Star Health Insurance New Scheme - Cardiac Cover

WHO says cardiac diseases are the most common causes of medical deaths worldwide. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) caused 32% of global deaths in 2019 alone. CVDs include diseases that affect heart muscles or the blood vessels, causing problems in the circulatory system. And the leading cause of these diseases is the sedentary lifestyle, which is inevitable in modern society. So if you are not getting regular physical activity or you have a family history of CVDs, you have a risk of getting cardiovascular diseases yourselves. And ordinary health insurance can cover that. However, a more targeted health insurance like Cardiac Care offered by Star Health Insurance can be better if you already have pre-existing cardiovascular diseases.

Star Health Cardiac Care

Star Health Cardiac Care is a new unique scheme from Star Health Insurance that targets patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. This scheme from Star Health Insurance is for patients between 10-65 years. Under this scheme, patients can get surgical and non-surgical treatments for cardiac and non-cardiac ailments. A unique feature of Star Cardiac Care is that you can get treatment for cardiac diseases after 90 days, even if it is pre-existing. In addition, you can also claim benefits as an out-patient; cardiac patients would greatly benefit from this as they might need routine checkups. The plan also provides personal accidental cover upon death.

There are two plans in Star Cardiac Care: gold and silver. In the silver plan, you don’t get coverage for medical management, which includes services such as regular checkups and counseling. You have two options for the sum insured for these plans: 3 or 4 lakhs; you can purchase the plans for one, two, or three years. The payment for Star Cardiac Care can be quarterly, half-yearly, annually, biannually, or triennially. 

Star Health Plan Eligibility

You are eligible if you are between 10-65 years and meet the following conditions:

• Undergone Stenting or By-pass within seven years
• Suffering from Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) or Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD), which are holes in the walls between the heart chambers
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), where a blood vessel named Ductus Arteriosus that should close after birth remains open
• Undergone RF Ablation, where you destroy tissue as a part of treating a cardiac disease
• Had Angiogram, a procedure to see inside the blood vessel

Star Health Plan Details

• Hospitalisation Expenses: Patients can claim expenses incurred during, before, and after hospitalisation. You must be an in-patient for more than 24 hours to be eligible for the claim. Once you become eligible, you can get reimbursement for medical expenses up to 30 days before hospitalisation. You are also qualified for coverage for 7% of your medical expenses up to INR 5000 post-hospitalisation for up to 60 days.
• Room Rent Coverage: The plan covers the rent of your room during hospitalisation. You can get up to 2% of your sum insured without exceeding INR 5000 in one day. For example, your total room rent for all the days combined can only be INR 8000 for a sum insured of INR 4 lakhs. 
• Ambulance Coverage: Star Cardiac Care covers transportation by ambulance for a maximum of INR 750 per hospitalisation. And you can get ambulance coverage for a maximum of INR 1500 in a policy period. 
• Out-patient Coverage: You can also claim coverage for procedures that do not require hospitalisation. However, you must claim within 15 days of the event, and the maximum amount covered per event is INR 500. In a policy period, you can claim up to INR 1500.
• Modern Treatment Coverage: Star Cardiac Care also covers the latest treatments, including robotic surgeries, up to the following limits. 

