This International Women’s Day Know Why Women Should Invest in Health Insurance?

If you are reading this article, you are probably a woman or care for the women in your life. A woman plays so many roles - she is a mother, wife, sister, friend, daughter, colleague. She balances her work life and professional life so well, but most times neglects her own health! This article elucidates the significance of womanhood and why women should invest in Health Insurance.

The importance of International Women's Day:

In the early 1900s, great unrest and critical debate were occurring amongst women regarding their oppression and inequality. Women had started becoming more vocal and participating in campaigning for equality. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City, demanding better pay, shorter working hours, and voting rights. From 1909 to 1930, women celebrated National Woman's Day across the United States on the last Sunday of February.

Clara Zetkin, who was the leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, suggested the idea of an International Women's Day. Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland celebrated the IWD on 19th March following the discussion. In 1913-1914, while campaigning for 2022, the last Sunday. However, later International Women's Day was agreed to be marked on 8th March, which has remained the global date for IWD ever since.

Women are rising above societal hurdles every day and breaking the shackles of patriarchy, which is why International women's Day is celebrated to uphold women's achievements and recognise their challenges. This year the United Nations declared the theme of the day as 'Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.'

Why do women need health insurance?

Women are human beings, and that should be an enough reason to cover them with health insurance. Besides, they are more prone to critical illnesses like immune disorders, irregular blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, breast cancer, bone-related disorders, etc. Women give birth that can make them vulnerable to health issues, typically after the age of 40. However, whether you are a student, working woman, or homemaker, and irrespective of your age, a medical emergency can occur to anyone and any time.

While fulfilling their daily chores and the needs of the family, most women tend to ignore their own health. Many women have to balance both work and family responsibilities. Work and family pressure can further contribute to their health issues. If these issues aren't resolved on time, they can affect your mental well-being.

We all are aware of the skyrocketing medical expenses that can cost a pretty penny. If you think you are fit and healthy and do not need a health insurance policy, you are mistaken. Buying a health insurance policy after a certain age or detecting a certain illness could be very difficult or even impossible as health insurance providers will consider you a risky individual. A rightly chosen health insurance plan will help you stay financially protected in case of an unpredictable event. Considering these facts, it is obvious that women need health insurance cover, in some cases even more than men.

Which coverages do women need?

Here is the list of important Health Insurance Coverage that women should have:

1. Maternity Coverage:

Childbirth is not only mentally and physically challenging and can also be financially draining depending on the type of delivery and the hospital you prefer. If you are expected to need maternity coverage in the future, you should buy a health insurance plan that covers normal as well as c-section deliveries. You should know that most health insurance providers offer maternity coverage after the waiting period of 1 to 2 years. Hence, it would be best to buy the policy well in advance.

2. Critical Illnesses Coverage:

Many critical illnesses are not covered under health insurance plans, and however, these critical illnesses can knock on your door at any time. Critical illnesses like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, etc. are very common in women. Hence, it is advisable to buy a health insurance plan that extends coverage to such critical illnesses or buy an add-on or rider that offers coverage to critical illnesses. While purchasing the policy, make sure you read the list of critical illnesses covered in the plan, as each insurer has a separate list.

3. Auto-immune Diseases Coverage:

Auto-immune diseases are where your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in your body, a common disease in women above 60. Multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, myasthenia gravis, reactive arthritis are some of the examples of auto-immune diseases. Having insurance coverage for these diseases will help you avoid spending your retirement funds to fight against such diseases.

4. Post-hospitalisation Coverage:

Many surgeries and medical treatments require post-treatment or follow-up treatments that can be very expensive. Although most health insurance policies provide coverage for post-hospitalisation expenses, before purchasing the policy you should check whether the policy covers it.

5. Coverage for heart and blood pressure-related ailments:

Heart and blood pressure-related ailments are very common nowadays, irrespective of gender. But, women typically face these issues once they reach menopause. Therefore, it is essential that your health insurance policy provides coverage to heart and blood pressure-related ailments.

6. Loss of Job Coverage:

A considerable number of women have to leave their jobs due to pregnancy and childbirth-related reasons. Such a situation can be financially stressful to manage the household expenses. Having a health insurance plan offers loss of job coverage that can help you share your financial burden during such challenging times.

7. Coverage for Domiciliary Expenses:

Doctors might advise you to take domiciliary treatment that does not require a patient to get hospitalised for certain diseases and illnesses. Although these treatments can be taken at your home, they can be quite expensive, depending on the illness. Hence, it is advisable to opt for a health insurance policy that offers coverage to domiciliary treatments.

To Conclude:

Women have come a long way and they still have more to achieve. With many issues like dowry, female foeticide, harassment, women abuse, etc. unfortunately, women's health gets conveniently neglected. Gifting yourself or the woman in your life a thoroughly researched health insurance policy ensures she receives timely medical attention that could be delayed or overlooked due to financial issues.

Warm Regards,
Ketki Jadhav
Content Writer

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