Q: My doctor suspects that I have polycystic kidney disease (PKD). How can I get a diagnosis without health insurance? I have already been through MRI, CT scans, sonograms and consulted 2 nephrologists who agree that I might have PKD. But they did not give me a diagnosis. The tests showed a large cyst in my right kidney, causing it to enlarge along with chronic pain daily. A cyst in the liver once drained during the removal of my gallbladder, which also contained a cyst and a cervical cyst. I am in the first stage of high blood pressure. I have been to the sliding scale fee clinics. The last nephrologist I saw, told me I needed genetic testing. We only have one income in the household and no health insurance. Are there any resources that could assist us with health coverage/insurance?

A:In India individual health insurance coverage will not be available for treatment of pre-existing disease. Further, no health insurance covers cost of diagnostics on a stand-alone basis. Typically, individual health insurance in India comes with a clause that mentions that any ailment existing at the time of obtaining the policy will not be eligible for any cover under the policy.