With the advancement in the healthcare industry, one such evolution that gained attention is s home-based medical care, also known as domiciliary hospitalisation. Unlike the traditional notions that required proper hospital rooms for medical treatment and stays, domiciliary hospitalisation broke this notion.
However, accessing these benefits demands a bit of a high cost. Therefore, family or individual health insurance plans come with domiciliary hospitalisation coverages, which helps the policyholder to reduce the financial burden. However, it is always recommended to compare health insurance to get the best benefits of domiciliary hostpitalisation.
Now, in this article, let’s understand this concept and explore its advantages and other aspects.
What is Home-Based Medical Care?
Home-based medical care or domiciliary hospitalisation refers to delivering medical treatments and interventions to patients within the comfort of their own homes.
It is one of the suitable methods for the patient who requires 24/7 medical attention and monitoring. It is an advanced, extensive healthcare approach beyond basic home care, traditionally feasible only within hospital walls.
What are the Benefits of Home-Based Medical Care?
1. Comfort and Familiarity
Home-based medical care allows patients to stay with their families and in the familiar surroundings of their comfortable home, which is highly beneficial for a patient’s mental well-being. Also, being in a comfortable environment can aid in the healing process.
2. Reduced Infections
Hospitals are the hub of infections if managed poorly. Even taking care of the proper cleanliness of the hospitals, there might be chances of spreading infection from one person to another. However, home-based medical care reduces the risk of exposure to hospital-acquired infections, contributing to better overall health outcomes.
3. Cost-Effectiveness
The hospital charges a substantial cost of staying in hospitals, including rent, nursing care, and overhead costs. However, compared to hospital stays, Home-based care tends to be more cost-effective, making healthcare more accessible for patients and reducing the financial burden.
4. Personalised Care
In hospitals, there might be fewer chances to give proper and personalised care to every patient. And sometimes, the nurse can neglect the patient. But with home-based medical care, patients receive one-on-one attention from healthcare professionals, leading to personalised care plans tailored to their specific needs.
Applications and Success Stories Home-Based Medical Care
In India, the concept of home-based medical care is gaining high attention due to an epidemic like Covid- 19 and the factors like rising hospitalisation costs and shortage of hospital beds. However, with home-based medical care, the patients and their families can treat their chronic illnesses, post-surgery recovery, and even certain intensive care cases from the comfort of their homes.
Further, organisations like Portea Medical and HealthCare at HOME in India are doing excellent jobs in providing extensive home healthcare services. These services offer everything from basic to advanced medical treatments and interventions, all within the patient’s residence.
Home-Based Medical Or Domiciliary Hospitalisation In Health Insurance
Home healthcare insurance is a type of insurance that provides coverage for medical services, treatments and care that are delivered to individuals in their own homes. It is specifically designed for individuals who need medical care but from the comfort of their homes. Here are some key aspects covered in the table about home health insurance:
| Aspect | Home-Based Medical Care Insurance |
| Coverage | Medical services and treatments delivered at home, including nursing care, therapy, equipment rental, medications, and doctor’s visits. |
| Target Patients | Individuals recovering from surgery, managing chronic illnesses, the elderly, and those requiring ongoing medical attention at home. |
| Eligibility | Varies by provider and may require specific medical conditions or situations. |
| Services Not Covered | Emergency medical services or treatments need specialised facilities. |
| Pre-Approval | Some services may need pre-approval from the insurer. |
| Cost | Varies based on coverage, health condition, age, and provider. |
| Coordination | Insurers work with medical professionals to deliver services at home. |
| Limits and Exclusions | Coverage limits and exclusions apply, so review policy terms. |
Do All The Policies Cover Domiciliary Hospitalisation?
Not all health insurance policies automatically cover domiciliary hospitalisation, but when you choose a reliable, comprehensive health insurance plan from an insurance provider like Tata AIG or else, they will give you the option to add the riders or coverage for domiciliary treatment or domiciliary hospitalisation. However, the inclusion of this coverage can vary between different insurance providers and policy types. So compare health insurance plans before finalising the one.
Conclusion
Home-based medical care is very important for those who cannot move to a hospital facility or may require extensive care post-hospitalisaion. That is most insurance plans now include domiciliary hospitalisation. With that said, one needs to compare plans to see which insurer is offering the best services.