Health

Does Your Health Insurance Policy Provide Coverage For Depression As Well As Other Medical Conditions

Published

1 year ago

October 25, 2023

Freelancer

Does Your Health Insurance Policy Provide Coverage For Depression As Well As Other Medical Conditions

In this fast-paced era, everyone is running fast and changing their lifestyles to fit their busy schedules. With the increasing work pressure coupled with the change in lifestyle and unpredictable day-to-day schedule, one needs to pay more attention to the symptoms that their body and mind throw. As a result, many end up facing a serious health condition or another.

In its recent report, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that one in every eight individuals has a mental disorder worldwide, and mental illness constitutes about 15% of the global disease burden. Pointing out that India has the world’s largest population with mental issues, the report urged immediate action for the upgradation of mental healthcare.

People suffering from mental health illness has multiplied following the COVID-19 pandemic, and people have started seeking professional assistance to overcome the so-called stigma attached to it. This, in turn, has led to an increase in expense towards the treatment, and as a result, many have started opting for individual health insurance policies that cover treatment for mental illness.

Understanding mental illness:

Mental illnesses are health conditions or behavioural patterns involving unsettling changes in feelings, thoughts, emotions or behaviours. According to WHO, a mental disorder is defined as a clinically notable disturbance in a person’s cognition, emotion or behaviour, and they are usually associated with impairment or distress in important areas of functioning.

They are also referred to as psychological disorders or mental health conditions. Some of the commonly prevailing mental illnesses are depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

It is not always apparent whether a problem with mood or thinking has gotten bad enough to need attention from mental health professionals. For instance, it is normal to feel low or depressed when one loses their loved one. But when the depressed mood continues to cause distress or disrupt normal functioning, it is better to seek professional help.

Mental health diagnosis involves a thorough health evaluation, including a physical examination, because symptoms of certain mental illnesses and medical conditions are similar. In most cases, mental health conditions are treatable, and improvement becomes evident with treatment. There are several instances when people with such conditions have returned to full functioning.

Does health insurance policy cover mental illness:

Until recently, not all individual health insurance policies cover expenses for mental illness treatment. Many insurance companies deny policy at the underwriting stage or refuse to pay for mental illness treatment even though it was a pre-existing disease. As per the Mental Health Care Act 2017, mental illness should not be differentiated from physical illness, and all insurance companies should provide coverage for mental illness under health insurance policies.

In October 2022, the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI) revised its guidelines and made it mandatory for all the health insurance companies to cover mental health illnesses.

IRDAI directed all insurance companies to comply with the Mental Health Care Act, 2017, provisions with effect from November 1, 2022. All the insurance products that are in force on or after the Mental Health Care Act 2017 came into force should be deemed to provide cover for mental illnesses.

In India, there are several health insurance products that cover mental illness treatment. Some of them are

1. Individual health insurance policy: Under this policy, the insurer will cover an individual’s hospitalization, out-patient and medical bills. It can be for oneself, their spouse, children or parents. Since the individual does not have to share their insured amount with anyone, exhaustion of the insured amount will not impact others.

2. Family health insurance policy: It is a type of health insurance policy that covers different family members under a single coverage, and the insured sum is shared among the insured family members. If one of the insured members claims a certain amount from the policy, only the remaining amount will be available for the rest of the family members. It will be appropriate to purchase if more than one person has a mental illness in the family.

3. Group health insurance policy: It is a plan that organizations and companies offer their employees collectively. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in its guidelines said, an employer should have at least 20 employees working in their company to become eligible for a group insurance policy.

4. Critical illness insurance policy: Under this type of health insurance policy, insurance companies will provide coverage for specific critical illnesses, including mental health conditions.

5. Personal accident insurance policy: This policy provides coverage for mental illnesses including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression that are the result of accidents.

However, health insurance policies do not offer coverage for mental disorders or complications that are connected with alcohol and drug abuse, self-inflicted injuries and suicide attempts.

Conclusion:

Talks regarding mental illness had been considered taboo, and people with mental illness had been considered a stigma to society for several decades. It is only recently that people have started to overcome the stigmatization and seek professional assistance. Due to the prevalence of mental illness, the treatment cost has increased. To ease the financial burden, purchasing a health insurance policy that covers medical expenses for mental illness treatment is necessary. One needs to be careful and read the terms and conditions before purchasing the policy because not all policies provide coverage for mental illness.

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

Published

4 months ago

October 7, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

Published

4 months ago

October 6, 2024

VORNews

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

Published

4 months ago

October 5, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP