The concern is not limited to the medical implications of these conditions.
Unlike illnesses that involve a one-time treatment, PCOS and thyroid disorders often require years of medication, diagnostic tests, specialist consultations and lifestyle management.
Experts say many women begin planning for these expenses only after a diagnosis, by which time securing comprehensive health insurance can become more complicated.
A chronic condition with recurring costs
PCOS and thyroid disorders typically require ongoing care rather than episodic treatment. Women may need regular hormone testing, consultations with endocrinologists and gynaecologists, medication, scans and nutritional support over several years.
“Thyroid disorders and PCOS require ongoing care, which means the cost doesn’t end with diagnosis,” says G Srinivasan, Managing Director and CEO, Galaxy Health Insurance. Beyond routine treatment, these conditions can affect fertility, metabolism and emotional wellbeing, while increasing the risk of complications such as diabetes and high-risk pregnancies.
According to Priya Deshmukh, Head – Health Products, Operations & Services, ICICI Lombard, managing thyroid disorders and PCOS often involves lifelong medication, diagnostic tests and specialist consultations. Over time, these recurring out-of-pocket expenses can become a significant financial burden, particularly if associated conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases develop.
Vineet Gupta, Head of Product Development, ManipalCigna Health Insurance, notes that healthcare costs associated with thyroid disorders can range from approximately ₹40,000 annually in smaller cities to nearly ₹80,000 in larger urban centres, while women with PCOS may also face additional expenses related to fertility treatments and metabolic conditions.
The insurance challenge
While diagnosis rates are rising, insurance adoption among younger women often remains low.
Experts say many women in their 20s and 30s postpone buying health insurance because they do not anticipate major health issues at a young age. However, once a chronic condition is diagnosed, it is generally classified as a pre-existing disease, triggering waiting periods before related treatments become eligible for coverage.
“Most young women delay buying health insurance assuming they are too young to need it,” says Gupta. “When a condition is diagnosed before insurance is in place, it becomes a pre-existing disease with a waiting period before coverage begins.”
Sukesh Shetty, Chief Operating Officer, Zurich Kotak General Insurance, says younger women often underestimate the long-term financial implications of chronic hormonal disorders, leading to delays in both medical intervention and financial planning.
Amol Sawai, Senior Vice President and National Product Head – A&H Underwriting, Liberty General Insurance, points out that purchasing insurance before the onset of chronic conditions can have long-term financial benefits. According to him, individuals who buy health cover while healthy may face lower premiums and fewer restrictions compared with those seeking coverage after a diagnosis.
The message from experts is not that insurance should replace savings or preventive care, but that financial planning for healthcare should begin before a medical condition emerges.
Beyond hospitalisation
The discussion also highlights a broader shift in healthcare spending.
Historically, health insurance has been associated primarily with hospitalisation expenses. However, experts say a significant portion of spending on PCOS and thyroid disorders occurs outside hospital settings.
These costs include routine diagnostics, hormone testing, specialist consultations, nutritional counselling, fitness guidance and long-term disease management.
“Healthcare planning today is becoming more holistic,” says Srinivasan. “It’s no longer limited to covering hospital stays.”
Shashi Kant Dahuja, Executive Director and Chief Underwriting Officer, Shriram General Insurance, says preventive healthcare and regular screenings are becoming important as lifestyle-related conditions are diagnosed at younger ages. Early identification, specialist consultations and timely treatment can help reduce the likelihood of severe complications and prolonged hospitalisation later.
Deshmukh adds that healthcare planning is moving from a reactive approach focused on treatment to a proactive model centred on diagnostics, wellness programmes and continuous health management.
Prevention as a financial strategy
It must be noted prevention is not only a healthcare tool but also a financial one.
Regular screenings can help detect hormonal imbalances before complications arise, allowing individuals to manage symptoms through lifestyle modifications and medication rather than more intensive treatment later.
Shetty says early screening and proactive disease management can help women avoid expensive emergency treatments and maintain better long-term health outcomes. Similarly, Dahuja notes that preventive care can reduce the risk of sudden medical expenses associated with undiagnosed conditions.
As awareness of women’s health issues grows, experts believe conversations around PCOS and thyroid disorders will extend beyond medical treatment to include financial preparedness, insurance planning and preventive healthcare.
For many women, the challenge is not a single large medical bill but the accumulation of healthcare expenses over years. In that context, experts say early planning, both medical and financial, can be as important as the treatment itself.
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