Health Insurance Plans
Health insurance helps protect your health and finances by lowering the cost of medical emergencies, ongoing treatments, routine care, and unexpected health problems. When you pay regular premiums, you get coverage for hospital stays, medical procedures, diagnostic tests, and other healthcare costs.
Health insurance comes in different types to meet various needs, and some common options are Individual Health Insurance plans, family floater plans, senior citizen policies, and special plans for critical illnesses. Each type has its own features, benefits, and rules, so you can pick one of the best health insurance in India that fits your health, age, and budget.
Many health insurance plans also offer extra features like preventive check-ups, cashless treatment at certain hospitals, and wellness services. These benefits make it easier to get care and speed up the treatment process.
When choosing health insurance, look at things like coverage limits, what is not covered, waiting periods, premiums, co-payments, and which hospitals are included. Knowing these details helps you get the right protection and avoid surprise costs.
Health insurance gives you long-term financial security and quick access to care. Choosing the right plan helps you and your family handle health costs and get ready for future medical needs.
INSURANCE
Health Insurance for Everyone
Spending for your health is not an expense but an investment. With ever-increasing health risks, medical insurance has become essential for everyone, irrespective of age. By keeping this in mind, we offer one of the best health insurance plans in India to safeguard you and your family from financial troubles and help you never compromise on your health.
We provide health insurance in India that helps individuals with timely support during the entire claim settlement process and offers expert guidance to individuals and families. Buying a medical insurance plan is the safest way to ensure your well-being during a health emergency.
All Health Plans
Health Insurance Plans to secure yourself
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HEALTH INSURANCE
What is Health Insurance?
Health Insurance is a shield that protects you and your family from financial instability during health emergencies. Against the common misconception that Medical Insurance is only for the elderly or people with health risks, its necessity is indispensable for everyone. The best health insurance policy in India offers peace of mind in times of hospitalisation by taking care of your medical bills.
Uncertainties like COVID-19 have taught us the necessity of medical insurance. On the other hand, with the continuous spike in medical inflation, a health insurance plan can save your day either by providing cashless treatments or reimbursements on the incurred medical expenses. The flexibility of health insurance is such that it can be availed either on an Individual Health Insurance or a floater basis to get wide coverage.
IMPORTANCE OF INSURANCE
Why Do I Need a Medical Insurance Plan?
Here are the two major reasons listed below:
STAR HEALTH
Why Choose Star Health Insurance?
As the Health Insurance Specialist, we extend our services from offering tailor-made insurance policies to fast in-house claim settlements. With our growing network of hospitals, we ensure easy access to fulfil your medical needs.
We are India's first stand-alone health insurance company to deal with health policies in medical, personal accidents, and overseas travel. We have a comprehensive array of health insurance plans with affordable premium rates designed to meet our customers' changing demands.
Our hassle-free claim settlement process and simple reimbursement policies make us stand at the forefront of our competitors.
The support we provided to our customers
CATEGORIES
Types of Health Insurance Plans
Health insurance has become essential for everyone, irrespective of age. The benefits differ based on the types of health insurance. Choose the policy that suits your needs by knowing about its types.
Indemnity Health Insurance Plans
Indemnity health insurance plans compensate the actual incurred medical expenses both in terms of cashless treatment facilities as well as reimbursements. Such types of mediclaim plans are available on an individual and a floater basis. They provide coverage up to the opted sum insured.
Fixed Benefit Health Insurance Plans
Fixed benefit health insurance plans provide a lump sum cover for critical illnesses such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, brain tumour, etc. Keeping in mind the financial hardships one may undergo during a life-threatening critical illness, the policy also pays the insured in one go.
Top-Up Health Insurance Plans
Top up health insurance plans provide additional cover even after the exhaustion of the sum insured of your existing policy. Sometimes the opted cover may not be sufficient to meet your medical needs. In such times, a top-up policy can reinforce financial protection by providing additional coverage.
CLAIMS
How Does Our Claim Process Work?
Get to know the steps involved in the claim process. Whether it is a planned or emergency hospitalisation, filing a claim is made easy by choosing any of the following ways.
KNOW WHAT IS COVERED
What Health Insurance Covers and Doesn’t Cover
Buying a mediclaim policy is one of the best decisions you can ever make. But how to choose a plan that best fits your needs? Knowing the inclusions and exclusions helps you choose the best health insurance in India. Here are some ways that will guide you through the process.
