Do you have an option to choose your treatment location or is it just the Government mandated hospital? If available, should you opt for a private institution? Will you get better care? What will the bill be like? Should you opt for the free treatment provided by a Government institution? Well, you will need quick decision-making skills, and its best to keep the following in mind. You never know when you will need it.
This decision will mightily depend on whether you have medical insurance and whether that insurance covers the cost of such treatment in a private hospital. The charges are currently exploitative and prohibitive in some hospitals and can go up to more than a couple of lakhs if admitted to the ICU. Secondly, is it cashless or reimbursement mode? The latter will put a strain on your pocket. Recently the IRDA has said that the COVID19 treatment should be covered under existing policies – but you need to ascertain that from your insurer.
Once you’ve made your decision, either way, keep the following in mind while packing your bag
1. Keep your IDs – Aadhar, DL, Pan, etc and COVID Report in your bag. Also other medical reports and prescriptions in case of co-morbidities.
2. Pack your bag with the following: Take at least 6 sets of clothes for the week, toiletries, and adequate personal hygiene articles. Maybe nonperishable fruits, and crockery, and cutlery is a must – preferably disposable. Also, carry if possible a small steamer for inhalation. Lots of books to read and / or puzzles to solve and games to play, though you can play these on yiur device too.
3. Carry your communication device – its a must – you will be isolated. But carry your charger along too. if need be carry your laptop as you may need to use it to pass the time. Check-in with your family regularly perhaps every two or three hours. if your condition worsens you will be shifted to the ICU and they may not know. Also, they too are at risk – so their regular checks are a priority. Take care of each other. There’s also lots of stuff to watch on OTT platforms these days. So your days will not be boring!
4. Have your house disinfected immediately either through a government agency or through a private one if you can afford it and it is allowed in your area. Also if you do not want publicity travel to the chosen hospital in your own private vehicle – which again must be disinfected thoroughly.
