From Laziness to Alertness: OPD & IPD

From Laziness to Alertness: OPD & IPD

We wish life would be similar to the 5 star chocolate advertisement where we could just “do nothing.” 

Laziness gifts you the worst presents of your life- worse emotional wellbeing, decreased physical and mental health. It can take you from your bed to a hospital IPD bed. Postponing your daily fitness goals, procrastinating about switching to a healthy diet can have many health-related consequences. Laziness kills ambition and an inactive lifestyle develops underlying medical conditions.

Bearing Laziness Consequences is Not Easy

You burn fewer calories, may lose muscle strength, bones may get weaker, poorer blood circulation and so on. By not being physically active you may be prone to many diseases such as obesity, stress, anxiety, high BP, heart diseases, stroke, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, etc.

If you catch any of the diseases, you enter a vicious cycle- OPD/IPD Doctor Visits-> Diagnosis-> Medicines->Treatment-> Care

OPD and IPD in Healthcare

These are two different departments within a hospital. When you go to a doctor for treatment but don’t stay there in the hospital overnight, it is OPD. On the other hand, a patient gets admitted in IPD in the hospital overnight to obtain better medical care.

More than 1 lakh people have searched about OPD full form on Google, making it a buzz topic. Further you will read key differences between these two terms and how procrastination can have adverse affects on your life. Stay tuned for better comprehension of the topic. 

What is OPD?

OPD stands for Outpatient Department. OPD works on a day-care basis in a clinic or a hospital, where a patient receives medical care from the healthcare practitioner without the need for hospital admission.

OPD care includes routine check-ups, diagnostic tests like blood tests, X-rays, specialist consultations, and minor surgical procedures that don’t need hospitalisation.

During OPD visits, the doctor analyses the patient’s condition and recommends the respective treatment or medication followed by further follow-ups if needed. 

Usually, initially an individual is likely to receive OPD treatment at a hospital if it is not registered as an emergency case. However, depending on the condition of the patient, the doctor may recommend IPD admission. 

What is IPD?

IPD full form is Inpatient Department. In IPD, a patient is admitted to a hospital as per doctor’s advice considering the severity  of his/her illness. Medical conditions that require constant care and observation such as operations, births, complicated and large procedures etc. are treated under inpatient department.

OPD vs IPD

Let’s know the basic difference of treatment available in OPD and IPD:

Importance of Outpatient and Inpatient Health Insurance

IPD treatment is costlier than OPD as they are associated with surgeries, hospital stays, and intensive care. 

Not only IPD, but OPD expenses can be hefty too depending on the diagnosis. If we consider the treatment expenses, although OPD doesn’t require 24 hours admission, the expenses are at the higher side. Even a single consultation in a reputed hospital will cost you in thousands. FY21 had seen around 4.3 billion outpatient consultations. If we suppose the cost of every OPD consultation to be as minimum as Rs 50/ then also, it is making around Rs 215 billion. 

To protect yourself from paying OPD/IPD fees out of your pocket, purchasing a medical insurance policy is recommended. While IPD coverage is an in-built benefit, insurance companies may have offered OPD benefit as an in-built cover or add-on, which can be customised as per one’s insurance needs.

Scope of OPD/IPD Coverage Under Health Insurance

The rising inflation can severely affect your financial standing when you have not invested in a health insurance. Your health insurance policy will provide financial support in medical emergencies. Your coverage for OPD and IPD will vary depending on your plan. Usually, in most of the policies, the following coverages are provided to the policyholders. 

Buying Health Insurance with OPD and IPD Coverage

Along with reducing out-of-pocket spending, health insurance with OPD and IPD coverage assists you in getting timely access to medical care. Moreover, the chances of delaying the illness decreases and you monetarily feel free to visit a doctor. Hence, reducing the risk of health complaints that come with postponing an illness. 

Also, health insurance premium is tax-deductible under Sec-80D of IT Act. Your health insurance coverage amount can be deducted from your taxable income. So, you can avail tax and other benefits on buying a health insurance policy. 

>>Read More: Know about OPD Cover in a Health Insurance Plan

Bottomline

Laziness depletes the importance of taking care of health from our mind and makes us “to do nothing.” Being proactive and taking preventive measures is the need of the hour. At the same time, having financial security is equally important where health insurance policy comes to your rescue. Sudden OPD expenses may become a financial crisis for you due to high inflation. Considering that, Care Health Insurance provides coverage for OPD treatment under specific plans.

Win over procrastination and take good care of your health because ‘prevention is better than cure.’

Disclaimer: All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.