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Doctors prescribe customised treatment plans to facilitate recovery and adaptation to ailments. For example, in diabetes, reducing sugar intake is recommended. Similarly, physiotherapy is often an effective treatment option when motor skills are impaired due to severe injuries from an accident.
It’s an excellent form of rehabilitative therapy that plays a significant role in helping individuals recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions, and improve their overall life quality. However, the cost associated with physiotherapy can pose a challenge at times.
The good news is that leading health insurance companies in India, like Tata AIG and others, offer comprehensive health insurance plans with post-hospitalisation coverage, home health care services, and OPD covers. And often, these insurance covers include physiotherapy coverage — one of the many benefits of health insurance policy.
Whether you have a medical policy or are planning to buy one, this guide will help you make informed decisions. It will delve into whether physiotherapy coverage is included under health insurance. However, before delving into whether physiotherapy is covered by health insurance, it’s crucial to grasp what physiotherapy entails.
What Is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a specialised medical treatment that addresses the impact and limitations that may arise from injuries, physical impairments, or illnesses. It aims to restore and enhance the body’s natural movement, functionality, and well-being.
Types of Physiotherapy
As we explore the realm of health insurance cover for physiotherapy, it’s crucial to understand the physiotherapy types and recognise their value in facilitating recovery. Here are some of them:
- Paediatric Physiotherapy
It addresses the unique needs of infants, children, and adolescents. It aims to promote proper growth and development, address musculoskeletal conditions specific to this age group, and help children with neurological disorders or developmental delays achieve their optimal physical potential.
- Geriatric Physiotherapy
Ageing brings changes that can lead to daily challenges and long-term inconveniences. Muscle discomfort, joint pain, and limited mobility become common in old age. It helps older adults overcome these issues by gradually relieving pain and improving movement. This form of physiotherapy aims to restore mobility and enhance life quality.
- Neurological Physiotherapy
Neurological conditions like spinal cord problems, stroke, and motor degenerative diseases can impair movement. Early intervention with neurological physiotherapy can effectively manage these issues and help individuals maintain everyday life. Skilled physiotherapists create personalised treatment plans to address specific challenges patients face with neurological conditions. The focus is on improving coordination, mobility, and speech through targeted exercises and therapies.
- Orthopaedic Physiotherapy
Injuries to the joints, bones, and ligaments are prevalent among athletes. When a sportsperson experiences an injury like an anterior cruciate ligament tear, their movements become restricted. They’re recommended to take adequate rest to prevent further damage and promote a faster recovery. Orthopaedic physiotherapy is vital here, facilitating a shorter recovery time and reducing the likelihood of recurring problems.
Types of Treatment
Listed below are some of the types of treatment performed by skilled physiotherapists:
- Manual Therapy
This hands-on approach involves the skilled manipulation of muscles, joints, and soft tissues. Manual therapy techniques include joint manipulation, joint mobilisation, soft tissue mobilisation, and massage. It aims to alleviate pain, improve the motion range, and restore optimal function.
- Electrotherapy
This involves using electrical currents or energy to stimulate tissues and promote healing. Common electrotherapy modalities include ultrasound therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), laser therapy, and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). These modalities can help reduce inflammation, manage pain, and improve tissue healing.
- Hydrotherapy
This involves the use of water in order to deliver therapeutic benefits. Immersion in water, often in a heated pool, allows low-impact exercises that relieve joint pressure, improve mobility and promote relaxation. Hydrotherapy can benefit individuals with mobility limitations, arthritis, or joint pain.
Does Health Insurance Cover Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy may be required in two scenarios: post-hospitalisation or as a standalone treatment without needing hospitalisation.
If your doctor has recommended physiotherapy following a hospital stay and your policy includes post-hospitalisation coverage, your health insurance online plan will likely cover the cost of physiotherapy.
Remember that physiotherapy can be recommended without prior hospitalisation. It’s considered an outpatient department (OPD) treatment in such cases.
With all that said, it’s worth mentioning that not every insurer offers coverage for OPD treatments like physiotherapy. Reviewing your policy documents carefully is crucial to ascertain whether your insurance policy covers physiotherapy as an OPD treatment.
Conclusion
Physiotherapy holds tremendous long-term benefits when managing and overcoming various health issues. However, in India, it’s essential to ascertain whether physiotherapy falls within the scope of your health policy coverage.
You can seek advice from insurance providers like Tata AIG and others to gather more information and clarify doubts regarding physiotherapy insurance coverage under your health insurance plan. They can provide valuable insights and guidance specific to your policy.
