The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Higher premium for better coverage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 23, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Higher premium for better coverage

With hospital costs increasing, medical insurance has become essential. Many of our readers are embittered by the limited coverage offered by most health insurance packages.

Comprehensive plans

The increase in hospital costs disheartens people of getting treatment and they often resort to all kinds of stopgap remedies, which worsens the condition. Very few nursing homes of the old school, levy reasonable charges or provide treatment options.

While one cannot blame corporate hospitals for expecting a reasonable return on their investments, comprehensive medical insurance plans have become necessary.

B. Gopinath,

Jayanagar

Regulation

In all social sectors, including health, exploitation of consumers has become rampant, causing misery to the middle and low-income groups. The Government should introduce schemes, such as Yeshaswini, to provide health care coverage for all ailments at affordable costs. It should also regulate companies providing medical insurance.

K.T. Thimmareddy,

R.T. Nagar

Read small print

Read the "small print" in medical insurance policies and you will see that many many ailments are excluded. This is not the case with Blue Cross or Blue Shield in the West, where comprehensive medical coverage is accepted. Insurance companies should realise that it is for serious ailments that one goes to a hospital and not for common cold.

S. Pishe,

Indiranagar

Full coverage

A lot of medical insurance is sold by credit cards companies, which are offshoots of international banks. Why cannot these banks also campaign for the kind of comprehensive medical insurance available in the west? One does not invite illness or accident. Since the cost of hospitalisation is high, insurance companies can charge more and offer full coverage.

K. Sridhar Rao,

Malleswaram

Higher premium

If medical insurance has not become as popular here as in other countries, it is because the coverage does not extend to all types of hospitalisation costs.

A situation has come when only the rich or those with their employers picking up the bill can afford to fall ill. Most of us will not mind paying a higher premium if the insurance covers more medicare expenses. It is for the insurance companies to work out how this can be done.

G. Parashuram,

Lingarajapuram

Limited scope

The Government too has an Employees State Insurance scheme, but obsolete rules limit its application. It is time the income limits for ESI are revised considering today's inflationary pressures and cost of medical care. Something similar to the Central Government Health Scheme with accredited private hospitals participation can be a good solution. Medical insurance still has limited scope and not all can afford it.

Latha Venkatesh,

Jayanagar

Consumer movement

Many companies today provide medical reimbursement to their employees; they can tie-up with insurance companies as in the case of annuities/pension funds in the private sector.

With Governments everywhere downsizing, facilities such as ESI and CGHS may become limited in their use. Only a strong consumer movement can help in making medical insurance cover more needs.

Jayshree Murthy,

Ulsoor

NEXT WEEK: IT professionals and others returning home late at night along lonely roads are frequently getting mugged and robbed. It is also becoming common for those drawing money from ATMs at late hours to be waylaid and robbed. Can the police do something or should citizens themselves become more careful? Readers are invited to send their responses to The Hindu , 19 and 21, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road (Infantry Road), Bangalore-560001, or email them to bglreflections@thehindu.co.in

Jayanagar

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka