COVID-19 alert! Undergoing home treatment? What you must know about insurance claims

The sudden outbreak of coronavirus and its spread has left several state governments in quite a bother with only select number of hospitals in each city catering to the requirement. Many state governments like that of Delhi, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and other have allowed people with mild symptoms or those who are asymptomatic to undergo treatment in their respective homes. 

To help those undergoing treatment, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) has directed health and general insurers to include home care and Ayush treatment under COVID standard health policy. As per IRDAI, 'Corona Kavach,' standard indemnity-based COVID-19 policy, will cover the cost of treatment of any co-morbid conditions, including pre-existing conditions, along with the treatment for the coronavirus infection or disease with the tenure ranging from 3.5 months to 9.5 months. 

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If you have been undergoing home treatment, there are several things you must know. First of all, the patient must have tested positive for COVID-19 in a Government-authorized diagnostic centre but is taken home for treatment. The insured person availing home treatment for COVID will be covered for a maximum period of 14 days.  

The claim will only be approved if home treatment has been advised by an authorized medical practitioner.  

The Corona Kavach Policy only qualifies you for select expenses which include diagnostic tests undergone at home or at diagnostics centre, medicines prescribed in writing, consultation charges of the medical practitioner, nursing charges related to medical staff, medical procedures limited to parenteral administration of medicines (any non-oral means of administration). 

Apart from this, it also covers expenses for medical devices needed for COVID-19 treatment like a pulse oximeter, oxygen cylinder, and a nebulizer. 

Meanwhile, the total number of global coronavirus cases has topped 15.4 million, while the deaths have increased to over 631,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University. As of Friday morning, the total number of cases stood at 15,439,456, while the fatalities rose to 631,926, the University`s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update.