TAX DEDUCTION
Avail Tax Benefits
A health insurance policy not only covers your medical expenses but also saves you money on taxes. As medical insurance is an essential investment, Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961 allows a tax deduction for the premium paid towards the plan. Here are a few additional advantages:
Tax Deduction for Paying the Premium
You can claim tax deductions of up to Rs. 25,000/- by paying a health insurance premium for yourself or your family. If you are paying the premium for your parents as well, you can claim a higher tax deduction of up to Rs. 1 lakh.
Tax Deduction for Health Check-Up
In addition to premiums, you can also claim tax deductions for expenses incurred towards preventive health check-ups. Under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961, you can claim income tax deductions up to Rs. 5,000/-.
ONLINE BENEFITS
Why Buy Health Insurance Online?
Buying a medical insurance policy online is loaded with benefits. Here are a few of them:
SECURE EARLY
Benefits of Buying Medical Insurance at an Early Age
There is no specific age for buying a health insurance plan. However, opting for a medical insurance plan at an early age has its advantages.
Less Premium
Age is an important factor in calculating the premium of Medical Insurance. The younger you are, the lower your premium will be.
Continuous Cover
Medical Test
Pre-insurance medical screening is not required if you purchase a health insurance policy at a young age.
No-Claim Bonus
You can avail a no-claim bonus for every claim-free year. It will enhance the sum insured that benefits you at later stages.
Co-Payment
No need to share your medical bills, as a co-payment is not applicable when you opt for a medical insurance policy at a young age.
RENEWAL
How to Renew Health Insurance Online?
Never miss out on the continuity benefits! Now, renewal is made easy with the following simple steps:
Step 1:
Click on the Renew tab.
Step 2:
Enter your Policy Number and Date of Birth.
Step 3:
Choose the plan and your preferred Sum Insured. Then click Calculate & Proceed.
Step 4:
Choose your preferred payment method and complete the transaction.
GET STARTED
Be Assured of the Best
Get your future secured with us.
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What is the right time to take the best health policy?
The right time to buy a health insurance policy is as early as you become financially stable, as premiums are significantly lower and health insurance coverage advantages are greater when bought at a younger age. Purchasing a health policy in your 20s and 30s provides lower premiums, comprehensive coverage, and the capability to develop a constant financial safety net before major expenses or health issues occur. But purchasing the best health insurance in India at any age is advantageous for financial security, though premiums and potential exclusions will be higher in later years. Always choose the best policy considering factors like coverage amount, waiting period, etc.
Optimal Level of Health Insurance Coverage
Medical inflation increases by 14% in India every year. Health insurance experts suggest that coverage should be equivalent to approximately 50% of one's yearly earnings. For instance, if one makes Rs. 20 lakhs annually, a health insurance plan worth Rs. 10 lakhs could suit one. Nevertheless, given the escalating healthcare expenses, the minimum coverage should not fall below Rs. 5 lakhs.
The table below is an illustrative explanation of the type of health insurance plan that one can buy depending on the age group:
| Age group | Type of Plan |
| 18-30 | OPT for a medical insurance plan with OPD cover and wellness benefits since lifestyle illnesses may emerge later. |
| 30-40 | Choose a higher sum insured medical insurance (₹10–20 lakh) to account for rising medical costs. |
| 40-50 | Look for medical insurance policies covering pre-existing conditions after shorter waiting periods. |
| 60 and above | Check for medical insurance coverage of pre-existing diseases, domiciliary care, and critical illness riders. |
Nevertheless, depending on the client's profile, health insurance can extend up to 2 crores. However, people living in Tier-I and Tier-II cities can opt for different coverage policies as the treatment costs may vary.
For example, a family of two adults and one child residing in a Tier-1 city should aim for health insurance plans between Rs 15-25 lakh to ensure adequate protection. On the other hand, families living in Tier-2 or Tier-3 cities may find a medical insurance of Rs 5-10 lakh sufficient.
Star Health, being one of the best health insurance companies in India, provides comprehensive health insurance coverage with multiple sum insured options, such as Rs. 5 Lakh, Rs. 10 Lakh, and Rs. 1 Crore, that better suit the unique medical insurance needs of a customer.
