Health Insurance Coverage For Monkeypox

Monkeypox is a condition that is commonly heard nowadays around the country. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared monkeypox a global health emergency ^[1]. Since the disease has spread rapidly, knowing whether your health insurance policy covers it is essential. Read further to understand what is monkeypox and its coverage under your health insurance policy.

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused due to the monkeypox virus. The symptoms of the disease are similar to that of smallpox but are less contagious in comparison. The condition usually does not cause severe illness in adults and is rarely fatal. Children are more likely to contract monkeypox when compared to adults. It is a contagious condition that spreads from one person to another by coming in close contact with an infected person, animal, or even contaminated material like clothes. The condition lasts about 2-4 weeks and usually goes away naturally. However, sometimes in children, the disease may turn out to be fatal. If a child is diagnosed with monkeypox, immediate treatment is required. The common symptoms of monkeypox include fever, chills, headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, discomfort, exhaustion, and rashes on the face and body.

Do health insurance plans cover monkeypox?

All health insurance plans in India offer coverage for monkeypox. The reason being all health insurance plans provide health coverage for the treatment of infectious conditions. Since monkeypox is an infectious disease, healthcare plans cover it too. An individual with valid health insurance gets coverage for hospitalisation costs, treatment charges, ambulance charges, ICU charges, and other medical expenses. If you have health insurance with OPD coverage, the treatment of your OPD charges would be covered. The exact scope of a healthcare plan varies from person to person. Read the terms and conditions of your health plan to know the inclusions and exclusions before purchasing. * Standard T&C Apply

What are the exclusions of a health insurance plan for monkeypox?

Most health insurance policies do not provide coverage against monkeypox from day one. Instead, after the waiting period, health insurance coverage is available. Most health insurance plans in India have a waiting period of 30 days. The waiting period starts from the day the health plan was bought. A health insurance plan does not cover non-accidental claims during the waiting period. A policyholder will be able to raise a claim for monkeypox only after the initial 30-day waiting period ends. If a policyholder requests a claim within the first 30 days of the policy, the insurance company is likely to reject the claim. Apart from the exclusion of the waiting period, the second exclusion of monkeypox is OPD coverage. OPD (Out-Patient Department) covers the expenses of medical bills like doctor consultations, medicines and treatments that do not require hospitalisation. If a policyholder is infected with monkeypox and requires hospitalisation, their treatment is likely to be covered under a health insurance policy. However, a patient may not get any health coverage if they are advised to isolate themselves and recover at home. In such cases, OPD coverage is available only to those individuals who have purchased a health insurance policy with an OPD add-on cover. * Standard T&C Apply

How to prevent monkeypox?

Here are some of the common tips that help in the prevention of monkeypox:

1. Do not be in close contact with any individual who has monkeypox.
2. Wash your hand regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitiser.
3. Avoid coming in close contact with individuals with a rash similar to monkeypox.
4. Ensure that you consume fully cooked meat.
5. Avoid sharing foods or drinks with individuals who are infected with monkeypox.
6. Avoid contact with stray monkeys, rodents, or any other sick animals.
7. Avoid touching the clothes and bedding of an individual infected with monkeypox.

Individuals can take preventive measures against monkeypox like they would have to take for any other contagious disease. If you do not have a health insurance plan, you must choose one after thorough research. There is no single best health insurance plan in India, it varies from individual to individual based on their needs. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.