Can I get health insurance for my kidney transplant?

Q: I am suffering from hypertension. On diagnosis, it was found that it is due to chronic kidney disease. My serum creatinine level is also high. So I might have to go for a kidney transplant probably after couple of years. At this stage, can I avail health insurance/critical illness rider, which can reimburse the cost of transplant, in case I have to go for the same?

A:I am assuming that you are in India / Indian Resident. Typically, health insurance does not cover pre existing diseases, but of late certain policies have come into the market which cover such a condition where in they put a moratorium period (a few years) only after which do they cover the disclosed pre existing disease. For this you need to disclose at the time of availing the policy if you suffer any pre existing disease i.e. any disease that you may have at the time of taking the policy. Examples of such policy are the Healthwise Policy of Reliance General Insurance where in the Gold Cover covers pre existing diseases after 2 years of continuous policy while in the Standard Policy it is covered after 4 years. Also the ICICI Lombard Policy covers pre existing diseases after 4 years.