Cover Yourself Before Ailments Blow you Away

Aditya returned home late that evening from work, face hung in despair. His answers to his worried mother sounded unconvincing, as he headed straight into his room. When his father returned from his walk and enquired, a conversation ensued between father and son that dwelled on how critical it is to avail of health insurance at the right time.

- Balaji Rao

Father: “How was your day, son? Your mother said you appeared worried. Is everything alright?”

Aditya: “Yes, dad, I mean, no. My colleague Sneha’s father had a heart attack this afternoon and has been hospitalised. Sneha and her family are worried.”

Father: “I am sorry to hear this. How old is he?

Aditya: “He is 55 years old, dad. But I was told that he suddenly complained of chest pain this afternoon and, which was confirmed as a heart attack by the doctors upon admission.”

Father: “I do not believe there is anything to worry. Advances in the field of medicine should help doctors cure him easily.”

Aditya: “The problem may not be only that, dad. I think they are worried about the expenses.”

Father: “Why, don’t they have health insurance?”

Aditya: “Unfortunately, it seems nobody in their family has availed of medical insurance as yet.”

Father: “In this age and era, not having health insurance is not only unfortunate, it is utter foolishness.

What prevented them?”

Aditya: “Her father, who was employed with a private company until recently, took voluntary retirement to pursue a business venture. I believe he had a family group health cover when he was employed, but once he quit that benefit ceased to be. In the last couple of years, they failed to purchase additional health insurance, although they had planned to.”

Father: “People think they are invincible when young and aren’t prudent about future contingencies. It is imperative that every individual should have adequate health insurance. Statistics released by the health ministry show that a total of 63 million Indians were faced with poverty due to soaring healthcare expenses.”