1) A 5 Lakh Health Insurance policy offers a sum insured of ₹ 5 lakhs, i.e., the insured gets coverage of 5 lakh rupees in healthcare expenses and hospital bills, according to the terms and conditions of the plan. Health Insurance Plans with ₹ 5 Lakhs Sum Insured Include:
- Super Star (UIN: SHAHLIP25036V012425)
- Smart Health Pro (UIN: SHAHLIP23172V012223)
- Star Comprehensive Insurance Policy (UIN: SHAHLIP25037V082425)
- Young Star Insurance Policy (UIN: SHAHLIP25035V052425)
- Star Health Assure Insurance Policy (UIN : SHAHLIP23131V022223)
- Medi Classic Insurance Policy (Individual) (UIN: SHAHLIP25038V082425)
- Diabetes Safe Insurance Policy (UIN : SHAHLIP23081V082223)
- Star Women Care Insurance Policy (UIN : SHAHLIP23132V022223)
- Family Health Optima Insurance Plan (UIN: SHAHLIP25039V082425)
2) A 10 lakh health insurance provides coverage for medical bills and hospitalisation costs up to Rs. 10 lakhs. With a higher coverage limit, the insured gets greater financial protection compared to a health insurance policy with lower limits. Health Insurance Plans with ₹ 10 Lakhs Sum Insured Include:
- Super Star (UIN: SHAHLIP25036V012425)
- Smart Health Pro (UIN: SHAHLIP23172V012223)
- Star Comprehensive Insurance Policy (UIN: SHAHLIP25037V082425)
- Young Star Insurance Policy (UIN: SHAHLIP25035V052425)
- Star Health Assure Insurance Policy (UIN : SHAHLIP23131V022223)
- Medi Classic Insurance Policy (Individual) (UIN: SHAHLIP25038V082425)
- Diabetes Safe Insurance Policy (UIN : SHAHLIP23081V082223)
3) The 1 crore health insurance plan will provide extensive coverage during medical emergencies and offer maximum benefits, such as daycare treatments, in-patient hospitalisation, and much more. A 1 crore Health Insurance policy can provide a secure feeling that comes with knowing you are protected. Health Insurance Plans with Rs. 1 Crore Sum Insured Include:
- Super Star (UIN: SHAHLIP25036V012425)
- Smart Health Pro (UIN: SHAHLIP23172V012223)
- Star Comprehensive Insurance Policy (UIN: SHAHLIP25037V082425)
- Young Star Insurance Policy (UIN: SHAHLIP26043V062526)
- Star Health Assure Insurance Policy (UIN : SHAHLIP23131V022223)
- Star Women Care Insurance Policy (UIN : SHAHLIP23132V022223)
- Star Health Premier Insurance Policy (UIN: SHAHLIP22226V012122)
Mediclaim Health Insurance Policy in India
Health Insurance Plans Provide Comprehensive Coverage
Star Health insurance policies or mediclaim plans cover all 24-hour in-patient hospitalisations due to illness, accidents and daycare treatments/procedures. All related pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation expenses are payable up to the specified days mentioned in the policy clause.
Health Insurance Plans Provide More Flexibility
Star Health Insurance plans provide more flexible benefits when the policyholder buys a mediclaim policy and goes through certain hardships. For instance, when the sum insured gets exhausted, additional coverage is provided without any extra premium. This is where benefits like Automatic Restoration of the basic Sum Insured, Super Restoration of the basic Sum Insured and Road Traffic Accident (RTA) on the sum insured come into place.
Note: These flexible benefits are product/policy specific. Please refer to the policy clause to learn more.
Health Insurance Plans Allow Additional Disease-Specific Coverage
With Star Health, the insured can avail disease-specific policies for critical illnesses, cancer and cardiac ailments, along with inpatient hospitalisation as a general mediclaim health policy. We have a wide range of mediclaim health insurance policies to choose from, like Star Cardiac Care Insurance Policy-Platinum, Star Cancer Care Platinum Insurance Policy and Star Cancer Care Platinum Insurance Policy.
Health Insurance Plans Cover Non-Hospitalisation Expenses
The insured can avail of non-hospitalisation expenses covered with most of our mediclaim Health Insurance Policies. Those include expenses, dental treatments, annual health check-ups, out-patient care treatments, diagnostics, consultations, etc.
Everything You Need To Know About The Mediclaim Policy
Steering the complexities of healthcare expenses in India can be quite overwhelming. With rapidly rising medical costs a mediclaim policy works as a safety net and a critical resource. This article will direct you through the basic features of mediclaim policies, including mediclaim insurance and tips on choosing the right mediclaim policy in India.
What is a Mediclaim Policy?
A mediclaim policy is a health insurance policy which covers the medical costs incurred during hospitalisation and associated procedures. It gives financial assistance for medical exigencies, lowering the burden on the insured and their families. Mediclaim policy in India provides different benefits, which make it a favourite among individuals looking for financial protection in medical emergencies.
Main Aspects of Mediclaim Policy
- Hospitalisation Coverage: Mediclaim insurance policies cover the cost of hospitalisation because of illness or injury. This consists of nursing charges, room rents, and other allied charges.
- Pre and Post - Hospitalisation Expenses: Many mediclaim policies in India cover medical costs incurred during pre-and post-hospitalisation, ensuring encompassing coverage for the treatment process.
