Children Health Insurance: Buy Best Health Insurance for Kids

What is Children Health Insurance?

Children health insurance is a type of health insurance policy that covers the healthcare requirements of kids. It is designed to cover the medical expenses incurred on hospitalization, vaccination and clinical check-ups of children. It financially secures the health of a child by offering monetary support to the parents when the child falls sick, gets injured or is diagnosed with a disease.

A child health insurance plan can be purchased for infants, pre-teens as well as teenagers. Parents can purchase children health insurance plans and avail quality treatment for their kids at the right time.

List of Children Health Insurance Plans in India

Take a look at the various child health insurance plans available in India:

Children Health Insurance Plans	Sum Insured (Rs)	Key Benefits
Aditya Birla Activ Assure Diamond Plan	Min - 2 lakh Max - 2 crore	Vaccination cover Day care treatment In-patient hospitalization Domiciliary hospitalization	View Plan
Bajaj Allianz Health Guard Plan	Min - 1.5 lakh Max - 1 crore	Newborn baby cover Road ambulance charges Day care procedures Pre-post hospitalization	View Plan
Bharti AXA Health AdvantEDGE Plan	Min – 2 lakh Max – 3 crore	OPD for medical and dental Newborn baby cover Vaccination for newborn baby Personal accident cover	View Plan
Care Plus Health Insurance Plan	Min – 3 lakh Max – 25 lakh	Hospitalization expenses Newborn baby cover Outpatient consultations Unlimited e-consultations	View Plan
Cholamandalam Healthline Plan	Min – 2 lakh Max – 25 lakh	Newborn baby hospitalization Child hospitalization allowance Outpatient treatment Emergency ambulance expenses	View Plan
Digit Health Care Plus Plan	Min – 2 lakh Max – 3 crore	Dental treatment Newborn baby benefit Long hospitalization cash benefit OPD benefit	View Plan
Edelweiss HealthPlus Plan	Min – 1 lakh Max – 5 crore	Outpatient consultations Newborn baby cover Vaccination cover Home care treatment expenses	View Plan
Future Generali Health Total Plan	Min – 3 lakh Max – 1 crore	Day care treatment Child vaccination benefits Newborn baby expenses Outpatient medical expenses	View Plan
IFFCO Tokio Individual Medishield Plan	Min – 50,000 Max – 5 lakh	In-patient hospitalization Critical illness Day care treatment Ambulance charges	View Plan
Kotak Mahindra Health Premier Plan	Min – 3 lakh Max – 2 crore	Pre-post hospitalization medical expenses Newborn baby cover Vaccination expenses Air ambulance cover	View Plan
Liberty HealthPrime Connect Plan	Min – 10 lakh Max – 1 crore	In-patient hospitalization Newborn screening expenses Newborn vaccinations Nursing allowance	View Plan
ManipalCigna ProHealth Insurance Plan	Min – 2.5 crore Max – 1 crore	Worldwide emergency cover Day care treatment First year vaccination Newborn baby expenses	View Plan
Max Bupa Health Premia Plan	Min – 5 lakh Max – 3 crore	Child care benefits OPD treatment Pharmacy and diagnostic services Vaccination of newborn baby	View Plan
National Parivar Medicliam Plan	Min – 6 lakh Max – 50 lakh	Vaccination for children In-patient treatment Anti rabies vaccination Newborn baby cover	View Plan
New India Premier Mediclaim Plan	Min – 15 lakh Max – 1 crore	OPD treatments Child care benefit Hospitalization expenses Critical illness	View Plan
Oriental Happy Family Floater Plan	Min – 2 lakh Max – 20 lakh	Newborn baby cover Telemedicine expenses Daily hospital cash allowance Day care treatments	View Plan
Raheja Health QuBE	Min – 1 lakh Max – 50 lakh	In-patient hospitalization Daily allowance Domiciliary hospitalization Non-medical expenses	View Plan
Reliance HealthWise Plan	Min – 1 lakh Max – 5 lakh	Nursing allowance Critical illness Pre-post hospitalization expenses Modern treatment	View Plan
Royal Sundaram Lifeline Insurance Plan	Min – 2 lakh Max – 1.5 crore	OPD treatment Newborn baby cover Vaccination for newborn baby In-patient care	View Plan
SBI Arogya Plus Plan	Min – 1 lakh Max – 3 lakh	Day care expenses OPD treatment Pre-post hospitalization expenses Alternative treatment	View Plan
Star Comprehensive Insurance Plan	Min – 5 lakh Max – 1 crore	Outpatient consultation Hospitalization expenses Treatment of the newborn Air ambulance benefit	View Plan
Tata AIG MediCare Premier Plan	Min – 5 lakh Max – 50 lakh	High end diagnostics Vaccination cover OPD dental treatment Prolonged hospitalization benefit	View Plan
United India Family Medicare Plan	Min – 3 lakh Max – 25 lakh	Modern treatment methods Newborn baby cover In-patient hospitalization expenses Daily cash allowance	View Plan
Universal Sompo Complete Healthcare Insurance Plan	Min – 1 lakh Max – 3 crore	Ambulance cover In-patient hospitalization Domiciliary hospitalization Day care procedures	View Plan

See More Plans

Why Should You Buy Health Insurance for Children?

