali celebrations, enjoyed by children as well as adults.

However, firecrackers add to pollution and smoke, which may deteriorate the health conditions of the elderly. Thus, older adults require extra care and protection during Diwali to avoid health complications. Purchasing or renewing health insurance for parents can support them in protecting against health hazards.

In this post, let’s look at how the festive season may cause various health risks to parents and grandparents and the role of health insurance in providing timely medical support.

Health Risks of Parents During Diwali

• Air pollution during Diwali contributes to the deteriorating health of the elderly
• Patients with COPD, asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory tract infections suffer the most
• Firecrackers produce Nitrous Oxide that stays in the air for a long time and gets into the lungs as fumes
• It causes asthma attacks among patients and increases the risk of heart disease and chronic bronchitis
• People with low immune systems also suffer high health risks
• The noise produced by firecrackers may cause temporary deafness or may cause rupture of the eardrum
• The pollution is also harmful to new-born babies and pregnant women

Besides, the Dietary Indiscretions too Cause Health Hazards during Diwali:

• People tend to ignore their diet during festive time
• They indulge in sweets and other delicacies which are not good for their health
• These indulgences impact older adults and cause them to suffer a spike in sugar and blood pressure

Hence, it is necessary to ensure the health protection of elderly parents and grandparents by covering them with a protective shield of health insurance.

The Role of Health Insurance

Unforeseen health issues make people distressed. A health insurance policy is the backing that supports you when sailing through tough times of health emergencies.

• Cover against healthcare expenses – Medical insurance covers you and your parents against several health expenses such as in-patient hospitalization, consultation fees, pre- and post-hospitalization, OPD coverage, and more
• Protects against Pre-Existing Diseases (PEDs) – It further protects them against PEDs after a certain waiting period as well as against numerous critical illnesses as per the policy chosen
• Added benefits – Medical insurance for parents and senior citizens is available with added benefits like hospital cash allowances, ambulance charges, and AYUSH treatment and additional riders (add-ons) to make the plan comprehensive

Also Read: Understanding Health Risks during Diwali Celebrations

Selecting the Right Health Insurance

The insurance market is full of the best health insurance companies offering plans with varied features and benefits. All these different policies offer different features, which may or may not suit the needs of your parents. Hence, considering these features as per your requirement and comparing them in different plans is important before opting for your preferred health policy.

Let’s discuss some of the common criteria for choosing health insurance plans:

• Coverage options – The coverage option includes the sum assured offered under the plan as well as the various features of the plan. You need to consider the coverage benefits that you want for your parents to ensure their protection during Diwali and throughout the year. Consider diseases that your parents are prone to and are likely to suffer. Also, consider pre-existing diseases and critical illnesses for better coverage.
• Network hospitals – The greater the number of network hospitals, the better it is for the insured. Network hospitals are where the insured can avail of cashless hospitalization facilities. With cashless treatment, the insured doesn’t have to make any payments to the hospital, as the bills are cleared by the insurer directly.
• Premium affordability – While opting for comprehensive health insurance plans for parents, you must also check the premium price of the policy. A plan with an exorbitant premium price will hurt your pocket badly and cause you significant damage in the long run.
• Comparing policies – This is another significant factor to consider while buying health insurance. The applicant should compare different plans in terms of features and benefits and opt for the best policy.

In addition to the above, other criteria that need consideration include: 

• Waiting period
• Pre-and post-hospitalization
• Daycare procedures
• Ayush and other alternative treatment
• Critical illness coverage
• Domiciliary hospitalization, etc.

Expert Advice – Paybima Right Advisor

Having health insurance coverage is important for everyone. But when it comes to buying a plan, understanding the jargon makes things difficult. Buying a policy with the sheer recommendation of your friend or a relative will not suffice your needs. After all, every individual/family has specific healthcare needs. So, what is the alternative?

Seeking Guidance from the Right Advisor

If you are unsure about selecting a health plan, you need someone with complete knowledge to guide you through the entire procedure. Paybima Right Advisor is one such trustworthy option.

The right advisor is an insurance expert who understands the nitty-gritty of insurance and guides you about the best plan to suit your requirements.

Paybima presents the option of booking a free home visit with specialist insurance advisors to seek answers to endless queries about health insurance. Just visit the official Paybima portal and book a free home visit to make the insurance buying procedure simple.

