Health insurance, also called medical insurance, is a plan that helps cover your healthcare costs. When you have health insurance, you enter into an agreement with an insurance company, which promises to help pay for medical expenses if you get injured, face a serious illness, or need treatment for an accident. It’s a way to ease the financial burden of healthcare, so you can focus on getting better without worrying as much about the cost.
To receive the benefits of a health insurance policy, policyholders pay a set amount called a premium. In return, the plan provides a range of coverage options, including expenses related to hospital stays before and after treatment, care at home if needed, coverage for daycare procedures, and even an annual medical check-up. This support can make healthcare more manageable and affordable.
Health insurance riders let you boost your basic coverage by paying a bit more on your premium. Here are some popular riders you might want to explore before choosing a health insurance plan.
You can cover the expenses related to maternity, pre & post-natal expenses & newborn child under a maternity add-on rider.
A lump sum is paid upon diagnosis of a critical illness during the policy term, such as heart disease, kidney failure, or cancer.
You will receive the total amount if you become completely permanently disabled or partially disabled due to an accident.
You will get a daily cash allowance to take care of additional expenses such as food, travel, etc. at the time of hospitalization.
A lump sum is paid upon diagnosis of a critical illness during the policy term, such as heart disease, kidney failure, or cancer.
This rider allows you to increase the sub-limit for hospital room rents or choose no sub-limit for greater flexibility and comfort.
With various health insurance options available, it’s not always easy to choose the best one. RenewBuy has compiled a list of the top 10 insurers in India, based on factors like claim processing, financial strength, and hospital partnerships.
To choose the best health insurance company in India from the 28 available options, consider the following factors and match them with your personal needs and preferences:
Below are the benefits of choosing the best health insurance from the best health insurer in India:
Choose from a variety of health plans designed to fit your needs and budget, ensuring complete coverage and peace of mind.
Experience quick grievance resolution processes that prioritize your concerns, ensuring efficient solutions and high customer satisfaction.
Enjoy a hassle-free claim settlement process designed for simplicity and speed, ensuring quick reimbursements and minimal paperwork.
Take advantage of flexible premium payment options that align with your financial planning, making it easier to manage your health insurance costs.
Enjoy renewal benefits that reward your loyalty with improved coverage or discounts, ensuring ongoing protection and added value.
Health insurance portability allows you to maintain your coverage benefits when switching providers, ensuring continuous care without losing protection.
Below mentioned are few of the benefits that are covered after the waiting period
The following situations and conditions are not covered under Health Insurance Plans:
No coverage for injuries caused by self-harm or suicide attempts.
Excludes routine dental procedures unless medically necessary for trauma.
Weight loss treatments or surgeries are not covered under policy.
No claims for conditions arising from substance abuse or addiction.
Injuries from participating in risky sports are excluded from coverage
Fertility treatments, including IVF, are not covered by health insurance
No coverage for cosmetic or aesthetic surgeries unless medically necessary.
War-related injuries, including terrorism, are excluded from insurance claims.
No claims for injuries caused during illegal activities or crimes.
There are 28 health insurance companies available in India, and all have unique features. In the table below, RenewBuy has listed all the health insurance companies available in India and their claim settlement ratio, solvency ratio, and network hospitals.
Insurer | Claim Settlement Ratio (2022-23) | Incurred Claim Ratio (2022-23) | Solvency Ratio (2022-23) | Gross Direct Premium (2022-23) | Network Hospitals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acko General Insurance | 97.68% | 83.88% | 4.26% | 736 | 14,300+ |
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance | 93.54% | 74.27% | 3.68% | 3372.78 | 18,400+ |
Cholamandalam MS General Insurance | 93.63% | 67.88% | 2.07% | 893.28 | 11,000+ |
Future Generali India Insurance | 94.98% | 79.18% | 1.86% | 879.61 | 8,430+ |
Go Digit General Insurance | 96.83% | 71.87% | 1.96% | 933.33 | 16,400+ |
Health insurance is often misunderstood, creating confusion about coverage. Debunking these myths is crucial for informed healthcare decisions.
Reducing health insurance premiums can improve your financial health. Though strategies vary by location and insurer, here are some general tips to lower premiums:
Below mentioned are the factors that can affect your health insurance premium amount:
Older individuals typically incur higher premiums due to increased health risks over time.
Premium rates may differ based on gender-specific health risk factors and statistics.
Pre-existing conditions often lead to significanty higher premium costs for applicants.
Choosing a higher sum insured generally results in increased premium costs overall.
Longer policy terms often lead to lower monthly premium payments for insured individuals.
Comprehensive health plans usually have higher premiums due to broader coverage options
Adding riders to a policy increases the overall premium and enhances coverage options.
Unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking, can increase insurance premium amounts significantly.
Understanding key health insurance jargons is essential for navigating coverage options effectively.
The amount you pay your insurance company for coverage. It is usually paid every month.
Restoration benefit refills your sum insured amount if it gets exhausted in a single policy year.
It is a type of treatment related to Ayurveda, Yoga and naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy.
The group of healthcare providers, hospitals, & facilities that have a contract with your health insurance company to provide cashless treatment.
A fixed amount you pay for a specific healthcare service, such as a doctor's visit or prescription medication. For ex:, you might have a copay of $20 for each doctor's visit.
Add-on riders or additional riders are the benefits that you can add to your health plan to enhance the coverage benefits by paying some additional premium amount.
It is a type of treatment in which policyholders can receive treatment at home if they cannot reach the hospital or find medical facilities for a specific treatment under the supervision of a medical professional.
The amount you must pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage starts. For example, if your deductible is INR 1K, you must pay the first INR 1K of covered expenses before your insurance begins to pay.
The process of obtaining approval from your insurance company before receiving certain medical services or procedures. This is typically required for expensive or non-emergency procedures to ensure they are medically necessary.
This is a period in which you can cancel or change your health insurance company without paying any penalty. Generally, it lasts for 15 days from the date of the policy.
A health condition or illness you had before buying a health insurance plan.