One hospitalisation can cost
₹5–₹10 lakh. Are you covered?
Health insurance is not a luxury — it is the most important financial safety net for you and your family. We help you compare and buy the right plan from 20+ top insurers, with cashless hospitalisation at 10,000+ hospitals across India.
Why it matters
6 reasons why health insurance is non-negotiable in 2026
Healthcare costs in India have been rising at 14% per year — far faster than inflation. Here's what you're actually protecting yourself against.
Hospitalisation costs are skyrocketing
A simple appendix surgery costs ₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh. A cardiac bypass is ₹3–₹6 lakh. Cancer treatment runs ₹10–₹50 lakh. A single critical illness can wipe out your entire life savings — and your retirement corpus — in weeks.
OPD and lifestyle diseases are surging
Diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, and PCOD are now common in people in their 20s and 30s. Many modern plans now cover OPD consultations, diagnostic tests, and medicines — not just hospitalisation. Buying early means you're covered before these conditions develop.
Pre-existing conditions are excluded initially
Health insurance has a 2–4 year waiting period for pre-existing diseases (PED). If you buy health insurance only after you're diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension, you'll wait years for those conditions to be covered. Buy while you're young and healthy — the waiting period starts from day one.
Employer insurance is not enough
Your employer's group health cover (typically ₹2–₹5 lakh) covers basic hospitalisation — but ends the day you resign, retire, or are laid off. During job transitions, your family has zero cover. A personal policy stays with you for life regardless of employment status.
No-claim bonus builds your cover over time
For every claim-free year, your sum insured increases by 5–50% at no extra cost (called no-claim bonus or NCB). A ₹5 lakh policy kept claim-free for 5 years can grow to ₹7.5–₹10 lakh — building a larger safety net as you age and medical costs rise.
Significant tax savings under Section 80D
Health insurance premiums qualify for deduction under Section 80D — up to ₹25,000 for self/spouse/children and an additional ₹25,000–₹50,000 for parents. A family covering both self and parents can save up to ₹75,000 in taxable income annually.
Find your coverage
How much health insurance cover does your family need?
The right sum insured depends on your city, family size, age, and income. Use this calculator to find the right starting point.
Types of plans we offer
4 types of health insurance — choose what fits
Different life stages call for different health insurance strategies. Here's what each plan type covers and who it's best for.
Family floater plan
A family floater covers self, spouse, and up to 2–4 children under one shared sum insured. Any one member can use the full cover, or it can be split across members in a year. Far more cost-effective than individual policies for each family member.
✅ Best for: Married couples with children — the most cost-efficient option for families
❤️ Get family floater quote ↗Individual health plan
An individual plan covers only one person with a dedicated sum insured that nobody else can use. Ideal for young professionals, working singles, or as a top-up for members with specific health risks who need higher individual cover beyond the family floater.
✅ Best for: Young professionals, singles, or individuals with higher health risk needing dedicated cover
Get individual plan quote ↗Senior citizen health plan
Standard health plans have an entry age limit of 60–65. Senior citizen plans are specifically designed for parents above 60 with pre-existing conditions. They have higher premiums but cover the chronic conditions that are common in this age group.
✅ Best for: Parents above 60 — insure them before a health event makes it impossible or unaffordable
Get senior citizen plan quote ↗Top-up & critical illness plan
A top-up plan activates once your existing cover is exhausted — offering very high sums insured (₹10–₹50 lakh) at low premiums. A critical illness plan pays a lumpsum on diagnosis of cancer, heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure — regardless of actual hospital bills.
