Insurance
•01 min read
Welcome to our brand-new series, A-Zs of Insurance. In this series, we will venture into the world of insurance to breakdown insurance jargon for you, so you’re empowered to make informed decisions about your financial security.
In a world where we see medical advancements almost every day, organ donation is an important consideration for us all. It’s an act that can help transform and save the lives of countless individuals.
However, the cost of organ donation can be quite high, going into lakhs of rupees. A single medical emergency, wherein an organ transplant is needed, can be enough to wipe out savings and create debt.
How can one be prepared in the face of such unforeseen circumstances?
It’s quite simple — with the help of an organ donor cover. Let’s learn what this means and why it’s important.
The organ donor cover is a feature available with health insurance plans that covers organ donation expenses.
There are two major reasons why an organ donor cover is important:
Organ donations in India can range between Rs 5 lakhs to Rs 40 lakhs [Source: Al Afiya Medi Tour], making it quite a steep expense if made out of pocket. An organ donor cover helps cover these expenses.
An organ donation, when done between two compatible living parties, consists of two procedures – one for the organ recipient and one for the organ donor. Let’s see how health insurance and the organ donor cover function in both cases.
The organ recipient’s expenses (like screening, tests, surgery, hospital stay, pre- and post-hospitalisation costs, etc.) will typically be covered by their health insurance policy, in accordance with the T&Cs.
Here is where things become a bit complicated, as it may not be covered by their health insurance policy in most cases. This is where the organ donor cover helps. It generally covers hospitalisation and surgery costs; some insurers may also cover post-operation complications. Other costs will have to be paid by the organ recipient.
Note: The exact coverage can vary across insurers and plans. Organ donations are subject to the Transplantation of Human Organs Act ‘94 and will be the basis for transplants.
The organ donor cover is available as an inbuilt feature with some health insurance plans, whereas some offer this as an add-on cover. So, when you buy health insurance, go through the benefits and available add-ons carefully, to ensure this cover is a part of it.
