Exercise is essential to maintain good health and most of us choose sports or go to the gym to meet this demand. You may be aware that if you have played sports for a long time there are chances of accidents that can lead to injury. So, it is wise to prepare yourself financially in advance if you are an avid sportsperson or a gym-goer. But Did your standard health insurance plan cover injuries related to sports and gym? Continue reading to know more.
Common Sports and Gym Injuries
Anyone participating in sports or fitness activities can suffer a sports injury. Of course, this could cost you a lot of money, depending on the injury and the method of treatment. Look at some typical sports and gym injuries:
- Muscle sprains
- Bone fractures
- Knee injuries
- Dislocated bones and joints
- Achilles tendon injuries
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Tendon injuries
All of these injuries mentioned above are extremely painful, take a long time to heal and require a lot of attention, and if left untreated, can seriously affect your quality of life. Worse, some of these injuries require prolonged medical care that often involves expensive surgery and rehab programs.
Is there any Coverage for Sports and Gym Injuries Under Health Insurance Plans?
The most basic financial protection against costly medical expenses is health insurance. It provides comprehensive protection against medical treatment, hospitalization and various serious diseases. Hence, we can say that health insurance covers injuries caused due to gym and sports.
There are few sports and gym related injuries that are not covered under health insurance plans such as scuba diving, mountaineering, racing, sky diving, etc.
Is There Any Health Insurance for Gym and Sports Injuries?
In India, many health insurance companies offer health plans for hospitalized patients with sports-related injuries. Some sports-related injuries are also covered by various personal accident health insurance policies or critical illness health insurance.
There are also some special health insurance plans that specifically provide coverage for injuries caused by participating in sports or exercising in the gym. Depending on the policy wording, these health insurance policies can cover a wide range of diseases, including ligament tears, bone fractures and other problems.
Things To Remember While Raising a Claim For Injuries Related to Sports and Gym
You should always carefully read the policy wordings of any health insurance plan before purchasing it. Keep the following in mind before making a claim:
- Sports injuries due to illegal substances are not covered in health insurance plans.
- Common injuries such as sprains are not covered in health plans.
- Injuries due to participating in sports such as motorsports, hunting, cliff diving, and adrenaline-air sports are not covered in health insurance plans.
- Injuries that occurred due to illegal activities are not covered.
Conclusion
Whether you play sports or are an avid exerciser, there is always the potential for unintentional injury. In these situations, it is essential to get prompt medical care. Panicking or thinking about the cost of care during these times will make you feel more stressed. It is important to buy a health insurance policy in advance as it will keep you financially secure from such situations.