URGENT NEED TO GIVE INSURANCE COVER TO ENDOMETRIOSIS PATIENTS

URGENT NEED TO GIVE INSURANCE COVER TO ENDOMETRIOSIS PATIENTS 

●       Endometriosis foundation of India to submit proposals to state, central governments & & insurance regulators

●       4.2 crores women affected by Endometriosis in India

●       Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for women’s health

September , Hyderabad: The Endometriosis Foundation of India, headquartered at Hyderabad, which was started with the aim of creating awareness and providing helping hands is submitting a proposal to the state and central governments along with insurance regulators urging them to cover Endometriosis under health insurance policies .

Endometriosis is a significant yet underdiagnosed and underfunded medical condition affecting millions of women. It is a chronic condition affecting approximately 10% of people of reproductive age worldwide, which translates to millions of women in India alone. Despite its prevalence, endometriosis remains underdiagnosed, often misunderstood, and inadequately addressed within the Indian healthcare system.

Dr. Vimee Bindra Founder Endometriosis Foundation of India said “Health care costs and resource utilization in all measured categories were higher among endometriosis cases than controls. The economic burden of endometriosis among patients with Medicaid insurance is substantial, underscoring the unmet medical need for earlier diagnosis and cost-effective treatments.

Given the significant impact of endometriosis on the lives of millions of women in India, Endometriosis needs to be covered as a key factor in health insurance policies. By recognizing endometriosis as a critical health issue and providing adequate coverage for diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care, insurance companies can play a crucial role in improving the well-being and quality of life of affected women. Furthermore, this would promote early diagnosis and intervention, ultimately reducing the long-term healthcare costs associated with the condition.

Considering the above, we urge the state and central governments along with insurance regulators to take up the following actions:

Review and amend existing health insurance policy guidelines to include endometriosis as a covered medical condition even from the beginning or commencement of insurance and there should not be a lag of two to three years for the coverage.

1.  Encourage insurance providers to develop comprehensive endometriosis-specific coverage, encompassing diagnostic procedures, treatment options, and ongoing care.

2.  Facilitate collaboration between insurance providers, healthcare professionals, and patient advocacy groups to ensure a holistic approach to addressing endometriosis in insurance policies.

3.  Also these surgeries and complex and involve multidisciplinary approach, so proper

             compensation to be given to surgeons dealing with endometriosis surgeries in a

             multidisciplinary settings and not treating it as a routine gynecological surgery.

We believe that these measures will greatly benefit the millions of women affected by Endometriosis in India and contribute to the overall progress of our healthcare system ” and also encourage other healthcare providers to take up this super-specialty forward.