• Cataract Treatment Coverage: Star Cardiac Care also covers cataract treatment for up to INR 20,000/− per hospitalisation. And you can use up to INR 30,000/− in a policy period.
• Copayment: 61 years old or above must pay a 10% copayment with every claim. For example, if the claim amount is INR 2,00,000, you must pay INR 20,000 yourselves. 
• Waiting Period: There are three kinds of waiting periods under this scheme:
  • Cataracts and diseases of the eye
  • Diseases of ENT
  • Diseases related to the Thyroid
  • Varicose veins, and Varicose ulcers
  • Prolapse of intervertebral disc (other than caused by accident)
  • All Diseases of the Prostate, Stricture Urethra
  • All Obstructive Uropathies
  • All types of Hernia, Epididymal Cyst, Benign Tumours of Epididymis
  • Spermatocele, Varicocele, Hydrocele, Fistula / Fissure 
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Pilonidal Sinus and Fistula 
  • Rectal Prolapse
  • Stress Incontinence.
  • Congenital Internal disease/defect
  • Desmoid tumour of anterior abdominal wall, Gall bladder, and Pancreatic diseases 
  • Treatments (interventional, conservative, laparoscopic, and open) related to liver, pancreas, or biliary diseases, including Gall bladder and Pancreatic calculi
  • All types of management for Kidney calculi and Genitourinary tract calculi 
  • All treatments related to all Diseases of the 
  • Uterus, 
  • Fallopian tubes, 
  • Cervix and Ovaries, 
  • Uterine bleeding, 
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases, 
  • Benign breast diseases, 
  • Umbilical sinus, 
  • Umbilical fistula 
  • Conservative, operative treatment and all types of intervention for Diseases related to Ligament, Tendon, Fascia, Bones, and Joints, including Arthroscopy (looking inside joints) and Arthroplasty (surgery for restoring the function of joints ) other than those caused by accident 
  • Degenerative disc and Vertebral diseases, including replacement of bones and joints 
  • degenerative diseases of muscles and skeletons
  • Subcutaneous Benign lumps: noncancerous lumps under the skin 
  • Cysts (pockets of fluids similar to a blister) on sebum-secreting glands or the skin
  • Mucous cyst lip/cheek, 
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disease caused due to pressure on a nerve inside your wrists.
  • Trigger finger, discomfort while moving fingers.
  • Lipoma, fatty lumps between skin and muscle
  • Neurofibroma, nerve tumour on or under the skin
  • Fibroadenoma, a noncancerous breast tumour
  • Ganglion, a fluid-filled lump under the skin
  • Any transplant and related surgery
• Initial Waiting Period: This period starts from the day your purchase your plan. It lasts thirty days; then, you can claim coverage according to your policy.
• Specific Waiting Period: Some specific diseases and procedures need another waiting period of 24 months. You can see the list of these below:
• Waiting Period for Pre-existing Diseases: If you had a disease before the policy purchase, you must wait for 48 months before you can claim coverage. However, you can start claiming coverage for any pre-existing/non-pre-existing cardiac ailments after 90 days for CVDs. 
• Accidents: There is no waiting period for claiming coverage after an accident.

Free Look-up Period

You will get 15 days from the day you purchase your policy to verify its terms. If they do not satisfy you, you can cancel the policy and get a refund. The refund will have the entire amount you paid minus the cost of medical screening and stamp duty charges. 

Star Health Insurance Plan Premium

You can purchase the policy for one year, two years, or three years. The three-year premium is less costly than the one-year premium. All these premiums can also be in instalments; there are two options: quarterly and half-yearly. Quarterly instalments are higher than half-yearly instalments. 

Conclusion

Star Cardiac Care is an excellent health insurance plan for people suffering from cardiac diseases; you can start getting coverage with only a 90-day waiting period for cardiac ailments. Moreover, you get out-patient coverage and personal accidental cover. Star Cardiac Care is an excellent choice if you did not have health insurance before being diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases.

FAQs

What is medical management?
Medical management includes overseeing the medical care given to the patient. You will get counselling, regular checkups, and dietary advice to maximise the care.

What information do you need to provide to purchase the policy?
Information required during the policy purchase includes,
1. Personal details, like date of birth
2. Contact details, like a phone number
3. Financial details, like annual income
4. Details of other insurance
5. Details of pre-existing diseases 
6. Photographs and IDs

Does Star Cardiac Care treat accidental injuries?
Yes, Star Cardiac Care provides coverage for accidental injuries. You can also get coverage for emergency ambulance expenses.

How many diagnostic centres are thereby Star Health Insurance?
Star Health Insurance has 1,635 centres for diagnosis. And you don’t have to visit the centres for every checkup; they will pick up lab samples from you and do other possible checkups at your doorstep. 

Why is the free-look-up period crucial?
The free look-up period is crucial as it helps you purchase the policy as soon as policy without committing to it. During this period, you should read about the exclusions and the limits. And if you find the coverage is unsuitable, you can cancel it. You will get most of your money, except the charges due to medical screening and stamp duty.