- Daycare Procedures: A few medical procedures do not involve prolonged hospitalisation and can be treated within a few hours. Mediclaim policies even cover such daycare procedures.
- Annual Health Check-Up: Certain mediclaim insurance policies provide the facility of an annual health check-up, motivating people to undergo regular health checks.
- Cashless Facility: Many insurance providers provide cashless treatment at network hospitals, saving the insured from making out-of-pocket payments.
- Outpatient Department (OPD) Cover: Some mediclaim policies cover outpatient treatment, such as diagnostics, consultations, and minor procedures without hospitalisation.
- No Claim Bonus: If the policyholder doesn’t make any claims during the policy term, they are entitled to a no-claim bonus, either as a reduction in the premium or an increase in the sum insured for the next policy year.
- Alternative Treatments: Many policies today cover alternative treatments like Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). This works with the needs of those who want traditional and holistic medical treatment.
Tips to Choose the Right Mediclaim Policy
- Coverage: The policy must have an exhaustive list of medical conditions and treatments.
- Network Hospitals: See if the insurance provider has a large network of hospitals where you can get cashless treatment.
- Claim Settlement Ratio: Choose an insurance provider with a good claim settlement ratio, which shows its ability to settle claims.
- Additional Benefits: Choose plans with extra benefits, such as wellness programs and health service discounts.
Exclusions in Mediclaim Policies
- Pre-Existing Diseases: Many policies exclude coverage for pre-existing diseases after a waiting period.
- Cosmetic Treatments: The cosmetic or beauty treatment expense is not typically covered.
- Self-Inflicted Illnesses: Any illness or injury caused by self-inflicted injury or suicidal attempts is not covered.
How to Make a Claim?
- Intimate the Insurer: Notify the insurance provider immediately of the hospitalisation or medical treatment.
- Documents to Submit: Please submit all the documents, including medical reports, bills and discharge summaries.
- Cashless Claims: If you use a cashless facility, ensure the hospital is in your insurer’s network and use the procedure for pre-authorisation as required.
- Reimbursement Claims: Your insurer can reimburse you for your medical bills and reports for non-network hospitals.
Choosing the best mediclaim policy is essential to ensure your family’s health and financial security. Comprehending the different dimensions of mediclaim insurance will help you choose the best for you. Investing in a good mediclaim policy is a step towards a healthier and financially secure future.
Health insurance and mediclaim are both financial tools designed to protect individuals from rising medical costs, but they differ in scope and flexibility. Mediclaim is a type of health insurance that primarily covers hospitalisation expenses up to a fixed sum insured, making it suitable for basic coverage needs.
In contrast, health insurance offers broader protection, including outpatient care, critical illness coverage, and preventive services. While mediclaim is more affordable, health insurance provides comprehensive benefits and greater customization. Together, they represent two ends of the healthcare safety net-one focused on essential hospitalisation, the other on holistic health management and financial security.
Our Best Health Insurance Plans
Health issues increase with a sedentary lifestyle and with the advancement in age in a larger population. The current pandemic situation has underlined the need for Health Insurance more than ever before. All our policies provide coverage for COVID-19, on the purchase of a Health Insurance plan by a healthy individual/family, if diagnosed with COVID-19 and require hospitalisation. COVID-19 treatments are covered with some waiting period, as mentioned in the policy clauses.
Our varied, feature-rich Health Insurance plans are available for several health issues and provide peace of mind at times of financial crisis due to medical contingencies and uncertainties.
Health Insurance plans primarily are of different types and are classified under two categories based on their coverage – for an Individual and a Family.
Individual Health Insurance Plan
Buying Individual Health Insurance plans covers an individual person for the opted Sum insured, which can be used by the insured individual only.
Family Floater Health Insurance Plan
In the context of Family Health Insurance, a family indicates the self, spouse and the dependent children and parents.
The Family Floater Health Insurance plan covers an entire family with a single premium, and the sum insured floats among the insured family members. At hospitals across India, the insured and family members can avail of quality-assured in-patient hospitalisation, modern treatments, diagnosis, surgeries, etc, along with a host of other features.
Types of Health Insurance Plans at Star Health
With the increasing demand for valuable healthcare services, there comes an extreme increase in the costs of treatment and post care. Here, medical insurance plans play a vital role in protecting your loved ones during health emergencies and hospitalisation.