✅ Best for: Those with employer group cover or a base policy who want higher protection at minimal additional cost
Know more about top-up plans ↗What you get
What is covered — and what is not — in a standard health plan
Understanding your policy's coverage and exclusions is just as important as buying it. Here's a clear breakdown.
| Benefit / Expense | Typically covered | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| In-patient hospitalisation | ✅ Yes | Covered if admitted for 24+ hours (most plans) |
| Day care procedures | ✅ Yes | 500+ day care procedures (cataract, chemotherapy etc.) covered without 24-hr admission |
| ICU / critical care charges | ✅ Yes | Covered, but some plans cap the ICU room rent |
| Pre-hospitalisation expenses | ✅ Yes | 30–60 days before admission (diagnostics, doctor visits) |
| Post-hospitalisation expenses | ✅ Yes | 60–90 days after discharge (medicines, follow-up) |
| Ambulance charges | ✅ Yes | Road ambulance covered; some plans cover air ambulance |
| Organ donor expenses | ✅ Yes | Donor's medical expenses covered in most modern plans |
| AYUSH treatments | ⚠️ Conditionally | Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy — covered by select plans |
| OPD (outpatient / clinic visits) | ⚠️ Conditionally | Covered in comprehensive plans; not in basic plans |
| Maternity expenses | ⚠️ Conditionally | 2–4 year waiting period in most plans; covered in comprehensive family plans |
| Pre-existing diseases (PED) | ⚠️ After waiting period | 2–4 year waiting period from policy start date |
| Cosmetic surgery | ❌ No | Aesthetic procedures are excluded |
| Self-inflicted injuries | ❌ No | Excluded in all plans |
| Infertility / IVF treatment | ❌ No | Excluded in most plans (a few specialised plans cover it) |
| Dental / vision care (routine) | ❌ No | Only covered if hospitalisation is required due to accident |
Important timelines
Waiting periods — why buying early is critical
Waiting periods are the biggest hidden risk in health insurance. They start from day one of your first policy — the earlier you buy, the earlier they expire.
No claims are payable in the first 30 days of a new policy except for accidental injuries. This applies to all new policies regardless of your health status.
Certain listed conditions like hernia, cataract, joint replacement, varicose veins, and kidney stones have a 1–2 year waiting period before claims are allowed.
Any disease diagnosed before policy purchase (diabetes, hypertension, thyroid etc.) is excluded for 2–4 years. After this period, PED claims are fully covered like any other illness.
Save tax too
Section 80D — tax deductions on health insurance premiums
Health insurance premiums qualify for tax deduction under Section 80D. A family covering both self and parents can claim up to ₹75,000 every year.
Deduction on premiums paid for health insurance covering yourself, your spouse, and dependent children (below 60 years of age)
Additional deduction on premiums paid for health insurance covering your parents, if both parents are below 60 years of age
Higher deduction if either or both parents are senior citizens (age 60 or above). Combined maximum deduction: ₹75,000 (₹25K + ₹50K)
When you need it
Cashless vs reimbursement claims — how to use your health insurance
Understanding the two claim processes ensures you know exactly what to do during a hospitalisation — when you're most stressed.
Cashless claim
Get treated at a network hospital — the insurer pays the hospital directly. You pay nothing (or only non-covered expenses).
- ✅ Go to a network hospital (check insurer's list)
- ✅ Show your health insurance card / policy number at the insurance desk
- ✅ Hospital raises a pre-authorisation request to the insurer
- ✅ Insurer approves the claim (usually within 1–4 hours)
- ✅ Treatment proceeds — insurer pays hospital directly
- ✅ You pay only non-covered items (cosmetics, telephone charges etc.)
- ✅ No paperwork, no out-of-pocket payment, no waiting for reimbursement
Reimbursement claim
Get treated at any hospital, pay the bills yourself, then submit to the insurer for reimbursement.
