Heart disease: Costs involved and how to be better prepared?

Heart disease can put a financial strain on your income. Read this article to find out the cost of heart ailments and various procedures

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) cause an estimated 32% of deaths globally, taking 17.9 million lives each year. But heart diseases can affect more than your health; CVDs can have a negative impact on your financial health too. The coronavirus leaves its effects on the heart and can cause alarming complications in patients recovering from acute COVID-19. With the economic slowdown putting financial restraints on all of us, it's essential to understand the cost of heart care and related ailments to plan better.

Treating chronic heart ailments

The treatment and testing of coronary heart disease and other chronic conditions is expensive and can involve a significant sum, leading to a severe impact on families. To begin with, coronary angiography (a test that uses special X-rays to show the insides of arteries) is expensive. Angiogram tests alone can cost between Rs 35,000 and Rs 40,000 in India.

Angioplasty treatment is often used to restore blood flow through the artery, where cardiologists thread a thin tube through a blood vessel in the arm or groin up to the involved site in the artery. The tube has a balloon on end. Angioplasty costs average between Rs 1.4 and Rs 3 lakh depending on the hospital and number of stents used. 

Heart surgery

Open heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is cut open, and surgery is performed on the heart's muscles, arteries, or valves. It is often called traditional heart surgery. In recent years, many new heart procedures can be performed using small incisions too. However, in private hospitals, the cost of open-heart surgery could range between Rs 1.75 lakh and Rs 4.25 lakh. 

There are many heart valve surgeries, such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement or bioprosthetic valve replacement. Surgeons also perform heart valve replacement surgeries to repair or replace the valve with an artificial or biological valve. The average cost of heart valve surgery could range from Rs 45,000 to Rs 60,000, depending on the type of heart valve replacement involved.

Insertion of pacemaker or ICD

Many heart conditions such as arrhythmia can be treated with the help of medication. However, in case of poor response to medication, surgeons may implant a pacemaker under the skin of the patient's chest with wires connecting to the heart chambers to regularise the heart rhythm. 

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or ICD works similarly, except it sends electric shocks to restore the normal rhythm. The average cost of pacemaker insertion in India is Rs 3,00,000 to Rs 4,00,000. The device itself costs anywhere between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1,50,000. These costs vary according to the city (Tier 1/Tier 2/Tier 3) and the type of hospital where the services are availed.

Aortic aneurysm repair

An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta, the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Arteries have strong, thick walls, but problems or illnesses can sometimes make them weak, often resulting in bulges called aneurysms. If these aneurysms grow too large, they may burst and result in an emergency. 

Smaller aneurysms can be repaired or treated with the help of medication, but larger ones may need surgery. Typically, aortic aneurysm surgeries could be endovascular repair or open abdominal or chest repair. Since the procedure is invasive and requires expertise, it is also an expensive surgery. 

Direct and indirect medical costs 

The long-term maintenance of heart disease also tends to be steep. In case of a heart attack, patients often incur immediate expenses such as ambulance, diagnostic tests, and hospitalisation charges in addition to the surgery charges mentioned above. The costs include medication, testing, and cardiologist appointments. However, some of the indirect costs of a chronic heart condition include loss of productivity and income as many patients cannot return to work for many months after undergoing heart surgery. 

Preparing and managing the medical costs of heart disease

One way to reduce costs is to look for alternatives  such as a instant loans app. One can also shop for generic substitutes of medicines that might work just as well but cost less. Many pharmacies also offer discounts and loyalty points. As for hospital expenses, it is crucial to compare similar hospitals and look for a less expensive option if all other criteria remain the same. 

Invest in the right health insurance policy

The most important step you can take to safeguard against burgeoning healthcare costs is to go in for adequate health insurance, whether or not you have an existing heart condition. Given the high cost of treatment and surgery, be sure to invest in a financial instrument that serves you well when dealing with the disease and treatment.

Invest in the right lifestyle 

Ultimately, health is wealth, and heart-related diseases can be prevented or checked if you are alert and active. Eating a nutritious diet, regulating blood pressure, and avoiding tobacco, combined with regular exercise, can help avert many lifestyle diseases. After a certain age, routine health check-ups can warn of potential hazards to heart health and enable timely action and prevention. Download the IDFC FIRST Mobile Banking App to keep track of all your banking needs.

Disclaimer

The contents of this article/infographic/picture/video are meant solely for information purposes. The contents are generic in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for specific advice in your own circumstances. The information is subject to updation, completion, revision, verification and amendment and the same may change materially. The information is not intended for distribution or use by any person in any jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or would subject IDFC FIRST Bank or its affiliates to any licensing or registration requirements. IDFC FIRST Bank shall not be responsible for any direct/indirect loss or liability incurred by the reader for taking any financial decisions based on the contents and information mentioned. Please consult your financial advisor before making any financial decision