Preventive Health Check-up: Benefits, Tax Deduction

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You have heard the age-old saying that prevention is better than cure. Especially when it comes to matters of health, eating a balanced diet and following a fitness regime can help us keep many ailments at bay. Similarly, doing a regular preventive health check-up to see if that nagging headache or small bump on the wrist is harmless or something serious can help us become aware of any ailment as well as take preventive measures on time. The cure becomes easier and faster when diseases are diagnosed at early stages. Therefore, many health insurance policy providers insist that the person purchasing a health insurance plan undergo a preventive health check-up. This will help him/her identify any pre-existing diseases and select a healthcare plan that minimises the person’s risk.

What is Preventive Health Check-up?

Preventive Health Check-up comprises a gamut of medical tests. These tests help the insurer learn more about your body’s capability to fight various diseases. For example, a smoker may have less immunity to fight any lung-related ailment compared to someone who is a non-smoker. The premium charged from both for a similar healthcare plan would be different. Similarly, these test results speak volumes about your current state of health and what you need to do to keep yourself healthy.

What are the Benefits and Important Factors of Preventive Health Check-Up?

Some of the many benefits of preventive health check-up packages are:

You learn a lot about your health. For example, you may not be aware of any symptoms of a disease at its nascent stage. A preventive medical check-up can reveal that underlying health condition, and you can get it treated. Early detection of an ailment helps in better treatment and faster cure. For example, a test like retinopathy can prevent vision loss, or measurement of blood pressure and cholesterol can alleviate the risk of heart diseases.
You learn about your body’s immune power, how likely you are to get sick, and how to prevent infections or allergies.
The insurer gets information about any pre-existing health conditions and can draw up healthcare plans according to that. This eliminates any chances of claim rejection later, as all relevant information was disclosed. To Learn more -3 Effects of A Pre-Existing Disease On Your Health Insurance Premiums
Regular preventive health check-ups ensure you lead a long and healthy life by tweaking your lifestyle based on test results.
Your medical expenses get massively reduced when you are able to prevent ailments thanks to these tests.
Your knowledge and understanding of medical terms and technologies improve a lot.
Last but not the least, it helps you get a tax rebate of up to INR 5,000 in a year.

Who Requires Preventive Medical Check-ups?

Insurance companies generally don’t insist on it for those below 30 years of age as youngsters are less likely to require hospitalisation due to good immunity and metabolism. Those aged above 30 years and who lead stressful lives owing to massive responsibilities should get screened. Diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, etc., can increase health complications. Anyone who fears their lifestyle can be a huge factor behind their health issues should opt for preventive health check-ups.

List of Preventive Healthcare Packages

Some tests are generally recommended, such as lipid profile, blood sugar, kidney and liver function tests, thyroid tests, ECG, etc. However, there’s apreventive health check-up list according to different age groups:

Age Groups	List of Preventive tests
0-10 years	Autism Spectrum Disorder Newborn Jaundice Reflexes Hearing Test Auscultation Eye Exam Oral Examination Percussion Palpation
10-20 years	Diabetes Test Hepatitis C Hepatitis B Obesity High Blood Pressure Lipid Profile Anaemia STDs Tuberculosis
20-30 years	Diabetes Test Eye test Lipid Profile High Blood Pressure Hepatitis C Pelvic Exam (Women Only) Pap Smear (Women Only)
30-40 years	Diabetes Test Eye Exam Dental Examination Lipid Profile Colon Cancer Screening High Blood Pressure Skin Cancer Screening Testicular Examination (Men Only) Pelvic Exam (Women Only) Pap Smear (Women Only)
40-60 years	Diabetes Test Eye Exam Dental Examination Lipid Profile High Blood Pressure Hearing Test Colorectal Cancer Screening Infectious Disease Screening Heart Disease Screening Skin Cancer Screening Osteoporosis Screening Pelvic Exam (Women Only) Pap Smear (Women Only) Cervical Cancer& Breast Cancer Test (Women Only) Bone Mineral Density (Women Only) Testicular Examination (Men Only) Lung Cancer Screening (Men Only) Prostate Cancer Screening (Men Only)
Above 60 years	Diabetes Test Hearing Test Eye Examination Lipid Profile High Blood Pressure Colorectal Cancer Screening Aneurysm Depression Screening Pelvic Exam (Women Only) Pap Smear (Women Only) Cervical Cancer & Breast Cancer Test (Women Only) Bone Mineral Density Prostate Cancer Screening (Men Only)

What are the Tax Deductions Permissible for a Preventive Health Check-up?

Under Section 80D, you can claim a deduction for preventive health check-ups of up to INR 5,000 per year.For senior citizens, the amount is INR 7,000. Your spouse, children and parents can also claim this deduction for preventive health check-ups.However, this deduction amount is included in the overall limit of INR 25,000/INR 50,000 tax deduction that you are eligible for on your health insurance premium. For example, if you are 30 years old, you can claim a maximum tax deduction of up to INR 25,000 towards the health insurance premium. Let’s say, in a financial year, you paid INR 21,000 towards premium and INR 7,000 on preventive health check-ups in the same year. Since the maximum tax deduction is INR 25,000, you can claim INR 4,000 for a preventive check-up.

Documents Required for 80D Preventive Health Check-up Deduction

You don't need to submit any specific documents to claim a tax deduction for a preventive health check-up. However, it is good to maintain a record of all expenses, such as doctor’s consultations, bills for lab tests, etc.

Things to Consider While Getting a Preventive Health Check-Up

While going for a preventive health check-up, here are some factors that you should bear in mind:

Most of the medical examinations require you to undergo the tests on an empty stomach, that is, at least 10 hours of fasting. It is better to check with your doctor whether fasting is required.
Wear comfortable clothes.
If you are going for X-ray, CT scan, bone densitometry, etc., remove all metallic accessories, such as rings and chains worn around the neck.
If you have a pacemaker, denture, or any related objects in your body, inform the doctor before the tests.

How is HDFC ERGO's Preventive Medical Check-up Beneficial for Policyholders?

If you have bought HDFC ERGO my:health Suraksha, you are eligible for a free preventive medical check-up every year on policy renewal. If you choose to get the tests done in a network hospital of HDFC ERGO, you can avail of cashless health check-ups. You just have to provide the policy details to the hospital. The tests covered are complete blood count (CBC), fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, ECG, thyroid profile, etc.

Conclusion

Detecting any disease in its early stages will help manage the illness more effectively. Often, we don’t seethe signs and symptoms of a disease until it gets too late. This leads to psychological as well as monetary strain on the patient and his/her family members. Going for a regular preventive check-up will keep you updated about your health conditions and identify the risks of developing any chronic conditions. If any risks are identified, doctors will recommend treatment at the earliest. A preventive health check-up also allows you to avail of a tax deduction under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.

Frequently Asked Questions on Preventive Health Checkup

1. I am 33 years old and healthy. Do I need to go for preventive health check-ups?

Yes. Given our hectic and sedentary lifestyle, we are at risk of developing diseases related to our lifestyle, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, etc. Opting for a regular preventive check-up will help detect such diseases at an early stage.

2. Who should opt for preventive health check-ups?

Anyone above the age of 30 or with a family history of diabetes, hypertension, or heart problems must undergo preventive health screenings.

3. Can I claim a tax deduction for a preventive health check-up?

Yes. You can claim a tax deduction for preventive health check-ups of up to INR 5,000. However, this amount is included in the overall deduction limit of INR 25,000/INR 50,000 that you are eligible for on your health insurance premium.