Medi Assist, India’s leading Health Benefits Administrator, has released its comprehensive report, “Indian Healthscape 2024,” offering valuable insights into the evolving healthcare landscape. The analysis sheds light on rising hospitalization costs, shifting patient demographics, and the increasing prevalence of critical illnesses, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies to address medical inflation and enhance patient outcomes while ensuring affordability and accessibility.
Key Trends Identified in the Report:
- Cancer Concerns
- Cancer has emerged as the fastest-growing ailment, with a year-on-year (YoY) incidence rate increase of 10–12%.
- Incidence rates rise notably after age 40, with women showing a 1.2–1.5x higher incidence compared to men.
- Cardiac Disorders
- Cardiac ailments rank second in terms of rising costs and incidence rates, predominantly affecting men over 40.
- Men have a 1.3–1.5x higher likelihood of cardiac issues compared to women.
- Group health policies report a higher incidence of cardiac claims compared to retail policies.
- Respiratory Ailments
- Respiratory conditions saw the highest YoY increase in treatment costs, ranging from 10–13%, particularly in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and the NCR region.
- Among children, respiratory issues remain the leading cause of hospitalization.
- Cataract Treatments
- Cataract surgeries, especially among senior citizens, have consistently risen post-COVID.
- Group policies report a higher incidence of cataract-related claims compared to retail policies.
Regional Trends:
- States with the highest rise in hospitalization costs include Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Haryana.
- In Maharashtra, Mumbai, Raigad, and Nashik saw notable increases in costs related to cardiac, respiratory, and maternity care.
- Andhra Pradesh’s leading contributors were Guntur and Visakhapatnam, while Ghaziabad and Noida drove cost increases in Uttar Pradesh.
Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in Health Insurance
- Fraudulent activities, including document forgery, unnecessary medical treatments, and non-disclosure, pose a major challenge, contributing to financial strain and increased premiums.
- Medi Assist’s AI-powered MAven Fraud Detection Engine has doubled malicious claim detection rates, setting new benchmarks in protecting stakeholders’ interests.
Medi Assist’s “Indian Healthscape 2024” report underscores the critical need for proactive measures to tackle emerging healthcare challenges, ensuring a more sustainable and patient-centric future for India’s healthcare system.