Also Read: Financial Wisdom in Diwali Celebrations: From Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj

How to Apply for Health Insurance

Health emergencies can appear at any stage of life, and it is essential to be prepared with a health insurance plan. Parents and the elderly are more prone to falling into the trap of illnesses, and they need enhanced coverage to fight such health conditions. Here is a step-by-step guide to applying for medical insurance plans for parents:

Step 1 – Gathering required documents

The first step is the document collection step. You must keep the documents that are needed during the buying process. Below are some of the documents accepted as proof for purchasing health insurance:

• Proof of Identity such as an Aadhaar card/Voter ID/Passport
• Proof of age such as a PAN card/Aadhaar card/Voter ID/Licence/Birth Certificate
• Proof of address such as a Driving license/Aadhaar card/Passport/PAN/Rent Agreement/Electricity bill
• Passport-size photographs (if asked)
• Medical reports (if asked) and
• Duly filled proposal form

However, many insurers these days offer paperless policies with minimal paperwork in a hassle-free manner.

Step 2 – Filling out the application

Depending on whether you buy health insurance online or offline, you may proceed with filling in the details on the proposal form. For offline buying, you may seek help from the insurance agents or directly visit the office of an insurance company for the procedure.

If you are buying a policy online, you may visit the official portal of the insurer or of an insurance broker like Paybima to get the details of the plan and fill out the form once you have selected the plan of your choice. You also have the option of comparing policies at this stage using a calculator and searching for plans as per your requirements.

Step 3 – Understanding policy terms and conditions

The third step is the most crucial as it requires understanding the policy terms and conditions, its pros and cons, inclusions and exclusions, and more. Here, it is very important to seek guidance from experts like Paybima Health advisors. You may book a free home visit at any time by visiting the official portal of Paybima. Knowing everything about the policy you are willing to buy in detail is essential, or else you may end up getting a policy that will not suffice your needs.

Tips for a hassle-free application process:

• Make sure that you have the relevant documents required for the process
• Ensure to select the plan of your choice after understanding the plan completely
• Check for the coverage type and sum assured offered under the plan
• Check for an insurer with a good CSR or claim settlement ratio
• Check the waiting period under the plan for PEDs, and specific diseases, as well as the initial waiting period

Celebrate an Eco-Friendly Diwali

Looking at the increasing concerns of pollution and the impact of global warming, it is better to celebrate this pious occasion in a green and eco-friendly way. Rather than spreading noise and pollution with firecrackers, let’s spread peace and love this year.

Here are some tips for celebrating a safe and eco-friendly Diwali:

• Use clay or earthen diyas to light up your houses rather than fancy LED lights
• Use natural/organic colors to prepare rangoli at home, which are biodegradable and safe
• Stay away from plastic gift-wrapping options. Use cloth bags or paper bags that are biodegradable
• Say no to firecrackers or limit your firecracker usage to a minimum
• Use eco-friendly firecrackers made from recycled paper that cause less noise and pollution
• Use healthy homemade sweets and meal options
• Be mindful of the right and nutritious ingredients to alter the unhealthy ones
• Use sweets made from honey, jaggery, and dried fruits and nuts containing nutrients rather than the ones made from refined sugar
• Eat in moderation and stay hydrated
• Don’t skip your exercise routine despite the busy schedule amidst the festivities

Handling Health Emergencies

In an emergency health situation during Diwali, you may keep the helpline numbers handy. Dial 122 helpline, which is active pan-India for an ERSS or Emergency Response Support System. You can dial the number or press the power button of your smartphone thrice to activate the emergency call. Download the 112 India Mobile App from the Google Play Store to activate a panic call to ERC.

Besides, there are helplines provided by state governments across India for emergency health services during Diwali. You may search for such emergency helpline numbers and keep them for emergencies.

Also, purchasing a health insurance plan for parents above 60 will give you peace of mind. With a policy to cover you and your loved ones, you can relax about the expenses incurred during different health situations during the festival season.

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Conclusion

Diwali is the most awaited time of the year. It is important to ensure the safety and good health of your parents, children, and other members of the family during this time. The health issue of even a single member of the family might ruin all your plans of celebration and make you panic about the healthcare expenses. Hence, purchasing a health plan to cover your parents is necessary to make this Diwali healthy and worry-free.

After all, Diwali is a time of blessings, love, and laughter. Without the good health of your parents, Diwali will not be the same. Act now to purchase a health plan for your parents’ well-being during the festival.

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