Polypharmacy is not just a medical issue but also a financial problem for families
Digital Desk: Modern medicine has provided us with effective treatments, quick recovery, and an increased lifespan. While its gift of longer lives is unmatched, the complexities associated with this practice cannot be ignored. This is especially true for senior citizens, who often juggle multiple prescriptions for conditions like diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension.
While each prescription is intended to improve one’s health, the combination of drugs can introduce dangers - collectively known as polypharmacy. This phenomenon is becoming one of the biggest health challenges associated with aging.
Polypharmacy is not just a medical issue but also a financial problem for families. With frequent doctor visits, long-term prescriptions, and the risk of hospitalisation, individuals can easily deplete their savings. However, health insurance plans can help individuals address this concern with greater ease.
More than just too many pills: Understanding polypharmacy
Polypharmacy refers to the simultaneous use of five or more medications. The challenge with this approach is not just about numbers, but also the interactions, duplications, and inappropriate prescriptions that accompany them. For example, medicines for blood pressure can interfere with the ones for diabetes. Moreover, painkillers can slow down/negate the effectiveness of heart medications.
Seniors are more susceptible to the side effects of the combination of drugs. Polypharmacy can impact their health, leading to issues like organ damage and constant dizziness. That’s not all. Given today’s complex routines and lifestyle, the risk of missed dosage and overdosing is higher, which ultimately boosts the likelihood of adverse health effects. To top everything, polypharmacy is becoming one of the key reasons behind emergency hospitalisations among older adults.
Why is polypharmacy rising in India?
Here below are the reasons that have given a push to polypharmacy in India:
● Ageing population: India’s senior citizen population is expected to double by 2050. With age comes multiple chronic illnesses that demand ongoing medication.
● Specialist-based care: Seniors often consult different specialists, each prescribing medications without always coordinating with others.
● Self-medication: Over-the-counter drugs and home remedies add to the cocktail, sometimes worsening risks.
● Fragmented medical records: Without centralised digital health records, doctors may not always have the full picture of a patient’s prescriptions.
The insurance factor: How does the right coverage help here?
Health insurance used to focus mainly on hospitalisation expenses. The plans evolved with time, accommodating unique needs of individuals. The risks senior citizens face do not just end at a surgery or acute illness. They also involve medication-heavy routines, which can be disastrous if not managed smartly.
Here is how insurance providers are redesigning health insurance plans for senior citizens to address the medication-focused concerns:
Inclusion of OPD benefits
Managing polypharmacy demands frequent doctor consultations. Nowadays, health insurance plans cover outpatient visits, pharmacy bills, and in some cases, even the diagnostic tests. This minimizes the financial burden incurred out of routine care.
Coverage for hospitalisation due to drug reactions
Hospital admissions triggered by drug side effects were often excluded in older policies. Today, many health insurance companies provide coverage for these scenarios, addressing the reality of polypharmacy.
Disease management add-ons
Chronic care management programs combined with insurance policies are helping seniors manage diabetes, hypertension, and cardiac conditions with more structured medical oversight. This indirectly reduces unnecessary prescriptions.
Preventive care incentives
Many insurance companies now encourage periodic health check-ups and digital health records through mobile apps and websites. This promotes the detection of harmful drug interactions and reduces long-term ramifications.
Things to do before buying health insurance
When buying a health insurance plan for senior citizens, or any health insurance for that matter, you don’t jump on to the first option you see. There are multiple aspects that must be evaluated before you make the final decision.
That said, consider the following questions as you look out for the best health insurance with polypharmacy coverage:
● Does the plan offer coverage for outpatient consultations? Polypharmacy requires consistent medical intervention even outside the hospital.
● Does it cover prescription-related hospitalisations? See if adverse drug events are included in the policy.
● Does it cover wellness or disease management benefits? While these are add-ons, the benefits can make all the difference in the long run by offering proactive solutions.
● What is the waiting period for pre-existing conditions? Seniors with ongoing multiple medications cannot (and should not have to) handle long waiting times.
The role of families in managing polypharmacy
A health insurance plan is a must-have for dealing with the financial side of polypharmacy. One must not forget this: It is just a piece of a puzzle, not a comprehensive solution to the problem. Family involvement is just as important for addressing the impact of this condition.
Here is what you can do to do your part in reducing the risk:
● Maintain a complete list of all medications. Keep them organised in one place.
● Schedule periodic reviews of these medications with a trusted physician.
● Encourage the seniors in the house not to self-medicate. Educate them about polypharmacy.
● Track dosage and timings to never miss a beat.
● By combining these practices with the right health insurance plan, you can cut the risks linked with polypharmacy.
Age safely with the best health insurance coverage
Polypharmacy has been discreetly impacting the lives of elderly people. What matters the most is how aware are people about this challenge. In addition to spreading awareness, it is important to be prepared against the impact of drug combination with a mix of practices.
For health insurance providers, the response must be more inclusive policies that account for the ongoing, complex needs of older adults. On the other hand, families can respond to polypharmacy with proactive planning.
Health insurance plans for senior citizens cannot be summed up in patchwork coverage. It should provide holistic solutions that integrate hospitalisation, outpatient care, medication management, and preventive health.
Disclaimer: 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.
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