Check Health Insurance for Mental Health- Benefits, Plans and Coverages

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, abstract, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It is a significant, determining factor in how we cope up with life’s stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood to adolescence, then adulthood through old age.  It can influence and be influenced by physical health.

Importance of Mental Health

Both mental and physical health are closely interconnected. As is seen in the case of many conditions like depression, stress-anxiety disorders and psychological conditions which increase the likelihood of physical diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, heart , nerve and brain related diseases.

Benefits of Healthy Mental Health

A sound and strong mental health is an essential health requirement in life. When our mental health is in a fit state, we not only improve socially, emotionally, and physically but also enhance our creativity, logical thinking, team spirit, work efficiency and relationships. We tend to cope better during stressful times in the personal and professional areas of life. We feel emotionally distressed and pained when suffering with losses like death of a loved one, a job loss or relationship issues and other difficult events, but with time, we get on with and enjoy our lives once again. Nurturing a fit mental health also has a positive impact on our physical wellbeing. Managing stress well, for instance, can have a positive influence in improving heart related illnesses.

Mental Health Insurance Claim Covers

Usually, mental health insurance covers various costs of certain disorders and mental conditions, consultation and treatment expenses, counselling session charges and hospitalisation bills.

1. List of mental conditions Covered Under Mental Health Insurance coverage:

• Acute depression
• Schizophrenia
• Dementia
• Bipolar disorder
• Post - traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Mood and anxiety disorders
• Hyperactivity/ attention deficit disorders
• Psychological disorders

2. Consultation and Treatment Expenses:

The mental health coverage plan will include diagnostic, consultation, and treatment expenses incurred on the mental health of the patient

3. Counselling and Psychotherapy Sessions:

A complete mental health insurance plan should also provide cover for counselling/therapy sessions conducted by counsellors

4. Hospitalisation Bills:

In certain conditions, when a doctor advises rehab or hospitalisation, the pre-hospitalisation, in-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation expenses are all covered

Top 5 Health Insurance Companies Offering Mental Health Coverage

The IRDAI has made it compulsory for all Health insurance companies to cover every expense that falls under the definition of mental illness given by the Mental Health Act of 2017.

The following health insurance companies offer Mental Health Insurance in India :

• HDFC ERGO Health Insurance
• Star Health Insurance
• ICICI Lombard Health Insurance
• Niva Bupa Health Insurance
• Aditya Birla Health Insurance

Specific Mental Health Coverage

Although, most insurance companies in India provide coverage under health conditions like Post - traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Acute depression, Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, mental illnesses related to food habits, but, those mental disorders or conditions which are a result of drug / substance abuse/ addictions , intellectual deficit , any type of mental retardation are not covered under the same.

Points to Consider in Mental Health Insurance

As per the new guidelines in India on mental health insurance, following points are to be kept in mind :

• Insurance companies must include mental illnesses in their health coverage plan
• Few insurers and plans covering mental health also cover consultation and counselling bills
• The waiting period for a mental health insurance plan is usually 90 days to 2 years offered by most insurance companies
• To initiate claim process on hospitalisation, the minimum time for hospitalisation must be 24 hours

 Government Programs Offering Mental Health Insurance

1. In 2007, following schemes were introduced by the central and state governments:

• Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Yojana at the level of the Central Government
• State level mental health insurance plans include Rajiv Aarogyasri scheme in A.P; Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Aarogya Yojna in Maharashtra; Chief Minister’s Comprehensive health Insurance scheme (CMCHIS) offered by Tamil Nadu state

2. Current Government Sponsored Health Insurance Plans Include –

• Ayushman Bharat Scheme: It offers insurance cover up to 5 lakhs. Offering around 17 packages, the mental health insurance plan even covers mental illnesses occurring due to use of psychoactive substances.