Health insurance comes in different types that cater to diverse needs and specifications. At Star Health, we offer one of the best health insurance policies in India that helps customers stay stress-free and not worry about medical expenditures if they face unprecedented situations.
| Types of Health Insurance Plans | Ideal For |
| Individual Health Insurance | Single/Individual persons |
| Family Health Insurance | Self/Spouse/Children/Parents |
| Senior Citizen Health Insurance | People aged above 65 years |
| Critical Illness Insurance Plan | Expensive treatments against critical illness. |
| Top-Up Health Insurance | People who require additional medical coverage up to a certain amount when the existing sum insured is exhausted. |
| Group Health Insurance | Company employees or a group of people |
| Maternity Health Insurance | Covering medical expenses incurred in the prenatal and post-natal stage |
| Personal Accident Cover | Covering partial/total disabilities and death due to accidents. |
| Hospital Daily Cash | Managing daily cash as long as the insured is hospitalised |
| Disease-Specific | Those who suffer due to a specific health condition. |
Our Speciality Health Insurance Plans
Policy for Diabetes
The evolving lifestyle gives rise to serious diseases and disorders. One such complication is Diabetes. With the rise in medical inflation, having a Diabetes Insurance plan can save you from a financial breakdown. Our Diabetes Safe Insurance Policy is specially designed to cater for the needs of people diagnosed with both type 1 & type 2 Diabetes.
Policy for Cancer
Cancer is a serious threat and one of the leading causes of death across the world. A specific insurance policy for cancer offers cover for hospitalisation, treatment and diagnosis related to cancer. Our Star Cancer Care Platinum Insurance Policy is specially designed for people who are diagnosed with Cancer. In addition, it also provides coverage for non-cancer ailments.
Policy for Cardiac Ailments
Lifestyle changes also come with complications. With ever-increasing risks of cardiovascular illnesses and other associated complications, it becomes crucial that you secure yourself with one of the best health insurance in India. Our Star Cardiac Care Insurance Policy-Platinum provides wide coverage for cardiac illnesses. It doesn’t stop there. It gives coverage for non-cardiac ailments as well.
Policy for Critical Illness
In most cases, health problems occur unexpectedly, and the rising medical inflation adds to the trouble. The treatment for critical illness is expensive and runs for a longer course of time. Do not worry about the treatment expenses because our Star Critical Illness Multipay Insurance Policy insures you against 37 critical illnesses. The policy provides a lump sum on the diagnosis of critical illnesses under 4 groups.
Wellness is Wealth
Something for Everyone, Regardless of Health Status
Gender & Health Status in India
According to recent health statistics, approximately 47% of men and 61% of women in India are considered unhealthy due to their sedentary lifestyle and diet habits. (Source: Contentful Assets)
Risks of Getting Cancer
The probability of an individual developing cancer in India is 1 in 9. Also, the number of cancer cases will increase by 12.8% in 2025 compared to 2020. (Source: National Centre for Biotechnology Information)
Heart Diseases
One major problem that remains a public health challenge in India is cardiovascular diseases, which are caused by several factors, such as unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, stress, and the use of tobacco or other products. It is essential to take timely medical interventions, early detection techniques, and preventive measures to address this ongoing epidemic.
Mental Health Disorders
Mental health disorders prevail in approximately 14.3% of adults. This proves the significance of comprehensive medical insurance plans as they prioritise mental health coverage and provide effective support. (Source: Statista)
Importance of Health Insurance for Loved Ones
An online mediclaim policy has become more essential than ever as there is an increasing need for quality healthcare. The best medical insurance policy will act as a safety net for you and your loved ones and save you against unprecedented situations. Here’s an outlook on the importance of health insurance:
- Cashless health insurance helps policyholders get affordable healthcare services without the burden of upfront payments.
- Diseases that are considered incurable are super expensive. Private health insurance in India will aid in getting the necessary financial aid.
- Routine check-ups, chronic conditions’ treatment, and preventive care are affordable if you buy the best medical insurance in India.
- Health insurance promotes health issue management and promotes early detection, leading to better health outcomes.
- The insured will have access to amazing medical health care and excellent coverage options, such as pre- and post-hospitalisation facilities.
- A common critical illness coverage can protect you and your loved ones, as the risk of renal ailments and heart diseases is massively increasing.
- Getting an online health insurance policy in India will give you peace of mind and satisfaction.
Why is Star Health a famous Health Insurance Company?
Our motto is to serve the customers with the utmost care. We listen deeply to you, so we can provide one of the health insurance in India that earns your trust.
