A sedentary lifestyle has almost become inevitable these days. A lot of us either work for hours at a desk or in front of a system. At the same time, people spend a considerable amount of time on their smartphones, either sitting or lying down. This lifestyle along with the food habits and lots of stress does not bode well for your physical or mental health.
Thus, it does not come as a surprise that there has been an increase in the total number of terminal illnesses and critical illnesses among people. And these ailments are not restricted to older age only. In a bid to do more, to achieve our goals, a lot of us push our bodies physically and mentally. And given the ever-increasing medical expenses, these can have serious implications on your finances as well. One of the smarter ways of ensuring better access to healthcare and lowering your finances is to buy health insurance.
Need for Health Insurance Plans
Medical inflation in India is higher than the overall inflation, and this has been the case for a few years now. In simple words, medical procedures and treatment are only going to get more expensive with each passing year. Not having adequate coverage in such times can hurt you a lot financially.
If you are on the lookout for a health insurance plan, it is advisable that you look for plans that offer wellness programs as well. And not look for a base health plan. A plan with wellness programs ensures that your policy has much better coverage and gives you peace of mind. The wellness programs along with a standard plan will make sure that you and your loved ones receive the best treatment, without having to worry about expenses.
For people who are considering wellness programs as a part of their health insurance benefits, here is all that you need to know about them.
What are Wellness Programs?
The health insurance industry has matured over the past few decades. Insurance companies are constantly innovating and coming up with products that match the times and needs of people. The ongoing pandemic is a good example of the same. Where insurance companies were swift to create plans to cater to COVID-19.
Insurance companies usually involve themselves with innovation and experimental products to ensure that they are market leaders. And are able to cater to a wider range of needs of people. Health insurance plans with wellness programs are a result of these innovations, to provide unique products to their customers.
A health insurance plan with a wellness program rewards you for certain activities that essentially help you to stay fit physically and mentally. These activities can include running, cycling, walking, jogging, etc. And you can use the points earned by the program for redeeming, based on the terms and conditions of the insurance provider.
Should You Choose a Health Plan With a Wellness Program?
When you buy a health insurance plan with a wellness program, it is a win-win for you. As a result of the program, you can save money and a byproduct of the same is that you will end up becoming healthier.
About 25% of the total number of deaths every year are attributed to non-communicable medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
Should you sign up for a wellness program as a part of your health insurance plan, it provides you additional motivation to stay healthy. Thus, helping you save money and build a healthier version of yourself.
Here is a table that outlines the underlying reasons that are responsible for 25% of the total mortality in the country.
| Medical Ailment | Underlying Reasons |
| Respiratory ailments | Environmental hazards, occupational hazards, smoking, air pollution |
| Cancer | Abusing drugs, tobacco consumption, air pollution, occupational hazards, alcohol |
| Cardiovascular ailments | Consuming excessive tobacco and alcohol, unhealthy diets, lack of exercises |
| Diabetes | Weak immunity, unhealthy diet, increasing stress levels, lack of physical exercise |
However, it is not all gloomy and doomsday. With the help of healthy diets and a better lifestyle that includes physical activities, a lot of the above ailments can be prevented. Opting for the right health insurance plan along with a wellness program will give you added motives to stay healthy.
Benefits of Wellness Programs
Here are some of the benefits of opting for a health insurance plan that has integrated wellness programs.
- Financial Benefits
Some insurance providers offer discounts on their premiums when you redeem the points earned from the wellness program. This ensures that you can save a considerable amount of money on your policy premiums. However, the redemption criteria and benefits would largely depend on your insurance provider. It is crucial to read details about the redemptions before buying the policy.
- Physical and Mental Health
Wellness programs that are integrated with health insurance plans, aim at improving the physical and mental health of policyholders. Should you enrol in any of these programs, your focus will shift towards measures that are preventive in nature and improve your lifestyle in general. Leading a healthier lifestyle will help you physically and mentally in the long run. The program also allows you to track your health status in a much better way.
Read more - Best Health Insurance Policies for Hypertension Patients
Conclusion
Aiming for a healthy lifestyle is the first step toward liberating yourself from a sedentary lifestyle. Following steps such as regular exercising, and working towards a better work-life balance along with lower stress levels will help you achieve a healthier lifestyle. Also, you must opt for preventive health check-ups once every six months or once a year, to keep a tab of things.
Opting for a health insurance plan with wellness programs will aid you in the process of choosing a better lifestyle. These programs will push you for a healthier mind and body and as a result, you can save money as well. Making it a win-win situation for everyone. To make the most of it, you can buy online health insurance plans to save even more. You can compare various plans and choose a plan that fits your budget.
Read more - You Cannot Avoid Hospitalization But You Can Save With Health Insurance
