How can Preventive Health Check-Ups Help in Reducing Long-Term Medical Costs?

What Are Preventive Health Check-Ups?

Let's first understand what preventive health check-ups are. These are not about running to the hospital when you're severely sick. Instead, it's about catching problems before they become severe.

Preventive health check-ups or health screening can simply be a thorough assessment of your overall health. This helps in identifying any potential health concerns or risk factors that may lead to severe health problems. The goal of these preventive health check-ups is simple: timely detection and intervention to prevent diseases.

Top Benefits of Preventive Check-Ups

Preventive health check-ups offer a variety of benefits. Wondering how they help reduce the long-term medical costs. Consider having a look.

Early Detection Saves Big Costs

Think of it as car servicing. You don't wait for your car to be worn out or broken down. Instead, you service it regularly so that it keeps functioning smoothly. Guess what? Your body is not much different.

The majority of severe illnesses like diabetes, cancer, heart disease and so on, start silently. And by the time you can figure out the symptoms, the treatment already becomes complicated and expensive. However, with preventive check-ups, conditions are identified at an early stage, and can typically be worked on with lower-cost interventions.

For instance, a simple blood test can reveal high blood sugar much earlier. This way, you might need to make a few changes in your diet and lifestyle, rather than a lifelong treatment of diabetes.

Real life- math?

A preventive health check-up may cost you between ₹3,000 and ₹5,000. However, ignoring the signs may lead to surgeries costing in lakhs.

Preventing Complications of Chronic Illnesses

As mentioned, conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart concerns don't scream but silently enter your body. Good news? The majority of these concerns and much more can be detected during preventive check-ups only. However, if left unchecked and unmonitored, these may become severe and turn into chronic illnesses.

Additionally, for individuals suffering from chronic illnesses, preventive check-ups offer an opportunity to closely review their health status. You may adjust your treatment plans accordingly and avoid further complications.

Did you know?

According to reports and studies, medical inflation is rising at 14% on an annual basis.¹ This means a treatment that's costing you ₹2,00,000 may cost you ₹4 lakhs in just 6-7 years.

Preventive care can be your shield against such consequences.

Tax Benefits of Preventive Health Check-Ups

Preventive health check-ups can also help you reduce your tax liability with tax benefits. For instance, as per Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, you may claim tax deduction benefits of up to ₹5,000 for preventive health check-ups of your spouse, dependent kids, or self, given you have a valid health insurance.²

This is to be applied under the limit of ₹25,000 or ₹50,000, whichever is applicable.

Did you know?

A deduction of up to 25,000 can be claimed on premiums for oneself. However, the maximum limit of tax deductions of ₹50,000 can be claimed for parents, children, spouse, and self when put together.²

Insurance or Premium Benefits

Here is one advantage that not many people talk about: having a healthy report in your preventive health check-ups and an active lifestyle can also reduce the cost of your health insurance and its premiums. For instance, several insurers offer premium discounts and wellness rewards on their health plans. Also, when you have a record of healthy reports, your claim process is faster and easier.

Pro Tip: Compare and choose policies that offer wellness rewards or benefits. On Jio Insurance Broking, you get to choose from a variety of insurers. Read more about their plan, features, and benefits to make an informed choice.

Who Should Opt for Regular Check-Ups?

Preventive care is for everyone, no matter what your age, gender, or health status is. It is a step towards maintaining good health and wellness. Here is who may consider going for regular check-ups.

1. Individuals with a family history of certain concerns may go for regular check-ups. This helps monitor the genetic risks early, if any.
2. For individuals suffering from chronic conditions, regular checkups can be a way to review any changes in their health and update their treatment plans.
3. For women, regular health checkups can be used to assess reproductive health, cervical cancer, and breast cancer.
4. For men, regular check-ups can assess cardiovascular risks, prostate health, and more.
5. For individuals with unhealthy lifestyles, like excessive smoking, an unhealthy diet, regular checkups can help look into the impact of these habits to make necessary adjustments.
6. Healthy adults can also go for regular check-ups to identify any potential risks at an early stage.

Conclusion

Preventive medical care offers a variety of benefits. It gives the benefit of early detection, which comes in handy for timely treatments, helps avoid painful complications, reduces hospitalisation costs, and much more.

In fact, preventive health care checkups not only reduce the possible medical costs, but also improve your health, wellness, and offer peace of mind.