In India, Does Health Insurance Cover Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are the most common disease in India that many adults struggle with. Most of them are formed by the precipitation of substances in urine such as calcium, oxalate, uric acid, and cystine.

This disease results in too much pain and its treatment is costly. Sometimes, it can be cured by proper oral medications, but it may require surgery often, which becomes costly. So, it's become necessary to take health insurance that covers kidney stones. Read to know more about Kidney Stones, their types, the best health plans available for Kidney Stones treatment, coverage details, waiting period & exclusions, etc.

What is a Kidney Stone?

A kidney stone is a hard object that is primarily made from chemicals in the urine. It forms within a person’s kidney or urinary tract that can lead to several discomforts. Kidney stones involve four different types which will affect the lives of a person. Therefore, anyone who wants to get relief from kidney stones should undergo high-quality treatment in a hospital.

In most cases, the stone may stone in the kidney and travel down the urinary tract, and deposit in the ureter. Dehydration is the main reason that causes kidney stones which require more proper medical attention. Some other factors responsible for the problem include obesity, eating too much salt or sugar foods, a sedentary lifestyle, etc.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can lead to some symptoms, and one should be aware of them properly that will help choose a treatment based on them. Some of them include blood in the urine, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, urine that smells bad, back pains, etc. On the other hand, the symptoms may vary from one person to another person, which will result in various problems. 

Diagnosis and Treatment

People who suffer from kidney stones should undergo a blood test, urine test, and CT scan to detect the severity of symptoms. Furthermore, the treatment will depend on the type, symptoms, and health conditions. A doctor will recommend shockwave lithotripsy to treat kidney stones with high efficiency. The shockwaves will be performed on the affected areas to crush the stones into small pieces. It provides ways to restore the conditions that give ways to lead a healthy lifestyle. In some cases, patients need surgery to effectively get rid of kidney stones. They should also take medications to improve their conditions.

Is it Possible to Get Coverage for a Kidney Stone in Health Insurance?

Does health insurance cover kidney stones? The answer is yes, and one can claim the amount for the same. Not only that, health insurance makes feasible ways to manage treatment costs, thereby helping to witness peace of mind. Anyone who wants to ensure maximum protection against high medical expenses can select a plan which exactly fits their budget and lifestyle.

Types of Treatments Covered Under Kidney Stone Health Insurance

All surgery and non-surgery procedures related to kidney stones are claimable under the health insurance policy for kidney stones. Each helps to pass or remove kidney stones, so let’s see the types and their treatment.

Types of treatments covered- 

1. Non-Surgical Treatments: 

Painkillers and alpha medication: It’s formulations meant for passing of little stones through urine.

Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL): Shock wave therapy crushes kidney stones into finer fragments. Shock wave therapy works to fragment the kidney stone and helps to pass the stones through urine.

2. Surgical Treatment: 

Ureteroscopy: Through the urethral canal a thin tube is passed. It assists in eliminating stones or fragmenting them.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy PCNL: 

It is one of the Endoscopic surgeries, used for the larger stone removal. This is done through making a small incision to remove the stone.

Open Surgery: 

It is a very rare case. Sometimes, it has to expel big or many-pieced stones that are located in awkward positions.

Diagnosis tests:

Some firms include X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, and all that is relevant in the diagnosis in the packages they offer.

Follow-up care:

Many of the insurance providers also issue coverage for additional procedures such as consultations, tests, and medications for follow-up care.

Health Insurance Companies Covering Kidney Stone Treatment

Multiple health insurance companies in India cover kidney stone treatment. However, the plans also have some specifications that make each plan different from others. 

Waiting Periods

Moat health insurance companies offer a waiting period 1-4 years for pre-existing diseases. While some organisations set a standard minimum waiting period of 30 days or more.

Exclusions

There are several exclusions with kidney stones cases such as -

• Prior illnesses
• Other treatments such as ayurvedic or homoeopathy treatments, 
• Room rent beyond the amount mentioned,
• Other outpatient treatments 
• Some advanced technology procedures not included in the policy.

Why Should One Buy a Health Insurance Plan?

Buying health insurance offers several benefits to policyholders that will help reduce their financial burden. First, it allows a person to ensure a high-quality treatment for various problems, including kidney stones. Is kidney stone covered under health insurance? This is the first thing to look at while buying a policy. Policy buyers should know what is covered and what is not covered in detail, which will help a lot to proceed further.

Conclusion

Kidney stones can lead to complications when they are not handled properly. Besides that, the costs of diagnostic procedures and treatment may become expensive. Hence, one should consider buying a kidney stones insurance plan from a reputable company that will help accomplish goals in the coverage process. However, it is important to compare the plans online before investing money.

Also read- Advantages of Buying an Aditya Birla Health Insurance Policy

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FAQs

Ques 1. Is a kidney stone a pre-existing condition?

Ans. Yes, Kidney stones are considered a pre-existing condition.  It generally shows several early symptoms before diagnosis. 

Ques 2. Is kidney stone removal without surgery?

Ans. Many times, kidney stones can be removed without surgery. Most stones will pass through urine within three to six weeks with proper medications. However, if the pain gets severe, you must go to the hospital and have powerful pain-relieving medicines.

Ques 4. What size of kidney stone requires surgery?

Ans. Kind stones larger than  0.5 centimetres in size are recommended for Surgical treatment. The surgical procedure is very advanced and can remove stones minimally invasive.

Ques 5. What are the worst foods for kidney stones?

Ans. Some foods with high levels of oxalate, including peanuts, spinach, beets, chocolate, and sweet potatoes, should be taken within the limits of patients with kidney stones