Investing in a children health insurance policy is immensely useful for your child in the long run. Take a look at the reasons why you should buy a children health insurance plan for your kids:

Prone to Injuries –Young children are more prone to accidents as they don’t know how to take care of themselves. Infants can also get easily hurt while learning to walk and run. As a result, kids easily get injured. With health insurance for kids, you do not have to worry about paying for your child’s treatment as it will be taken care of by the insurance provid
Weaker Immunity –Kids are more vulnerable to catching an infection or contracting a disease because they have a weaker immune system as compared to adults. Frequent visits to the hospital can impact your finances adversely. But in the case of a child health insurance policy, the treatment cost of any unforeseen disease or infection contracted by your kid will be covered by the insurer.
More Risk Exposure –Usually, children are more exposed to diseases, viruses and infections because they go out to play often and are not mindful about taking precautions. For instance, kids may eat something without washing their hands and fall sick. A child health insurance policy allows you to ensure the best medical treatment for your kids without exhausting your savings.
Poor Lifestyle Habits –The lifestyle of children has become poor over the last couple of decades. More children are ditching physical activities for watching TV and playing games on phones. Even eating habits have deteriorated as more kids prefer junk food over home-cooked food. As a consequence, children have become more prone to lifestyle diseases. But if your child is covered under health insurance, it will pay for their treatment of a variety of health problems.

Types of Children Health Insurance Plans

Broadly, child health insurance plans can be divided into two types:

Family Floater Health Insurance– It provides medical coverage to a child along with their family members on a floater sum insured basis. It provides comprehensive protection for your child by doubling up as a children health insurance policy. Such plans generally cover about 4 and 7 members of the family, including children. Going for a family health plan for your child is more financially feasible as it offers wider coverage at an affordable premium.
Individual Health Insurance for Kids– It provides customized coverage for a child on an individual sum insured basis. It only covers the medical expenses of the insured child and not of other family members. As compared to family floater plans, this type of child health insurance plan is available for a lower premium.

Inclusions of Children Health Insurance Plans

A child health insurance plan provides the following coverage:

In-patient Hospitalization Expenses –It covers the medical expenses incurred on the hospitalization of the insured child for more than 24 hours. It includes the ICU charges, cost of medicines, diagnostic services, room rent, nursing charges, etc.
NewbornBaby Cover – It provides coverage for the medical expenses incurred on the neonatal care of a newborn baby. This cover is usually available as part of the maternity benefit if opted by the mother of the baby.
Day Care Treatments –It covers the cost of availing day care treatments for the insured child that requires a maximum hospital admission of less than 24 hours.
Pre-hospitalization Expenses –It pays for any medical expenses incurred by the insured child before getting admitted to a hospital. It is usually available for 30 to 90 days before hospitalization.
Post-hospitalization Expenses –It covers the cost of any medical consultations or healthcare services availed by the insured child after getting discharged from the hospital. It is usually covered for 60 to 180 days after hosp
Vaccination Cover –It pays for the medical expenses incurred on the vaccination of a newborn baby in the first year. This cover is also available alongside the maternity benefit cover opted by the baby’s mother.
OPD Treatment –It covers the cost of availing outpatient consultations, dental treatment or diagnostic services for the insured child.
Ambulance Charges –It provides coverage for the charges incurred on availing ambulance services to transport the insured child to the nearest hospital during a health emergency.
Domiciliary Hospitalization –It pays for the medical expenses incurred on the treatment of the insured child at home on the advice of a qualified doctor.

Exclusions of Children Health Insurance Plans in India

The following medical expenses are excluded under health insurance for kids:

Treatment for any injuries sustained during participation in adventure sports
Treatment forpre-existing diseases of the child until the waiting period is over
Treatment forany congenital disabilities of the insured child
Treatment for personality or behavioural disorders in the insured child
Treatment for any injuries sustained due to war or nuclear perils

Benefits of Buying Children Health Insurance Plans

Children health insurance plans come with the following key benefits:

ComprehensiveMedical Coverage – It covers the insured kid against a wide range of medical expenses, such as hospitalization costs, treatment for accidental injury, vaccination costs, OPD consultations, etc. Some plans may also offer value-added services like free health check-up facilities.
Financial Security –By buying a children health insurance policy, your child will be financially protected against any unforeseen medical emergencies at any given point in time.
No Compromises on Treatment – It prevents you from compromisingon the treatment of your child due to financial constraints. Instead, it allows you to get the best available treatment for your child.
Cashless Hospitalization Services –All child health insurance plans come with cashless hospitalization services if you get your child admitted to a network hospital of your insurance company for treatment.
Family Discount –If you choose to cover your child under your health insurance policy on an individual sum insured basis, you will be able to avail a family discount on the premium amount.
Tax Benefits –You can avail tax-saving benefits on the health insurance premium paid for your child’s policy under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.