- ℹ️ Get treated at any hospital (network or non-network)
- ℹ️ Pay all hospital bills yourself at discharge
- ℹ️ Collect all original bills, prescriptions, and discharge summary
- ℹ️ Submit claim form + documents to insurer within 15–30 days
- ℹ️ Insurer processes and reimburses the covered amount
- ℹ️ Processing takes 7–30 days depending on the insurer
- ⚠️ Requires upfront payment — can be a burden for large hospitalisations
Who to trust
Top health insurers in India — incurred claims ratio comparison
The incurred claims ratio (ICR) tells you what percentage of premiums the insurer pays back as claims. A higher ICR means the insurer pays more claims — indicating financial strength and genuine coverage.
| Insurer | Incurred Claims Ratio | Network hospitals | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
Star Health Insurance India's largest standalone health insurer |
65% | 14,000+ | Widest hospital network, strong in South India, excellent retail products |
Niva Bupa Health Insurance Formerly Max Bupa |
62% | 10,000+ | ReAssure plan with no room rent sub-limits, strong customer service |
Care Health Insurance Formerly Religare Health |
59% | 19,000+ | Largest cashless network, good senior citizen plans, unlimited restoration |
HDFC ERGO Health Formerly Apollo Munich |
63% | 13,000+ | Optima Restore plan with restore benefit, fast claim settlement |
Aditya Birla Health Insurance Activ Health plans |
67% | 11,000+ | Wellness benefits, chronic condition management, reward-based premiums |
New India Assurance PSU insurer — government trust |
91% | 3,000+ | Highest ICR — pays most claims; trusted PSU brand with government backing |
Getting started
How to buy the right health insurance — step by step
Choosing health insurance is more complex than it looks. We guide you through every step to make sure you get the right cover — not just the cheapest one.
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Assess your coverage need
Use our calculator above. Factor in family size, city, age, and any existing health conditions. Never underinsure to save on premium.
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Choose the right plan type
Family floater for married couples, individual for singles, senior citizen plan for parents above 60, top-up to enhance existing cover.
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Check network hospitals in your city
Verify that good hospitals near your home and workplace are in the insurer's cashless network — especially the hospitals you'd actually use.
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Disclose all conditions honestly
Disclose all pre-existing conditions, current medications, past surgeries, and family history. Non-disclosure will result in claim rejection when you need the cover most.
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Read the fine print — check sub-limits
Check room rent sub-limits, co-payment clauses, disease-specific caps, and restoration benefits. These details determine how much you actually receive at claim time.
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Set up auto-renewal
Never let your health insurance lapse. Set up auto-debit for annual renewal. A lapsed policy means you lose accumulated NCB and must restart the waiting period from scratch.
Before you buy
8 things every buyer must know about health insurance
These are the nuances that separate a plan that actually protects you from one that looks good on paper but disappoints at claim time.
Choose no room rent sub-limit plans
Many plans cap room rent at ₹2,000–₹3,000/day. If you're in a hospital that charges ₹5,000/day, the insurer proportionately reduces your entire claim — not just the excess room rent. This can mean losing 30–50% of your entire claim. Opt for plans with no room rent sub-limit or very high limits.
🏥 Room rentAvoid co-payment clauses if possible
A co-payment clause means you bear a percentage of every claim (e.g. 10–20%). Senior citizen plans almost always have co-payment. For regular plans, avoid co-payment clauses — they reduce the effectiveness of your insurance precisely when you're dealing with high medical bills and financial stress.
⚠️ Co-paymentLook for restoration / refill benefit
If your sum insured is exhausted in one claim during a policy year, a restoration benefit automatically restores the full sum insured for subsequent claims in the same year. This is especially valuable for family floater plans where one member's major illness shouldn't leave others unprotected for the rest of the year.
🔄 RestorationInsure your parents separately — early
Adding elderly parents to a family floater significantly increases premiums and affects NCB for the whole family when they make claims. Buy separate senior citizen plans for parents above 55–60. Do it before they develop health conditions — premiums can increase dramatically or policies can be rejected entirely after certain diagnoses.
👴 Senior parentsYour employer's group cover is not enough — and it won't last
A ₹3–₹5 lakh employer cover is barely adequate for a major hospitalisation in a metro city. More importantly, it ends the day you change jobs, take a career break, or retire. During job transitions, your family may be completely uninsured. Buy a personal policy while you're young and healthy — premiums are lowest at that point.
