As India ages, focus shifts to affordable healthcare for elderly persons

Adding to their burden is the lack of an overall policy on health insurance for the elderly population, a section that is becoming increasingly important for the country.

When undergoing treatment for a stroke or dementia at the age of 80, the elderly are stacked with huge debts, In families with a single earning member, it can even lead to bankruptcy, as the earning is channelled towards paying the massive medical bills. The absence of concession in fee at private hospitals and insurance plans that are allegedly structured to keep away, or worse, suck finances of seniors in need, contribute to this looming problem.

For senior citizens, private insurance firms levy a minimum monthly premium of Rs 6,000, said Dr GR Ravindranath, general secretary, Doctors’ Association for Social Equality. He alleged that they often come with pre-medical check-ups that no one can pass and plans that are designed in such a way that they can be availed only for some treatments and offer an insurance cover of only a few lakh rupees. “So a middleclass person would only opt to save money and pay the bill themselves, rather than paying the hefty premium for these unrealistic insurance plans,” Ravindranath said.

“The Central and State governments can and should push for quality, free or at least affordable healthcare for all. If not all, they should at least start with free healthcare for people above 60 years,” he added.

At government hospitals, most of the treatment (barring investigative tests like CT, MRI scan, etc.) are given at a 95 per cent concession for elderly members, said Dr Vasanthamani, Dean, Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital. “Additionally, all government hospitals are preparing for the influx of increased elderly patients, launching exclusive geriatric units with separate divisions for men and women, facilities like patient-friendly toilets, walkers, exclusive pharmacy, operation theatres, etc.,” she said.

The governments can help by bringing about a rule for all hospitals, especially private institutions, to provide treatment at zero cost for all above 80 years. “There can be an income slab for elderly persons earning less than Rs 70,000 a year and for those who don’t get any pension. A good example of this is the one run by Karnataka where emergency admissions are treated at zero cost for the first 48 hours. The government could also instruct the insurance companies to extend the schemes and make it accessible to those up to 100 years.”

Dr Selvavinayagam, additional director, Tamil Nadu Health System Project, said there are no exclusions for geriatrics in the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS). All treatments and services that are covered under the scheme can be claimed by people of all age groups.

“Only the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) can give a directive to private insurance companies for increasing the age limit,” he pointed out.

Senior officials from the Health Department said the 200-bed National Institute of Ageing that is being constructed at a cost of Rs 126.87 crores will provide treatment for elderly free of cost under the CMCHIS.