Meaning of Chronic Condition
Chronic conditions are persistent or recurring health consequences that last for years. They are diseases or impairments that cannot be cured and people who have chronic conditions might need personal, social or rehabilitative care over long periods of time.
Commonly Prevalent Chronic Conditions
Some of the most commonly prevalent chronic conditions are heart disease, arthritis, hypertension, sinusitis, hearing impairments and cataracts. Some of these conditions such as sinusitis or hay fever are not disabling and allow a patient to carry on most activities of daily living. However, other chronic conditions such as heart disease and arthritis might seriously limit a person’s ability to perform certain activities of day to day living.
Among people in the age group of 45 years and above, hospitalization rates are higher for those with arthritis and hypertension, two of the most chronic conditions which affect emotional as well as physical well-being. As people get older chronic conditions that plague them also tend to affect their emotional well being.
The most common chronic conditions for all age groups are arthritis, hypertension, sinusitis, orthopedic impairments and hay fever. Persons in the age group of 75 years and above are likely to suffer from chronic conditions such as arthritis, hypertension, hearing impairments, heart disease and cataracts.
Health Insurance and Chronic Conditions
Most health insurance policies will exclude any pre-existing and congenital conditions for a period ranging from 2-5 years before the member joined cover. But some of them will cover the cost for treatments that the insured may require to stabilize his or her health condition if affected by a chronic condition.
It is important to remember that no one is immune to chronic conditions. Men and women, people of all racial and ethnic groups, and persons of all ages and financial means have chronic conditions. The extent to which chronic conditions affect people’s lives differs and it is also important to remember that those who have the conditions are not the only ones affected. Family members and friends who arrange for or provide care to the affected person may also have to modify their lives to accommodate chronic conditions.
This is a list of chronic conditions found in most international health and medical insurance policies and covers:
• Congenital conditions
• Obesity
• Addictive and mental conditions and disorders (however some insurers might cover treatment for such conditions on a discretionary basis)
• Allergies and allergic conditions
• Arthritis
• Hypertension
• Orthopedic impairments
• Hearing Impairments
• Sinusitis
• Cataract
More Expat Resources
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
PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0iZ3VpZGUiPgoJPGgzPkV4cGF0IE5ld3NsZXR0ZXI8L2gzPgoJPHA+R2V0IHRoZSBob3R0ZXN0IG5ld3NsZXR0ZXIsIGJlIHRoZSBmaXJzdCB0byBsZWFybiBhYm91dCBuZXcgaG90IHNwb3RzIGFuZCBob3cgdG8gbWFrZSB0aGUgbW9zdCBvZiB5b3VyIGxpZmUgaW4geW91ciBjb3VudHJ5ITwvcD4KCTxmb3JtIG9uc3VibWl0PSJyZXR1cm4gZnJtTXlOZXdzQ2VudGVyKCk7IiBuYW1lPSJmcm1fY2VudGVyIiBpZD0iZnJtX2NlbnRlciIgYWN0aW9uPSIuL25ld3NsZXR0ZXIiIG1ldGhvZD0icG9zdCI+CgkJPGlucHV0IHR5cGU9InRleHQiIG5hbWU9ImVtYWlsIiBpZD0iZW1haWwiIHZhbHVlPSJUeXBlIHlvdXIgZW1haWwiIGNsYXNzPSJmb2N1c0lucHV0IiB3aWR0aD0iMjUwIiBvbmZvY3VzPSJqYXZhc2NyaXB0OmZvY3VzRW1haWxDZW50ZXIodGhpcyk7Ij4KCQk8aW5wdXQgdHlwZT0iaGlkZGVuIiBuYW1lPSJmcm9tX3JpZ2h0IiBpZD0iZnJvbV9yaWdodCIgdmFsdWU9IjEiPgoJCTxpbnB1dCB0eXBlPSJpbWFnZSIgc3JjPSIuL2ltYWdlcy9ib3V0b25zL3NpZ25fdXAucG5nIiBhbHQ9IlNpZ24tdXAiIGNsYXNzPSJib3V0b24iPgoJCTxkaXYgY2xhc3M9InNlcGFyYXRpb24iPjwvZGl2PgoJPC9mb3JtPgo8L2Rpdj4=
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
