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Consumables Cover in Health Insurance
Consumables Cover in health insurance is generaly an add-on or inbuilt benefit designed to cover the cost of essential medical items that are usually not covered by standard health insurance policies. These consumables include gloves, masks, syringes, cotton, bandages, PPE kits, antiseptics, and other disposable items used during hospitalisation or treatment.
While each item may seem low cost individually, their total cost can significantly increase your hospital bill. But, with a consumables cover, your insurer pays for these everyday medical expenses, reducing out‑of‑pocket costs and giving you complete financial protection during treatment.
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What are Consumables in Health Insurance?
Consumables in health insurance are usually medical equipment/aids discarded after use, such as PPE kits, gloves, masks, and syringes.
A list of 199 items that are "non-payable" from the insurer's point of view was first published in 2012 and reviewed by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in 2016. The list serves as a guideline, and insurers can include or reject any or all items from this list regarding policy coverage.
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What is Consumables Cover in Health Insurance?
In recent times, given the skyrocketing costs of healthcare facilities, it has become essential to have a well-researched and adequate amount of health insurance. However, even if you have sufficient health coverage, it might fall short of certain exclusions and non-payables. In such cases, a large share of the hospital bill becomes an out-of-pocket expense.
Considering such cases and the ever-increasing importance of adequate health coverage, some insurance companies have now started providing coverage for many of these non-payables.
One of these is the Consumables Cover, which many insurance companies now offer as an add-on to health insurance.
List of Items Included in the Consumables Cover
You might be wondering how a few disposables, like masks, gloves, etc., would considerably increase the hospital bill. Well, you are not entirely wrong. Consumables used to form a small portion of the hospital bill previously, and people didn't bother much. However, recently, after the pandemic, the cost has risen due to the increased use of disposables and protective equipment.
There are a total of 199 items which can be classified under four categories. Here is the list of most preferred consumable items in health insurance plans:
Here’s a catch!
The list of consumables prescribed by IRDA includes 199 items, but it generally serves just as a guideline, and insurers have the liberty to include or exclude any item in their policy.
The list of consumables might look inexpensive separately, but when combined, they increase the cost of the bill. To avoid this hit on your pocket, you must consider getting consumables covered in your Health Insurance.
Example of Consumable Cover in Health Insurance
Consumable coverage in health insurance is easy to understand.
Let's say Mrs Ankita spent three days in the hospital for her delivery. Her husband was given a ₹2.4 lakh bill after she was released from the hospital, of which ₹35,000 was for consumables like cotton, diapers, air conditioning, hospital gowns, tissue papers, baby's birth certificate fees, attendant fees, etc.
This is where the consumable cover comes in. It covers such costs, ensuring these hidden charges don’t catch you off guard. Think of it as a safety net that shields your wallet while you recover stress-free.
Why Opt for Consumables Cover in Health Insurance?
Unexpected costs for gloves, syringes, and masks can increase hospital bills and out-of-pocket expenses. That’s where consumables coverage becomes a game-changer! And, you must buy a health insurance policy with a consumable add-on to get complete coverage of these hidden items' costs.
How Consumable Cover Can Make a Difference in Your Medical Expenses?
Medical expenses often include unexpected costs for consumables like gloves, masks, and syringes, which aren’t covered under standard insurance. A consumable cover bridges this gap, reducing out-of-pocket expenses. Here’s how it makes a difference:
- It reimburses the costs for all the single-use items used during the treatment procedure.
- Reduces financial stress after getting the final bill for discharge from the hospital.
- The cost of adding consumable coverage to your health insurance is affordable.
- Provides total coverage along with your base policy.
Why are Consumables Typically Not Covered by Standard Health Insurance?
One primary reason insurers are reluctant to cover consumables in health insurance is that most consumables are disposable and single-use items. During any treatment, piles of these are used and discarded, which shoots up the patient's hospital bill, which the insurers generally refuse to pay.
Consumables are the essential services and items provided for a comfortable and safe stay of the patient in the hospital. A compromise on these would directly mean compromising the patient's health. Hence, it's essential to refrain from striking off the consumables from the prescribed requirements of the patient. A consumable cover ensures that these consumables' expenses do not hit a patient's pocket.
Consumable cover bridges the gap between standard health insurance and unexpected hospital expenses for non-medical items. Covering single-use essentials like gloves, syringes, and masks minimizes financial stress and ensures quality care without compromises.
Be smart and include consumable coverage in your health insurance to ensure complete coverage.