We are a Health Insurance Specialist, and here goes our list of the most recent achievements on our customer-centric policies:
- India’s Best Health Insurance Company For Retail Product – Insurance Alerts
- Most Innovative New Product of the Year 2020
- Young Star Insurance Policy had been awarded the Most Innovative New Product of the Year at ASSOCHAM’s Insurance E-Summit and Awards 2020
- Best BFSI Brands 2019 by Economic Times
- Best Health Insurance Provider of the year – Business Today, Money Today Financial Awards 2018–2019
- Health Insurance Provider of the year Silver Award by Outlook Money Awards 2018
Reasons to choose Star Health Insurance Company as your Insurance Provider
Customer – centric company
- Products are customer-centric and designed based on customer needs – Star Diabetes Safe Insurance Policy, Star Cancer Care Platinum Insurance Policy, Star Cardiac Care Insurance Policy-Platinum, Star Cancer Care Platinum Insurance Policy, Young Star Insurance Policy and many more, in the pipeline to serve you just the way our customers want.
- Star Health Insurance acts with a set of core values that include trust and integrity with a customer-first mindset. This enables us to go the extra mile for you with our Health Insurance plans. We consider ourselves privileged to have positively impacted the lives of those who choose to be a part of the Star family.
89.9% of claims were settled in less than 2 hours under cashless at our network hospitals
- Cashless facility is made available within 2 hours in network hospitals across India. Our in-house claim settlement process is a major factor which has allowed us to achieve this massive success rate. We ensure a hassle-free claim process and settlement done by qualified in-house doctors.
PAN India presence
- An ever-growing 14,000+ network hospitals across India.
Claims settled by qualified doctors
- A dedicated internal team of doctors to process your Health Insurance Plan claims and fast-track the proceedings. This team also weeds out those who use nefarious methods to gain funds and intend to make a gain out of Health Insurance.
No Third-Party Administration (TPA)
- A claim does justice only when it is settled within the timeframe. Often, many insurance companies avail the services of TPA and are incentivised for claim processing. Star Health Insurance does not depend on the TPA but on our in-house claim team to help process claims faster and settle them in the shortest time during the most needed hour.
A high-quality free telemedicine facility for all
- Health is inclusive, and we believe in access for everybody, not only our customers. Hence, anyone can avail themselves our free telemedicine facilities. Talk to Star App is a specialised application designed to serve this purpose.
Wellness programs
- Star Health Insurance supports the active maintenance of good health with unique wellness programs that encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Other Products
What is the procedure for Health Insurance claims?
Star Health Claim Services ensures a prompt settlement process with an easy, customer-friendly, hassle-free process. As health insurance experts, we offer cashless claims at all our associated network hospitals in India.
Health Insurance terms you need to know about
It is important to know about certain terms before purchasing health insurance. These terms help to know more about the policy coverage and its criteria. It is important to go through all the terms to avoid major mistakes. However, some terms can be difficult to understand.
Some of the general and common terms that will help you choose the correct health insurance plans are given below.
1. Sum-Insured
Sum-insured is the policy coverage amount.
2. Premium
Premium is the amount you must pay the insurer or the health insurance company against the policy purchased. The premium will depend on the type of policy you choose, the policyholder, age and other factors.
3. Cashless Claims
Cashless claims are health insurance claims that can be availed in the insurer’s network hospitals.
4. Add-On Covers
Add-on covers are additional features that offer additional financial coverage in health insurance against unknown medical emergencies that involve high medical costs.
Other names for add-on covers are riders and optional covers. Critical illness, room rent waiver, maternity cover and hospital cash benefit are some of the common add-ons that can enhance your base health insurance.
5. Critical Illness
Critical illnesses are life-threatening medical conditions like kidney failure, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. For such critical illnesses, there are special plans that cover these illnesses. Additionally, you can get an add-on or a rider cover.
6. Network Hospitals
All health insurance companies have a tie-up with a certain number of hospitals in the country. These tie-ups with hospitals are called network hospitals.
7. Automatic Restoration
Most health insurance companies are offering automatic restoration benefits. You will benefit from insurance backup when you have exhausted the sum insured. In automatic restoration, the sum insured gets reloaded for the next hospitalisation during the policy term.
8. Pre-Existing Disease/Co-Morbidities
Co-morbidities like hypertension, COPD, kidney diseases, diabetes and other major health issues are considered risk factors for health insurance. So people with any of the co-morbidities mentioned above are charged a higher premium.
9. Exclusions
Exclusions or limitations are circumstances and conditions that health insurance companies will mention in their policy wordings clearly. In such cases, your health insurance claims can get rejected or will not be processed further.
10. Inclusions
Inclusions or coverage benefits are one section that you should check properly. These benefits refer to the benefits and other policy features that the insurer will compensate you for. Some common inclusions include hospitalisation, anaesthesia, surgery, ambulance charges and treatment-related expenses.
