Artificial Heart is available – Does your Health Insurance policy cover its cost

The Times of India has covered interesting news on availability of artificial heart.

According to this

“A tiny mechanized device weighing 400 grams may give hope to more than 4 million people in the country who die of heart failure every year. A Mumbai hospital has brought in the technology to implant an artificial heart that takes over all functions of the original heart and promises to double the patient’s life expectancy.”

Globally, over 10,000 people are believed to be living with this device so we can say it is a proven commercial alternative.

Rates announced by some hospitals in the country are:

Asian Heart Institute Mumbai                 Rs. 1 crore,

Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bangalore          Rs. 50 Lakhs

It is good to know that some of the Insurance Companies are new offering health insurance product under which you can insure yourself for Rs 50 lakhs /Rs 60 lakhs.

Some of these companies are:-

1. Religare Health Insurance Company Limited
2. L & T General Insurance Company Limited
3. ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited
4. Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited

We hope that in near future some insurance companies will come up with Top up/ Super Top products so that families can have insurance Cover of Rs. 100 Lakhs.