The COVID-19 crisis over the past year has been a testament to how uncertain life can be. This novel virus infected millions of people across the world and at least a couple of million people lost their lives to it. 

While it is true that recent times have been extremely challenging for humanity as a whole, a good takeaway is that many people have become more health-conscious and subsequently have also recognized the importance of having some safety net like a health insurance in place.

Health Insurance – A Necessity

A health insurance cover prevents financial upheaval in your life by taking care of a range of medical expenses. Be it unforeseen medical emergencies or planned treatments, a health insurance can help you avail yourself state-of-the-art medical care without worrying about high costs. Therefore, if you are anxious about rising medical expenses burning a hole in your pocket, it is high time you safeguard yourself and your loved ones by getting a health insurance policy.

It is best to buy a health insurance policy early on in life. This is because, the younger and healthier you are, the lower will be your health insurance premium. Moreover, you will be eligible for wider coverage if you get insured at a younger age. 

Another advantage of purchasing health insurance early on is that the waiting period for treatment of pre-existing illnesses, if any, will end sooner, while you are still young and healthy. Thus, you will be eligible for extensive coverage for health conditions in the latter phase of your life.

While age-related complications may increase as you grow old, there are certain measures that you can take to stay fit and avoid some health issues. 

Exercising regularly and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle are the very first steps in that direction. These steps can help you keep your weight under check and reduce the risk of obesity and related comorbidities such as type-2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, etc. 

At the same time, keeping a track of your Body Mass Index (BMI) can also help you to gauge how well you are managing your health.

Let’s understand what BMI is, and how you can calculate your BMI in the easiest way.

What is Body Mass Index (BMI) and How to Calculate it?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is an indicator of the body fat in a person. It is calculated as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. 

BMI is one of the most reliable basic indicators of an individual’s health. You can easily calculate your BMI with the help of a BMI calculator. All you have to do is input your weight, height, and gender in the BMI calculator to obtain the result. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies a BMI of over 25 to be an indicator of being overweight. Similarly, a BMI of over 30 indicates obesity. The table below denotes the BMI ranges for both men and women and the corresponding categorization of health situation. 

BMI Range Physical Health Condition

  • Less than 16: Severely Underweight
  • 16 to 17: Moderately Underweight
  • 17 to 18.5: Mildly Underweight
  • 18.5 to 25: Normal
  • 25 to 30: Overweight
  • 30 to 35: Obese Class I
  • 35 to 40: Obese Class II
  • Over 40: Severely Obese

In case the results highlight that your BMI is above or below the normal range, you should take corrective measures, like lifestyle changes or medical intervention. By doing so, you will be able to avoid further risk of medical conditions associated with your weight.

You must also note that your BMI plays a critical role in determining your health insurance premium. The closer your BMI is to the normal range, the healthier you are, and hence the lesser will be your health insurance premium. 

With leading financial services providers like Finserv MARKETS, you can avail health insurance policies from the top insurers in India right from the comfort of your home. 

Such platforms enable you to compare crucial aspects of health insurance plans such as the coverage, premium, claim process, claim-settlement ratio, add-ons, etc. before purchasing a health cover. This will help you make an informed decision and choose a health insurance plan that best suits your needs.

Health Plans Available At Finserv MARKETS

If you are looking for a health insurance policy, Finserv MARKETS offers you plans from the following insurance companies:

  • Bajaj Allianz General Insurance

  • Aditya Birla Health Insurance

Hassle-free online purchase and renewal, extensive coverage, and efficient customer service are some of the major perks of purchasing a health insurance plan from Finserv MARKETS. 

Moreover, you can calculate your health insurance premium beforehand and settle for a plan that suits your budget. You can easily calculate the premium with the help of an online health insurance premium calculator. 

While purchasing a health insurance policy at Finserv MARKETS, you also get the option to customize your health cover as per your requirements. However, the premium may vary accordingly. The more comprehensive your coverage, the higher could be your health insurance premium.

All of these facilities are also available on the Finserv MARKETS App. Along with getting your health insurance, you can also use the app to plan your broader personal finance needs. The app is available both on Google Playstore and Appstore. 

Do Not Be Underprepared

While many people realized the importance of health insurance due to COVID-19, it also revealed how underprepared most of us are. Data gathered at the peak of the pandemic in 2020 showed that less than 4% of Coronavirus patients had health insurance. 

Now that you have a better understanding of some crucial aspects of health insurance and the importance it holds in today’s day and age, make sure you safeguard yourself and your loved ones under a comprehensive health insurance plan. 

In case you encounter any queries while purchasing a health insurance plan, you must not hesitate in seeking help from a financial expert. This will help you avoid inconvenience at a later stage.


References:

1. Covid19.who.int. 2021. WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. [online] Available at: <https://covid19.who.int/> [Accessed 23 March 2021].

2. India, P., 2021. Demand for health insurance picks up 30pc post coronavirus spread. [online] Business-standard.com. Available at: <https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/demand-for-health-insurance-picks-up-30pc-post-coronavirus-spread-120042101770_1.html> [Accessed 23 March 2021].

3. Who.int. 2021. Obesity. [online] Available at: <https://www.who.int/westernpacific/health-topics/obesity> [Accessed 23 March 2021].

4. NEWS, B. and News, I., 2021. Coronavirus Insurance India: Less than 4% of Covid-19 patients in India have insurance | India Business News - Times of India. [online] The Times of India. Available at: <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/less-than-4-of-covid-19-patients-in-india-have-insurance/articleshow/76195688.cms> [Accessed 23 March 2021].


Disclaimer: This article is written by Practo and sponsored by Finserv MARKETS, as part of a collaboration activity for public interest. The content presented on this page is for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.