11. Waiting Period
In medical insurance, there will be a waiting period for health conditions. During the waiting period, you cannot avail yourself of the health insurance claims. The waiting period will differ for various health conditions and insurance policies.
12. Top-Up Plans
Top-up plans are policies that can be bought along with the base policy. When the sum insured by the base policy gets exhausted, the top plans will cover you.
13. Co-Payment
A copay clause or co-payment is a fixed percentage of the amount the policyholder should pay to the hospital for the expenses of the treatment received. Copay percentage differs from policy to policy and depends on the entry age.
What is the need for Health Insurance?
Some of the reasons why health insurance is required:
- Buying the best health plan allows you to access quality healthcare without worrying about medical expenditure.
- Medical insurance ensures the long-term financial security and economic well-being of a family.
- A health insurance policy protects your lifelong savings by covering the pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses and helps you avail cashless medical treatment during emergencies.
- If you have the best health insurance, the associated provider offers preventive health check-up facilities to the insured, depending on the policy conditions and terms.
- A health plan provides the confidence to deal with medical inflation when your health is at stake.
- When you purchase health insurance, you can avail the tax benefit and exemptions in Income Tax provisions for premiums under section 80D (subject to limits).
How to pick a suitable Health Insurance plan from Star?
Star Health, partnered with multiple hospitals across the country, provides cashless services and reimbursement facilities to policyholders seeking medical treatments during emergencies. Here are the reasons to pick a health insurance plan at Star Health:
Sum Insured
Make sure to choose a policy with coverage at an affordable premium in a policy year for hospitalisation.
Coverage Amount
When opting for health insurance, check the coverage amount under each policy. Choose the policy covering medical expenses like hospitalisation, daycare, ambulance and maternity.
Family Floater Plans
Prefer family floater plans, which will cover the whole family. Family floater plans are affordable and will cover the whole family.
Compare Various Policies
When buying health insurance, it is important to compare various plans and choose the one that suits you. It will also give you an idea about the coverage details and which policy will suit your budget.
Lifetime Renewability
When buying a health policy, ensure to verify the duration of coverage provided by a medical insurance plan and whether it includes limited renewability. This is crucial as the need for a health plan becomes more significant in the later stages of life. Therefore, opt for health plans that offer lifetime renewability.
Affordability
Reviewing health coverage appropriately and checking for reasonable premium rates while buying a plan from the health insurance company is essential.
What are the optional add-ons in Health Insurance?
Add-ons or optional features in health insurance can be included in your base policy by paying an additional amount at purchase. In most cases, people choose add-ons as they are cost-effective and also have significant advantages.
Also known as health insurance riders, add-ons help you avail extra benefits and increase the scope of your current medical insurance policy. Add-ons are highly recommended assets that are worth investing in, as they will allow you to acquire the best health insurance for the future.
What are the Health Insurance eligibility criteria?
Health insurance plans have different eligibility criteria, including age, pre-existing medical conditions, etc. The following conditions must be met to qualify for a health insurance plan.
Age
- The entry age for adults is 18, and they are eligible for all benefits according to the terms and conditions of the policy. However, the age criteria vary for different policies.
Pre-Medical Screening
- The pre-medical test is a must for policyholders over the age of 45 or 55. However, prior to issuing a policy, most senior citizen health plans need medical exams.
Pre-Existing Disease (PED)
- Pre-existing conditions are diseases diagnosed by the insurer before purchasing the health insurance plan. Pre-existing diseases have a set waiting period during which you are not eligible for all your health insurance benefits.
- You can submit claims for that specific condition under your health insurance plan only after the waiting period. To prevent claim denial, provide the right information about your health issues and lifestyle choices.
Basic Criteria | Requirements |
For Adults | Aged between 18 and 65 years |
Dependent Children | 16 days to 25 years |
Pre-Medical Screening | Over the age of 45 or 55 years |
How to buy health insurance online from Star health?
Health insurance is India's most overlooked insurance policy, as only approximately 18% of the urban population is covered under any health insurance scheme. (Source: Times of India)
However, given the continuous increase in health disorders and medical expenses, individuals of all ages need the appropriate health insurance plan to be prepared.
The main objective of the best medical insurance plans in India is to offer extensive financial protection for you and your family members. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that you select a health insurance policy that provides adequate coverage and affordable premiums. However, before buying the best mediclaim policy online, it is essential to follow the proper process to ensure you get the best health insurance coverage in India.
1. Comprehend Your Needs
The initial step when purchasing insurance, whether individual or family health insurance, involves evaluating your specific needs. Look for a health plan that covers a wide array of medical expenses, such as hospitalisation, transportation, and critical illnesses that may be prevalent in your family's medical history. By conducting thorough research, you can easily identify the most suitable plan that aligns with your needs.