💼 Personal policyUnderstand your policy's sub-limits on specific treatments
Some plans cap specific treatments regardless of the sum insured: cataract surgery capped at ₹40,000, knee replacement at ₹1 lakh, etc. If you're in a city with higher hospital costs, these caps can leave you with significant out-of-pocket expenses. Read the policy schedule of benefits carefully before buying.
📋 Sub-limitsRenew with the same insurer to protect waiting period benefits
Switching insurers resets your waiting period — including the PED waiting period — unless you port within 30 days before renewal and the new insurer acknowledges the waiting period already served. If you've served 3 years of a 4-year PED waiting period, switching carelessly means starting over from 0.
🔁 Portability rulesKeep all policy documents and insurer contacts accessible
During a medical emergency, you shouldn't be searching for a policy number. Store your health insurance e-card, policy number, insurer's cashless helpline number, and our contact details on your phone. Share them with a family member. A policy that can't be found or activated in an emergency protects no one.
📱 Emergency accessLearn from others
5 health insurance mistakes that lead to shock bills at hospital
These mistakes are very common — and completely avoidable with the right guidance upfront.
Buying too low a sum insured to save on premium
A ₹3 lakh health plan might save you ₹5,000/year in premium — but a cardiac bypass or cancer treatment costs ₹5–₹20 lakh. When the claim exceeds your sum insured, you pay the difference entirely from your own pocket. The savings on premium are trivial compared to the out-of-pocket risk. In a metro city, a minimum of ₹10–₹15 lakh cover is recommended for a family.
✅ Fix: Calculate your coverage need using our calculator. If budget is tight, a top-up plan over a basic ₹5 lakh policy is more cost-effective than buying a standalone ₹15 lakh policy.
Not reading the exclusions and sub-limits
Thousands of people discover that their "comprehensive" plan has a ₹3,000/day room rent cap, a 10% co-payment clause, and a ₹50,000 sub-limit on knee surgery — only when they're at the hospital trying to claim. These details are in the policy schedule and are entirely avoidable if reviewed before purchase.
✅ Fix: Before buying, ask for the policy schedule (not just the brochure). We review these details for you and highlight any problematic clauses before you sign.
Hiding pre-existing conditions to get a lower premium
Hiding diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or previous surgeries to avoid a loading on premiums is the most common — and most dangerous — mistake in health insurance. Insurers verify medical history during a claim. A single undisclosed condition is grounds for complete policy cancellation and full claim rejection, leaving you with the entire hospital bill plus no insurance.
✅ Fix: Always disclose everything. We help you find the insurer with the most favourable underwriting for your specific health profile — the extra premium is always worth it.
Letting the policy lapse and losing waiting period benefits
Missing a renewal and letting your health policy lapse — even for a single day — can mean losing years of accumulated waiting period. If you had served 3 years of a 4-year PED waiting period and then lapsed, you may have to restart from 0. You also lose the accumulated no-claim bonus (NCB) on your sum insured.
✅ Fix: Set up auto-renewal with auto-debit from your bank account. Keep the renewal date on your calendar with a 30-day reminder. We send renewal reminders to all our clients — contact us and we'll remind you too.
Choosing a plan without checking network hospitals in your area
A plan with 15,000 network hospitals nationally is useless if none of those hospitals are near your home or are the hospitals you'd actually trust with your family's healthcare. Many people discover their insurer has no cashless hospitals in their area only when they're at the hospital admissions desk in an emergency.
✅ Fix: Before finalising a plan, check the insurer's hospital network in your specific city and locality — not just the total national count. We verify this for you as part of our plan comparison service.
Complete your protection
Health insurance is one part of your complete financial protection plan
Life & term insurance
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Mutual funds & SIP
Build an emergency corpus alongside your health cover. Start at ₹500/month.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions about health insurance
Don't wait for a health scare to buy insurance.
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