With healthcare costs constantly on the rise, securing a comprehensive health insurance plan is more important than ever. A good health insurance policy protects you and your family from the financial burden of unexpected medical expenses, ensuring access to quality care without worry.
Choosing the right health insurance can be confusing with the multitude of options available. At Policybazaar, we simplify this process by helping you compare and select the best health plan tailored to your specific needs and budget.
Why should I buy the best health insurance policy?
Purchasing the best health insurance policy in India is essential to safeguard your well-being and finances. It offers comprehensive coverage for medical expenses, including hospitalization, surgeries, medications, and diagnostic tests. With the best health insurance policy, you gain access to a wide network of hospitals and healthcare providers, ensuring timely and quality medical care. It provides financial security during emergencies, protects savings from healthcare costs, and offers peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are adequately covered against health-related uncertainties. Investing in the best health insurance policy is a prudent decision for securing your future health and financial stability.
List of best health insurance plans in India for 2024
Finding good insurance plans can get tricky with so many options available in the market. Visit Bajaj Finance Insurance Mall to get a quick view of the best health insurance plans in India, offered by leading insurers:
Best health insurance plans in India - 2024 |
Entry age (Min-Max) |
Description |
Sum insured |
Number of network hospitals |
Aditya Birla Group Activ Health Plan |
18 years and above |
|
Up to Rs. 10 lakh |
10,000+ |
Niva Bupa Health Plus |
18-60 years |
|
Up to Rs. 5 lakh |
8,500+ |
Bajaj Allianz Health Guard Insurance Plan
|
Age (adults): 18-65 years
Age (dependent children): 91 days to 25 years |
|
Up to Rs. 50 lakh |
7000+ |
ManipalCigna Pro-Health Group |
Age (adults): 18-65 years
Age (dependent children): 91 days to 25 years |
|
Up to Rs. 5 lakh |
6,500+ |
What are types of best health insurance plans in India?
Selecting an optimal health insurance plan in India requires careful consideration of various options. Understanding the different types of health insurance plans available is crucial for individuals and families to ensure comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies while safeguarding their financial well-being.
Individual health insurance plans
Individual health insurance is a type of medical coverage designed specifically for one person, offering financial protection against medical expenses and hospitalization costs. It's a great option for individuals who want customized coverage tailored to their unique needs.
Family Floater Health Insurance plans
Family health insurance plans offer a convenient and cost-effective way to safeguard your family's health and finances. These plans provide comprehensive coverage for your entire family, including your spouse, children, and often even parents and in-laws.
Key benefits of family health insurance:
- Financial security: Enjoy peace of mind knowing that your family is financially protected against unexpected medical expenses.
- Comprehensive coverage: Covers a wide range of medical expenses, including hospitalization, pre- and post-hospitalization care, and more.
- Floater sum insured: The sum insured is shared among all covered family members, providing flexibility and maximizing coverage.
- Reinstatement of sum insured: Many plans offer 100% reinstatement of the sum insured, ensuring continuous coverage even after a claim is made.
- Cost-effective: Family health insurance plans are typically more affordable than purchasing individual policies for each family member.
Senior citizen health insurance plans
Senior citizen health insurance offers tailored coverage for individuals aged 60 and above, addressing the unique healthcare needs of this age group. These plans provide a safety net against rising medical costs and ensure access to quality healthcare during the golden years.
Key benefits of senior citizen health insurance:
- Coverage for pre-existing diseases: Many plans offer coverage for pre-existing conditions after a specified waiting period, providing financial protection for ongoing health issues.
- Preventive health check-ups: Regular check-ups are essential for early detection and management of health conditions. Senior citizen plans often include coverage for preventive health check-ups.
- Cashless hospitalization: Enjoy the convenience of cashless hospitalization at network hospitals, eliminating the need for upfront payments and reimbursements.
- Higher sum insured options: Recognize that healthcare needs may increase with age, senior citizen plans often offer higher sum insured options for greater financial protection.
Critical illness health insurance plans
Critical illness insurance provides a financial safety net in the event of a serious medical diagnosis, such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke. With healthcare costs skyrocketing, this coverage helps protect your savings from being depleted by expensive treatments.
Key benefits of critical illness insurance:
- Extensive coverage: Policies offer substantial coverage amounts, up to ₹50 lakh or more, ensuring you can access necessary medical care without financial strain.
- Lump-sum payout: Upon diagnosis of a covered critical illness, you receive a lump-sum payment, providing immediate financial support for treatment, recovery, or other expenses.
- Tax advantages: Enjoy tax deductions on premiums paid under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.
- Effortless claims: The claims process is designed to be straightforward and efficient, ensuring quick access to funds when you need them most.
- Income protection: Some policies offer coverage for loss of income due to a critical illness, helping you manage living expenses during recovery.
Group health insurance plans
Group health insurance provides coverage for a collective of individuals, such as employees of a company, members of a society, or customers of a bank. It's a valuable tool for organizations to offer health benefits to their members, fostering a sense of security and well-being.
Key Benefits of Group Health Insurance:
- Extensive coverage: Comprehensive protection against various medical expenses, including hospitalization, ambulance charges, medications, specialist consultations, and more.
- Robust medical benefits: Covers a wide range of health conditions, including accidents, illnesses, and planned hospitalizations.
- Cashless convenience: Access cashless treatment at network hospitals, eliminating the hassle of upfront payments and reimbursements.
- Flexible plans: Tailor policy terms to fit the specific needs and size of the group.