2. Compare Plans and Know Your Budget
It is essential to have a budget before purchasing a health insurance policy so that you can consider a low-priced and easy-on-the-pocket health plan. Also, compare various plans and choose a comprehensive plan based on premiums and policy coverage.
3. Choose a Reputed Provider
You should check the reliability and reach of the insurance provider you wish to choose. They play a crucial role in helping you make informed decisions and protecting you financially against medical expenses.
The optimal choice for health insurance is a high sum insured with the best coverage options under a lower premium. Purchasing health insurance online saves time and eliminates the need to visit a provider or communicate with an insurance agent.
Here are the steps to buy the best health plan online from Star Health:
- Step 1: To get started with the process, click on the “Buy Now” button and enter the requested information, such as name, phone number, email ID, and the PIN code of your city.
- Step 2: Select the insurance plan as per your requirement and pay the premium.
- Step 3: You will receive the complete policy documents at your registered email address.
How to calculate health insurance premiums?
The health insurance premium is determined by a number of factors, including your medical history, the sum insured, and your family’s medical history.
You can choose to pay it every month, every quarter, every half year, or annually.
You can opt for a plan with a premium payment that doesn’t seem like a burden if you have knowledge of your needs and capacities.
Health Insurance Premium Calculator: An Overview
Health insurance premium is defined as the amount of money you have to pay to the insurer on a periodic basis to avail medical coverage as and when required. A health insurance premium calculator enables you to calculate your mediclaim premium based on the customer’s requirements.
The insurer is liable to pay for the medical bills and hospitalisation expenses when the insured is diagnosed with any ailments covered in the policy terms. Here are some of the benefits of an online health insurance calculator:
- You can have a premium estimate before purchasing the policy.
- You can choose one of the best health policies in India based on comparison results.
- You can get an idea of the available discounts and flexibility of changing the data.
- You can include or exclude add-on coverage through riders provided by the insurance companies.
A health insurance premium is calculated based on the entry age, gender, medical history, policy terms, no-claim bonus, and lifestyle factors.
How do health insurance premiums work?
Paying the health insurance premium is important as it maintains your policy active, safeguarding you from high medical costs and confirming that you don't lose advantages such as the waiting period credits. The way the health insurance premiums work is provided below.
- Financial Security : In exchange for your payments, the insurance company offers financial assistance for your health care needs, like doctor visits, hospital stays and lab tests.
- Timely Payments : You must pay your premium on time regularly to make sure that you get uninterrupted coverage.
Busting Myths about Health Insurance
#1 People in good health don’t require health insurance
You can reap the long-term benefits of health insurance even when you’re healthy and young. Health insurance protects you from any unforeseen health expenses.
#2 Insurance doesn’t cover pregnancy
There are insurance policies that offer maternity coverage, subject to specific terms and conditions.
#3 Your entire medical expenses will be reimbursed
The amount of reimbursement depends on the policy. Most plans cover room charges based on the sum insured, and any excess must be paid by the insured. A policy may have sub-limits for other costs, which are subject to partial reimbursement.
#4 Online health insurance purchases are not safe
Health insurance sales have gradually increased online. However, many believe that online transactions could result in fraud. This is untrue since insurers have launched online portals for easier policy purchases.
Key Benefits of Health Insurance Plans in India
Health insurance plans provide multiple health benefits to the insured, depending on the policy terms and conditions. Here are the key benefits of buying health insurance plans in India:
- Cashless Services : Star Health provides customer-centric services such as cashless facilities and promoties a healthy lifestyle.
- Hospitalisation Expenses : We have comprehensive health plans covering medical expenses incurred before hospitalisation and follow-up treatment expenses after discharge.
- AYUSH Treatment : Health insurance provides the cost for medical treatment through the AYUSH school of medicines, which includes Unani, Ayurveda, Siddha, Homoeopathy, and Yoga.
- Day Care Procedures : You can also avail day care treatments that require hospitalisation for less than 24 hours.
- Pre-Existing Diseases : We at Star Health provide coverage for pre-existing diseases after you have completed the waiting period. The waiting period may differ based on the insurer’s policy terms.
- Access to Telemedicine & Wellness Facilities : Star Health offers free health check with options of free vaccinations (influenza and pneumococcal), home health care, and OPD covers to opt for.
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Health Insurance Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions is subject to underwriting review and may involve additional requirements, loadings, or exclusions. Please disclose your medical history in the proposal form for a personalised assessment.
The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only. Availability and terms of health insurance plans may vary based on geographic location and other factors. Consult a licensed insurance agent or professional for specific advice. T&C Apply.