Children Health Insurance Eligibility Criteria

Take a look at the eligibility criteria to buy a child health insurance plan in India:

Categories	Eligibility Criteria
Minimum Entry Age	91 days 1 day (in the case of a newborn baby)
Maximum Entry Age	Up to 25 years
Exit Age	If the child is no longer financially dependent on the parent

Please note that children below the age of 5 years can only be covered if at least one parent is covered under the health plan.

Moreover, the eligibility criteria may vary from one child health insurance plan to another.

Tips for Choosing the Right Children Health Insurance Policy

Take a look at some useful tips to choose the right health insurance plan for your child:

Check the Sum Insured– Before you choose a child health insurance plan, you must check the sum insured of different plans. You must go ahead with a plan that comes with the optimum sum insured to cover the various medical expenses of your child. If you opt for lower coverage, you will have to pay money from your own pockets during the claim settlement. If you opt for a higher sum insured, you will have to pay a higher premium.
Check the Policy Coverage –Besides sum insured, you should also check the coverage offered by different children health insurance plans. Choose a plan that provides the desired coverage to your child at an affordable premium price.
Go for Newborn Baby Cover – If you are planning to start or expand your family, then make sure to opt for a child health insurance plan that comes with a newborn baby cover. Doing so will cover your newborn baby against any infection due to weather changesor pathogens from day 1.
Read the Policy Exclusions –All health insurance plans for kids come with certain exclusions. While buying the policy, make sure to go through the exclusions of the plan carefully so that you are clear of what your child will not be covered for. In case any of your desired covers are excluded from a plan, buy another health
Opt for Suitable Add-on Covers – At the time of buying a children health insurance policy, include any necessary add-on covers to your policy, such as no room rent, no sub-limits, etc. By buying add-on covers, you can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses in case your child gets sick or hurt in an accident.
Check for Nearby Network Hospitals –Make sure to go through the list of network hospitals of an insurance company before choosing a child health insurance plan. Prefer to buy the policy from an insurer, which has a few network hospitals near your house. This will be extremely useful when you need to avail cashless hospitalization facility for your child.
Compare Children Health Insurance Plans Online – Before you make the final pick, make sure to compare all child health insurance plans online at Policybazaar.com. By making a comparison, you will be able to choose the best plan for your child at an affordable price.

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Buying a Children Health Insurance Plan

A lot of people make certain mistakes while buying health insurance for their kids that cost them heavily later. Here are some common mistakes to avoid while buying a child health insurance plan:

Opting for Lower Coverage –Do not buy a children health insurance plan with lower coverage just to reduce the premium. A plan with lower coverage may not cover your child’s health needs completely. As a result, you will have to pay for the additional medical expenses from your own pockets as they will not be paid by the insurer.
Hiding Your Child’s Medical History –Do not hide your child’s medical history from the insurance provider. Doing so can lead to rejection of future claims and cancellation of the policy in case the insurer finds out later. Therefore, make sure to disclose your child’s medical history truthfully to the insurance company at the time of buying the policy.
Overlooking the Co-payment Clause – Do not ignore the co-payment clause in your child’s health insurance plan. Co-payment increases your out-of-pocket expenses during claims as it requires you to pay a part of the claim amount. If you overlook the co-payment clause and end up buying a policy with a high co-payment, it will impact your savings adversely.
Relying on Group Health Insurance Policy –Do not rely completely on the group health insurance plan offered by your employer to cover your child’s healthcare needs. Group health plans are usually insufficient to cover the health needs of all the family members and may result in a shortage of coverage for your child at the time of need. Thus, make sure to buy a separate health insurance policy for your child that provides comprehensive coverage to your child.

FAQs

Q1. What will happen to the children health insurance policy if the child turns 18 years old?

Ans: If the insured child turns 18 years old or reaches the exit age of the health insurance for kids, he/she will have to convert the existing policy into an individual health insurance policy for adults. In the case of a family health insurance policy, the insured child can buy a separate health insurance plan available for adults.
Q2. Are there any waiting periods under children health insurance plans?

Ans: Yes. All children health insurance plans come with an initial waiting period of 30 days. They also come with a waiting period of 2 to 4 years for covering the pre-existing diseases of the insured child depending on the plan.
Q3.What is the right time to buy health insurance for kids?

Ans: A child is at the risk of getting sick or injured all the time. Therefore, the best time to buy health insurance for your child is as early as possible. In fact, you should buy health insurance for your kids as soon as they are born. The late you buy the policy, the higher will be the premium amount.
Q4. Can a health insurance policy for kids be denied to a child?

Ans: The chances of denial of a health insurance policy for kids is very low. However, if an insurance company does not provide coverage for a pre-existing disease of your child, they may deny the policy.
Q5. Do children have to undergo pre-policy medical check-up s before buying health insurance for kids?

Ans: No. Your child will not have to undergo a pre-policy medical check-up at the time of buying a children health insurance policy for them.