When you experience an illness, your physician recommends a treatment plan designed to aid your recovery while simultaneously accommodating your life with that illness. For instance, if you suffer from high blood pressure, you might be given blood-thinning medications, along with significant dietary changes. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you may be advised to drastically reduce your sugar intake. Likewise, if you sustain serious injuries from an accident that affect your motor abilities, physiotherapy typically emerges as an effective treatment option. Given the nature and various kinds of the treatment, physiotherapy can occasionally be somewhat expensive. If you possess a health insurance plan, are you aware if it covers the expenses related to your physiotherapy treatment? Let’s investigate.

What is Physiotherapy?

Before addressing the inquiry “Is physiotherapy included in health insurance?”, it is essential to grasp the concept of physiotherapy. Physiotherapy is characterized as a sector of medical care that centers on addressing the impact and discomfort caused to the natural movement of the body. For example, if your right arm is fractured, the physician will place a cast fashioned from Plaster of Paris. This cast assists in realigning your broken bone and also promotes the healing of your arm. However, the limitations imposed on the movement of your arm may make it challenging to perform regular hand movements as before. To resolve this concern, physiotherapy would be suggested.

This is merely one illustration of how physiotherapy can facilitate your recovery. Physiotherapy represents an ever-evolving domain of medical science where novel and innovative treatments are being developed to accelerate the recovery process and relieve patients from the discomfort of their conditions.

What are the Types of Physiotherapy?

Various types of physiotherapy are utilized to address distinct health issues. These are:

1. Neurological Physiotherapy: There exist several neurological disorders such as stroke, spinal cord-related issues, or even motor degenerative diseases, which can impede your body’s movement. A well-known example is Parkinson’s disease, which can severely disrupt a patient’s mobility. Notable symptoms include visible trembling of the limbs, abrupt tremors, or difficulty in speaking. When identified promptly, neurological physiotherapy can assist in managing these challenges, allowing you to live a normal life without exacerbating the condition.
2. Orthopaedic Physiotherapy: Injuries to the bones, ligaments, and joints are fairly common. When an athlete experiences an injury, such as an anterior cruciate ligament tear, their movement becomes limited, as inadequate rest would worsen the injury and prolong the recovery time. With orthopaedic physiotherapy, the recovery timeline is minimized, and it supports complete healing while ensuring that the issue does not recur.
3. Paediatric Physiotherapy: This variation of physiotherapy focuses on health issues associated with children. Challenges encountered during delivery, congenital anomalies, or any difficulties that may arise early in life can prevent the child from leading a typical life. This kind of physiotherapy aims to address the core issue of the problem and assist the child in coping with it.
4. Geriatric Physiotherapy: As individuals age, significant changes occur in their bodies. These changes can affect daily life and may result in long-term discomfort. Joint discomfort, muscle pain, or difficulties in performing simple tasks are frequent issues linked to aging. As muscle mass declines and the body weakens, daily movements become restricted. Geriatric physiotherapy aids in addressing these challenges. The therapy focuses on resolving movement-related problems and gradually alleviates joint or muscle pain to enable a normal life.

Types of Treatment

Various issues necessitate different treatment methods within physiotherapy. These treatments include:

1. Basic Therapy: In this treatment approach, the patient’s muscles and joints are relaxed and released through massages, which enhances the patient’s mobility.
2. Electrical Nerve Stimulation Therapy: This treatment involves reviving any inactive nerves that hinder mobility or stiff muscles through the application of mild electric currents. This is achieved by either placing electrodes on the affected area or using an electric blanket.
3. Hydrotherapy: This therapy is specifically designed for patients with arthritis. In this treatment, the patient is seated in water maintained at a temperature range of 30-36°C. The patient is then instructed to perform specific exercises that help alleviate muscle pain.

Is Physiotherapy Covered in Health Insurance?

The requirement for physiotherapy arises under two circumstances: either following hospitalization or independently from it. One benefit of health insurance is that it encompasses treatment post-hospitalization. If a physician prescribes physiotherapy after hospitalization and your policy includes post-hospitalization coverage, the physiotherapy expenses will be covered.

It is important to remember that hospitalization is not a prerequisite for recommending physiotherapy. However, if your physician has suggested it to address certain health concerns, it is categorized as OPD (Outpatient Department) treatment. Few insurers provide OPD treatment coverage. Carefully review your policy document to ascertain health insurance coverage for physiotherapy.

Importance of Including Physiotherapy in Health Insurance

Physiotherapy is crucial in the recovery and rehabilitation process; however, its expenses can often be burdensome. Including physiotherapy in health insurance is vital, as it guarantees access to quality treatments without the added financial stress. Whether recuperating from an injury, surgery, or managing chronic pain, physiotherapy promotes healing and enhances mobility.

Conclusion

Physiotherapy offers significant long-term advantages in assisting you with specific health issues. Nevertheless, it is crucial to verify whether it falls within the range of your health insurance coverage in India. Please consult your closest insurance agent to obtain further details regarding this.