There has been a surge in covid cases in neighbouring countries, leading to increased concern about masks, vaccines, and covid-specific insurance plans. However, covid-specific plans address this perception. The fact that most households have had at least one member affected by covid, makes it a more likely event. Furthermore, the risk of covid is imminent, as seen in the previous waves of the virus when cases multiplied quickly. For these reasons, people are more interested in purchasing covid-specific insurance plans as a way to hedge against the risk.
Read more : Corona Kavach Insurance – A Covid-specific plan
In the past three years, insurers have launched several types of covid-specific insurance plans in response to the urgent need for coverage.
On the individual side, two standardized plans called ‘Corona Kavach’ and ‘Corona Rakshak’ were introduced by the regulator. ‘Corona Kavach’ is an indemnity plan that reimburses expenses related to hospitalization and at-home care. While ‘Corona Rakshak’ is a fixed benefit plan that pays a lump sum if hospitalization lasts for a certain number of days. Insurers were hesitant to offer ‘Corona Rakshak’ but saw a strong demand for ‘Corona Kavach’.
On the group side, employers provided covid-specific death coverage to their employees, in addition to their existing group term life insurance. Some companies also offered a covid-specific top-up plan, which employees could use after exhausting their base group health plan coverage.
Disadvantages of covid-specific plan
One of the main drawbacks of covid-specific insurance plans is that they are not cost-effective. While the absolute cost may be low, the coverage only extends to one illness. Another issue with covid-specific plans is that they may give people a false sense of security. Covid is just one of many infections, and some health claims have been rejected because the patient had a different severe viral illness.
Additionally, covid has been known to compromise the immune system, leading to other severe illnesses such as heart attacks months after the initial infection, which may not be covered under a covid-specific plan. Finally, covid-specific plans lack portability, meaning the time spent in a covid plan cannot count towards the waiting period of a standard health plan.
There has been a recent increase in inquiries about covid-specific insurance plans, but insurers have not yet rushed to launch new plans. I recommend using the covid pandemic as a trigger to evaluate your overall insurance coverage.
If you do not have personal health insurance, now is a good time to consider purchasing it. There are several disease specific plans, apart from covid, which include dengue, cancer, etc.
It’s important to address the immediate threat of covid, but it is also important to plan for the long term.
About The Author
Mayank Sharma
MBA Finance
He is a professional who brings extensive knowledge and expertise to the field of group health insurance. He has dedicated 7years to helping individuals and businesses navigate the complexities of insurance. Having worked closely with numerous clients and insurance providers, he deeply understands the nuances of group health insurance policies. With a reputation for providing insightful and informative content, he leverages his industry experience to educate readers about the importance of group health insurance and its benefits. Through their articles, Mayank Sharma aims to empower individuals and businesses to make informed decisions about their healthcare coverage, ultimately promoting healthier and more secure communities.
