Amid soaring medical costs, with surgery expenses up 250-300%, experts recommend a minimum health insurance coverage of Rs 10-15 lakh for individuals and Rs 15-25 lakh for families in India, advising higher limits for metro residents and seniors. Pairing a base policy with a super top-up plan is suggested for cost-effective protection.
Many insurance plans are dropping coverage for GLP-1 drugs like Zepbound and Wegovy for weight loss, leaving patients like Deborah Finley struggling to afford them. Experts suggest navigating coverage by checking fine print, filing appeals with doctor support, documenting care, seeking discounts, and being cautious with compounded versions.
Owners of Wang Chi House, spared in Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court fire, must decide by June 30 whether to sell under a government buyback scheme, facing a tight deadline for crucial details.
Research shows 12 million people lost coverage for Zepbound and 12 million for Wegovy from 2025 to 2026, with 88% of those who still have coverage facing restrictions. Patients like Meghan Lena, a Massachusetts teacher, describe losing coverage twice within months and being forced to pay $300 monthly for compounded alternatives or face treatment interruption.
Health insurance coverage in India has surged over eight years, with rural areas now at 47.4% coverage surpassing urban areas at 44.3% in 2025. Government-sponsored schemes dominate, covering 45.5% of rural and 31.8% of urban populations. Average out-of-pocket hospitalization cost is Rs 34,064, while morbidity rates increased to 13.1% from 7.5% in 2017-18. Infections remain the top hospitalization cause at 20.7%, while institutional deliveries have reached 96%.
