Poor diet choices lead to numerous diseases, including those of the digestive tract. Consumption of processed foods filled with saturated fats is at an all-time high. These foods impact the stomach, the small and large intestine and the colon. One such condition is Crohn's disease, a debilitating and long-term ailment that can get severe if left unattended. Let us learn more about Crohn's disease and find out if your health insurance covers the Crohn's disease treatment cost.

What is Crohn's disease?

Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which causes inflammation of the digestive tract. The inflammation spreads to various bowel levels and causes immense pain. The condition can get severe and lead to critical illnesses like colon cancer. While the actual cause of Crohn's disease is unknown, medical specialists believe it originates from certain immune system triggers and genetic disorders.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Crohn's disease can be mild or severe. Some days, you may experience remission, i.e., no symptoms at all. The common symptoms include:

• Diarrhoea
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Abdominal cramping
• Blood in stool
• Weight loss due to reduced appetite
• Pain around the anus
• Inflammation of the skin, eyes, and liver
• Kidney stones
• Anemia

Crohn's Disease Treatment

There is no known Crohn's disease cure. However, doctors may recommend dietary changes to control the symptoms. They may also prescribe medical tests like blood tests, stool tests, CT scans, endoscopy, colonoscopy and MRI scans to determine the severity of the condition. Below are the commonly prescribed Chron’s disease treatment courses.

• Diet modifications
Dieticians can help you creates a diet plan based on your condition with emphasis on fibre intake. They may also limit your fat and dairy intake, as the disease can prevent the breakdown of fats. Diarrhoea can cause dehydration, so you be asked to drink plenty of water.
• Medication
Physicians generally prescribe anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal medicines to treat Crohn's disease. Medications include corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and antibiotics.
• Surgery
Doctors may recommend surgery as a last resort to remove the damaged parts of the digestive tract. Crohn's disease surgery costs depend on the procedure recommended, the type of hospital you choose (private/government) and the surgeon's expertise.

Do Health Insurance Plans Cover Crohn's Disease?

Many health insurance providers in India cover Crohn's disease treatment costs like doctors' fees, medication, surgery, hospital bills, etc. While some insurance providers may categorize Crohn's under pre-existing conditions, others may include it under critical illness health insurance plans. However, if your Crohn's symptoms are mild, your general health insurance plan with higher sums insured may be sufficient.

Irrespective of the health insurance plan you buy, you must ride out the waiting period during which you cannot file a claim. The waiting periods for general health insurance policies are lower than those for critical illness and pre-existing conditions plans, i.e., 2-4 years.

Stay Safe with Health Insurance

With rising medical costs comes increased healthcare expenses that can drain your savings. To prevent your savings from depleting, you should buy a health insurance policy with a high sum insured. Talk to your insurance provider and select a health insurance plan with maximum coverage.

Disclaimer: The above information is indicative in nature. For more details on the risk factor, terms and conditions, please refer to the Sales Brochure and Policy Wordings carefully before concluding a sale.