What is Loss of Speech?

Loss of speech refers to the irrecoverable loss of the ability to speak due to an injury or disease caused to the vocal cords. The condition where a person is unable to communicate, majorly because of brain damage, is termed as aphasia. Another speech disorder is mutism which is again characterised by the inability to speak. The period for which a person is unable to speak under these conditions may vary as per the severity of the illness. But the health insurance companies usually cover the illness when the inability is established for a continuous period of at least 180 days. The diagnosis must be supported by medical evidence furnished by an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) specialist.

Loss of speech can occur due to both medical or psychological conditions. Absent speech or mutism occurs as a sign or catatonia, where the person is unresponsive but otherwise awake. In children, deafness or hearing problems can lead to a lack of speech development. In people who have developed speech, the inability to speak can indicate a stroke or a type of brain damage. Dementia, head injury, and brain tumors may also be causes of loss of speech. Some other causes of loss of speech or language functions include:

• Cognitive disability
• Hearing loss
• Hearing problems
• Selective mutism
• Social phobia
• Delusional disorder
• Drug-induced psychosis
• Toxins
• Vegetative state
• Brain trauma

Health Insurance Plans That Cover Loss of Speech

Loss of speech is a critical illness, the treatment of which can cost a hefty amount. This is why you need a critical illness policy that protects you from expenses related to treatment of loss of speech. A critical illness policy pays the insured a lump sum amount up to the sum insured if he/she is diagnosed with a critical illness that the policy covers. Apart from loss of speech, a critical illness insurance policy also covers you against other life-threatening diseases such as cancer, stroke, paralysis, deafness, kidney failure, coma, etc. When it comes to critical illness insurance policies for loss of speech, there are a number of popular health insurance companies to offer them. HDFC Ergo’s (formerly known as Apollo Munich) Health Optima Vital Plan, GoDigit Critical Illness insurance policy, Max Bupa Criticare plan, and ManipalCigna Lifestyle Protection Critical Care plan are a few to name. Most critical illness health insurance plans come with lifetime renewability benefits. Also, you can avail tax benefits on the premium paid for them under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Why Buy Health Insurance for Loss of Speech Online at InsuranceDekho?

At InsuranceDekho, you will find a range of critical illness insurance policies that cover treatment expenses related to loss of speech. The portal offers you a smooth and transparent buying process and allows you to buy reliable health insurance plans within a few minutes. To check other benefits of buying critical illness insurance for loss of speech online at InsuranceDekho, read below:

• Quick issuance of critical illness insurance for loss of speech
• Multiple quotes from popular insurers for loss of speech
• Post policy purchase assistance from knowledgeable customer care executives
• Flexible modes of payment offered
• Assistance during filing a claim
• Help from knowledgeable customer care executives at the time of purchasing a policy
• Online premium calculator to get an estimate of health insurance premium even before buying the policy