Even the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet entirely gone, a new viral disease, Monkeypox has outbroken. Originated in Africa, Monkeypox is the latest viral disease, which has made its way to India. In just a few weeks, four cases have been reported in the country.
What is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox is an infectious viral disease, similar to smallpox. It does not spread easily. Human-to-human transmission develops through respiratory droplets in long face-to-face contact or close contact with infected animals, or infectious material from skin lesions.
Common symptoms of Monkeypox include swollen lymph nodes, fever, rash, headache, muscle aches, backache, chills, exhaustion, pimples, or blisters on hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or other parts of the body. No proven treatment is available. However, viruses for smallpox medicines may prevent and treat monkeypox virus infections.
Will Your Insurance Policy Cover Monkeypox?
Fearing this new viral disease will spread fast like coronavirus, people are worried whether health insurance in India will cover monkeypox. The best part is the health insurance plans provide coverage for Monkeypox. Since insurance policies cover every infectious disease, the medical expenses incurred by Monkeypox treatment are also covered.
Coverage under the policy includes:
- Hospitalization costs
- OPD treatment charges
- Consultation fee
- Medical tests and medicines costs
- Ambulance charges
- ICU charges, etc.
However, the scope of coverage varies depending on the plan purchased. For instance, most health insurance plans cover hospitalization expenses. There are other policies that cover OPD treatment expenses.
Waiting Period
Monkeypox is not covered by health insurance from the first day. Rather, the coverage starts after the waiting period, which is generally 30 days. During the initial waiting period, no claim is available for non-accidental claims
Conclusion
Since monkeypox has been declared a global emergency by WHO and no proper medicines are available, it is advisable to go for the best health insurance policy. But, before choosing one, read the terms and conditions.