Preventive diseases have become a significant challenge due to unhealthy habits and the sedentary routine of the modern lifestyle. Doctors usually recommend regular preventive health check-ups to detect potential severe diseases and avoid complications. Preventive health check-ups can be suitable for senior citizens and older people as they give them an early warning about the diseases they are prone to and can take necessary precautions to avoid them.
What are Preventive Health Checkup?
A preventive health checkup is a series of medical tests performed to determine steps to be taken to prevent disease. Preventive health care detects certain behaviors, habits, infections and medical issues before they become severe or life-threatening diseases.
Various researches show that preventive health checkups are an effective way to determine the potential health issues even before diagnosis and require costly treatment.
Benefits of Preventive Health Checkup
Preventive health checkups are offered under almost every comprehensive health insurance plan. Below mentioned are some of the benefits of buying preventive health checkup packages:
- Determine the probability of getting sick.
- Early detection of potentially life-threatening diseases.
- Increase chances of receiving early treatment and sometimes cure.
- Helps in monitoring pre-existing health conditions.
- Helps in improving the lifestyle.
- Helps you in actively monitoring your health.
Who Requires Preventive Health Checkup?
Anyone who is 30 years old or above 30 years of age needs preventive health check-ups because after 30 years, people are more likely to be affected by severe diseases or serious life-threatening illnesses. Preventive health check-up is essential for people suffering from the following diseases:
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
List of Preventive Health Checkups Packages
Preventive health checkup offers various healthcare packages based on age, gender, and disease:
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Family Package
Under the family package, the entire family can avail of the benefits of full-body check-ups, dental consultation, dietary, and ophthalmic. Some hospitals provide customized healthcare packages for both men and women.
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Cardiac Package
Under the cardiac package, you can identify the risk of cardiovascular diseases and heart attack. Moreover, you will also get the proper consultation regarding the diseases.
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Diabetes Package
The diabetes package offers regular checkups for diabetic patients to check the performance of their vital organs and to avoid complications.
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Cancer Package
The cancer package helps detect cancer in the early stages and future risk assessments.
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Pediatric Package
The pediatric package offers a wide range of Ophthalmic, Pediatric, Dental, and general check-ups for children up to the age of 13 years.
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Fertility Package
Under this package, couples with problems in conceiving can get expert consultation.
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Dental Package
Under this package, you can take dental checkups other than your regular dental checkups.
List of the Tests Under Preventive Health Check-ups
Below mentioned is the list of tests performed under preventive health checkups:
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Preventive Health Checkup Packages |
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|
Type of Package |
Tests |
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Diabetes |
Blood Sugar PP, Blood sugar fasting |
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Liver |
Serum Bilirubin, Liver enzymes |
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Blood Profile |
Complete Haemogram, Blood grouping & ESR |
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Kidney |
Blood Urea, Serum Creatinine, Bun |
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Lipid Profile |
Triglyceride, HDL, Cholesterol, LDL |
|
Thyroid |
T3 and T4 Level. TSH |
|
Abdominal |
Abdominal Ultrasound |
|
Cancer |
PAP smear |
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Cardiac |
2D Echocardiogram, Chest X-ray, Coronary Angiography, ECG |
Major Preventive Medical Tests to Consider for Different Age Groups
Below mentioned are the lists of various age-specific preventive medical tests that a policyholder must check before going for a preventive health check-up:
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Age |
List of Preventive Medical Checkups |
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0-10 years |
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10-20 years |
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20-30 years |
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30-40 years |
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40-60 years |
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Above 60 years |
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Tax Benefits Under Preventive Health Checkup
Under section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961, passed by the Government of India, you are eligible for a tax exemption of INR 5K on preventive health checkups. A total of INR 25K can be claimed to cover the cost of preventative health exams for you, your spouse, or your dependant children. You can avail additional 25K for insurance for your parents (less than 60 years of age).
Does your health insurance cover Preventive Health Checkup?
Many health insurance companies cover basic health tests. Before buying a Health Insurance plan, you must read the Terms & Conditions to check the coverage of Preventive Health Care. So, if you are going for any check-up that is not covered under your health policy, you have to pay for it as it is non-claimable.
Many health insurance companies offer coverage for basic health tests. You should always read the terms and conditions of the health policy to check coverage for preventive health checkups before buying a health insurance plan. So, if you are going for a health check-up not covered under your health insurance plan, you will have to pay for it.
Things to remember while Buying a Preventive Health checkup
Below mentioned are the things to consider while buying Preventive Health Checkups:
- 10 hrs of an empty stomach is required for most of the tests.
- You should wear loose and comfortable clothes for better manoeuvring.
- Avoid wearing accessories or metallic objects such as watches, chains, etc., while going for imaging tests like X-Rays, CT scans, etc.
- Intimate your doctor if there is any pacemaker installed in your body before the checkups.
Some Other Important Health Insurance Pages
- Compare Health Insurance
- Grace Period in Health Insurance
- Dr YSR Aarogyasri Health Insurance Scheme
- Family Health Insurance
- Individual Health Insurance
- Depression Covered Under Health Insurance
Conclusion
A preventive health checkup is a tool for early detection that enables you to stay informed about your body's experiences as you age. While a person may occasionally exhibit signs and symptoms, they often go unnoticed without regular checkups.
In terms of the individual's health, early diagnosis is one of the significant benefits of a preventive health check-up. Additional benefits such as tax benefits are significant benefits of preventive health checkups. So, if one wants to improve their health insurance portfolio, one should opt for a preventive health check-up.