Does Health Insurance Cover Robotic Surgery?
Last Updated : March 12, 2022, 11:15 a.m.
Doctors often use a robotic surgery system to treat patients affected with issues of heart, kidney, cancer, etc. The minimally invasive surgery helps patients heal faster than usual. But the million-dollar question is – how much does it cost? The cost of robotic surgeries will depend on the particular operation the doctors will perform on you. We can give you a clue though. The estimated cost of an abdominal robotic surgery is around INR 5.25 Lakh while the same for a cardiothoracic procedure stands at about INR 6.75 Lakh. Whereas gynaecologic surgery and head-and-neck procedure cost INR 5 Lakh and INR 6 Lakh, respectively.
The costs may sound tall, but a health insurance plan having a high sum insured can help cover the same. If you choose to have surgeries at a network hospital of the insurance company, you won’t have to make any upfront payment. The cashless treatment facility comes to your help in that case. Elsewhere you will have to pay and get all reimbursed by the insurance company later. That answers the question – does health insurance cover robotic surgery? However, the coverage is subject to the sum insured available under your insurance plan and several other guidelines. Let’s read further to know more about the same.
Robotic Surgery Coverage Under Health Insurance
The following will be covered during your hospitalization –
- Room rent
- Nursing charges
- ICU charges
- Surgery charges
- Surgeon fees
- Anesthetist fees
- Prescribed medicines
After your discharge from the hospital, the insurer will cover the expenses related to the surgery up to 60 or 90 days, whichever the policy documents may entail. So, reading such dossiers only helps you select the best health insurance for robotic surgery.
How Much Premium Do I Need to Pay for the Surgery?
As the surgery comes under base cover, there won’t be any additional charges apart from the annual premium you’ll pay to the insurance company. And your premium will be based upon your health condition, the number of members under a plan, age, etc.
Does Robotic Surgery Come with Any Health Requirements?
Robotic surgeries reduce the trauma and the surgery is performed through small ports rather than large incisions. Some instruments access areas of a body more easily via smaller incisions compared to open and laparoscopic surgeries. However, the surgery may not be ideal for some. So, you and your doctor need to discuss this in detail before proceeding with the procedure. Hence, your doctor decides whether you can undergo the surgery based on your medical history. For instance, in the case of robotic-assisted mitral valve repair, you need to have overall good health. There should not be any type of calcium deposits on the leaflets of the valve and you should not have peripheral artery disease, big coronary artery blockages if you want to undergo Robotic Surgery. In addition, you should not suffer from any type of lung disease.