- Value-added benefits: Enhance coverage with riders for maternity, pre-existing conditions, and other health needs.
Top-up health insurance plans
Top-up health insurance acts like a safety net on top of your existing health insurance plan. It provides extra coverage when your medical expenses exceed the limits of your primary policy. Think of it as a booster pack for your health insurance, ensuring you're financially prepared for those unexpected big medical bills.
Why choose top-up health insurance?
- Enhanced protection: Get higher coverage without breaking the bank, especially useful with rising healthcare costs.
- Peace of mind: Be financially prepared for unexpected medical emergencies or major illnesses requiring extensive treatment.
- Cost-effective: Top-up premiums are generally lower than regular health insurance premiums for the same amount of coverage
Disease-specific health insurance plans
Some insurers offer plans tailored to specific ailments or medical conditions. These specialized plans provide comprehensive coverage, including focused treatment packages, specialist consultations, and post-treatment care specific to the disease.
What are benefits of the best health insurance plans in India?
When searching for the best health insurance plan in India, consider these key benefits:
Cashless hospitalisation :
Most health insurance plans offer cashless hospitalisation. Insurance companies tie up with several hospitals to create a network to offer quality cashless mediclaim policy. Get your treatment at any of the network hospitals without worrying about the availability of funds. Here, the insurers directly settle the claims with the hospitals.
Comprehensive coverage :
The best health insurance policy offers coverage for a range of healthcare expenses. This includes in-patient and pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses. Some insurance policies also provide coverage for daycare treatments, ambulance expenses, and domiciliary treatment.
Lower premiums:
The best health insurance plans in India often feature lower premiums, making them more affordable for individuals and families. Competitive pricing ensures that essential coverage is accessible, allowing policyholders to secure comprehensive health protection without straining their budgets.
Tax benefits :
Avail tax benefits under relevant sections of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for paying premiums towards the health insurance policy.
Cashless treatment:
One of the key benefits of the best health insurance plans in India is cashless treatment. This feature allows policyholders to receive medical services at network hospitals without making upfront payments, streamlining the claims process during emergencies.
No Claim Bonus or cumulative bonus :
You gain a cumulative bonus for having claim-free policy years. You can benefit from this bonus by increasing your sum insured when renewing the health policy.
Wellness benefits:
The best health policy in India often includes wellness benefits, such as preventive health check-ups, fitness programs, and discounts on health-related services. These incentives promote overall well-being and encourage policyholders to maintain a healthier lifestyle, enhancing long-term health.
Daily allowance :
Many health insurance policies offer daily cash benefit. This helps you take care of the miscellaneous expenses when hospitalised. You may get up to Rs. 1,000 daily, depending on the health insurance chosen.
Critical illness coverage :
Critical illness cover offers coverage for treatments of life-threatening diseases. Health insurance policies also offer critical illness cover as an add-on benefit. Some also include it in their key benefits. You get coverage for cancer, stroke, heart diseases, kidney failure and more. Check the list of the critical illnesses covered under the health insurance policy when buying one.
Extra benefits :
Other common benefits offered by some of the best health insurance in India:
- Free annual health check-ups
- Online doctor consultations
- Consultations with nutritionists
- Discounts on lab tests
How to select the best health insurance policy to buy?
Let us understand how you can shortlist the best health insurance in India:
Choose an adequate sum insured amount:
Selecting an appropriate sum insured amount is crucial for ensuring adequate financial coverage during medical emergencies. Assess your healthcare needs and potential expenses, considering factors like age, health conditions, and family size, to determine the right sum.
Research and compare plans:
Take the time to research various health insurance plans available in the market. Comparing features, coverage options, premiums, and additional benefits will help you make an informed decision that aligns with your healthcare needs and budget.
Choose the right coverage type:
Consider the type of coverage that best suits your requirements, such as individual, family floater, or critical illness plans. Each type offers different benefits and premiums, so choose one that addresses your specific health needs and financial goals.
Check the pre-existing disease waiting period:
Be aware of the waiting period for pre-existing diseases in the chosen policy. Different insurers have varying waiting periods, which can affect coverage availability. Opt for a policy with a shorter waiting period if you have existing health conditions.
Pick an insurer with a high claim settlement ratio:
Choosing an insurer with a high claim settlement ratio is vital for ensuring reliable claim processing. A higher ratio indicates the insurer's efficiency in settling claims, providing peace of mind during health emergencies.
Smooth claim settlement process:
Look for health insurance policies that offer a smooth claim settlement process, including clear documentation and prompt responses. A hassle-free experience during claims can significantly reduce stress during challenging times when you need immediate medical assistance.
Don't forget to compare premium:
When selecting a health insurance policy, comparing premiums across different plans is essential. Analyze the premium rates in relation to the coverage and benefits offered to ensure you get value for your money without compromising essential features.
Cashless hospitalisation:
Opt for policies that provide cashless hospitalization, allowing you to receive treatment without upfront payments at network hospitals. This feature simplifies the claim process and provides convenience during emergencies, making it an important factor when choosing a health insurance plan.
Check the reviews and customer service:
Investigate customer reviews and ratings for the insurer's services. Good customer service ensures timely assistance and support during claims. A company with positive feedback regarding responsiveness and service quality will enhance your overall insurance experience.
Read the policy exclusions:
Thoroughly read the policy exclusions before purchasing a health insurance plan. Understanding what is not covered can prevent unpleasant surprises during claims. Ensure the policy aligns with your healthcare needs and that you are aware of any limitations.