Page 13 - Insurance Times May 2019

Reliance Health Insurance Forays into Robotic Surgery National Health Author-
Reliance Health Insurance has decided to foray into the field with MORE health ity Appoints Dr RK Patel
insurance plan. MORE provides coverage for such
treatments with a 50 percent co-payment. Ravi And Dr Ambrish Mithal
Vishwanath, ED and CEO, Reliance Health Insur- As Domain Experts
ance said, "With numerous health plans available
in the market, our challenge was to introduce an
innovative product which will add value to our
customers. We are first of its kind health insurance
plan across the country to cover robotic surgery. Our focus is to understand the
needs of the customer and create a unique proposition works towards provid-
ing best health insurance plans.”
Robotically-assisted surgery was developed to try to overcome the limitations
of pre-existing minimally-invasive surgical procedures and to enhance the ca-
pabilities of surgeons performing open surgery. Such procedures allow doctors The government has appointed Dr RK
to perform many complex surgeries with more precision, flexibility and control Patel and Dr Ambrish Mithal as do-
as compared to conventional techniques. Robotic surgery is usually associated main experts on the Governing Board
with minimally invasive surgery through tiny incisions. Few of the advantages of National Health Authority (NHA).
of such surgeries include less pain and blood loss, fewer complications, speedy Dr Patel is Honorary Director of the
recovery, smaller and less noticeable scars. UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology &
They can be used for a number of different procedures, including cutting away Research Centre, Ahmedabad and is
cancer tissue from sensitive parts of the body such as blood vessels, nerves, or currently holding the charge of
important body organs, coronary artery bypass, gall bladder removal, heart valve Member Secretary of UN Mehta In-
surgery, hip replacement,hysterectomy, kidney removal, kidney transplant, mi- stitute of Cardiology & Research
tral valve repair, orchestrating care (and robotic surgery) for prostate cancer Centre since 2002. He has been a
pyeloplasty (surgery to correct ureteropelvic junction obstruction), Pyloroplasty, PhD guide in the subject of General
radical prostatectomy, radical cystectomy and tubal ligation. Medicine and Cardiologist at Gujarat
University and Cardiologist to Gover-
Vishwanath also explains the importance of robotic surgery and about change
in health care scenario, “If a policyholder undergoes through robotic surgery, it nor to Gujarat since 1995. In addi-
is not compulsory for him or her to stay at the hospital for more than 24 hours. tion, he is a member of the Working
In many cases, the patient can be discharged after a couple of hours. We pay Group on Medical Education to as-
claims regardless of how many hours the patient stayed in hospital for the par- sist ‘The National Knowledge Com-
ticular treatment. We understand the advantage of modern technology.” mission’, Government of India for
revolutionising education in India to
Health insurance plans are bought with the hope of covering health care ex-
bring it at par with international
penses at the time of medical emergencies. However, most of the health insur- standards in 2007.
ance plans have longer list of exclusions than what is covered. The difference
between expectation and reality could lead to bitter experiences and it’s advis- Dr Mithal, MD, DM, is heading the
able to enquire everything that is covered under a plan and to avoid painful Endocrinology and Diabetes division
experiences at the time of claim. Further, Vishwanath added, “MORE covers at Medanta Hospital, Medicity,
mental illnesses for which one needs hospitalisation like Alzheimer's and Gurugram, and has been awarded
Parkinson's. Not only this they also provide coverage for stem cell therapy, an Padma Bhushan in 2015 and Dr B C
upcoming futuristic technology in medical science and is of immense impor- Roy Award in 2017. Besides, in 2013,
tance. However, it covers stem cell surgeries and therapies with a co-payment.” he won the Springer Citation Award
for his paper on ‘Global Vitamin D
MORE also provides and enables policyholder to get Rs 7 lakh sum insured for
status’ – Osteoporosis International,
the price of Rs 5 lakh cover (Rs 5 lakh base cover and Rs 2 lakh MORE Cover
benefit) and Rs 13 lakh cover for a price of Rs 10 lakh sum insured (Rs 10 lakhs and in 2016, he was awarded the In-
base cover and Rs 3 lakhs MORE Cover benefit). A policyholder can get 10 per ternational Osteoporosis Foundation
cent discount on total premium if medical report or medical examination docu- (IOF) President’s Award for out-
ments are submitted at the time of buying health insurance. standing contribution to the IOF.

The Insurance Times, May 2019 13