Health Insurance Companies

Aditya Birla Health Insurance Company Limited is a collaboration between Aditya Birla Group and MMI Holdings of South Africa. Listed below are the features and benefits of buying Aditya Birla health insurance plans:

• It offers customized medical health insurance plans for critical illnesses, cancer, etc.
• In-patient treatment, OPD treatment, AYUSH treatment and home treatments are covered.
• Annual health check-ups and recovery benefits are available.
• Pre-existing diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and asthma are covered from day 1.
• It provides Health Returns discounts of up to 100% under its plans.
• It has a dedicated team of Care Managers that assist policyholders during claims.

Bajaj General Insurance Limited (Formerly known as Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited) offers a variety of health insurance products, including plans catering to the needs of customers from a particular group, such as senior citizens, women, etc. It was also the first to provide captive TPA services with certain additional benefits. Below are some of the features of Bajaj health insurance plans:

• The insurer offers health coverage to individuals, families, as well as senior citizens.
• Hospitalization expenses, maternity expenses, OPD expenses and consumables expenses are covered.
• Preventive health check-ups and cumulative bonus are also available.
• It offers specific health plans that cover life-threatening illnesses, like strokes, tumours, cancer, etc.
• For international coverage, the insurer offers the Global Health Care plan.
• Most plans do not require pre-policy medical check-ups for up to 45 years.
• The insurer's in-house Health Administration Team (HAT) is known to settle cashless claims within 60 minutes.

Care Health Insurance Limited provides plans to meet everyone's health requirements, including individual& family floater plans, health insurance plans for diabetes and hypertension, senior citizen plans, and top-up plans. Here are some of the key features of Care health insurance plans:

• In-patient hospitalization, unlimited e-consultations and domiciliary hospitalization are covered.
• Instant cover under Care Supreme covers pre-existing asthma, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension from day 1.
• Most of the plans offer preventive health check-up facilities to the insured.
• Unlimited restoration of the sum insured and no claim bonus are available.
• The Care Heart plan is available for pre-existing cardiac ailments and annual cardiac check-ups.
• Wellness discounts of up to 30% are available.
• The insurer processes cashless claim approval within 2 hours.

Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Limited offers health coverage with attractive features and benefits at an affordable cost. It offers family health insurance, senior citizen health plans, maternity insurance and critical illness plans. Cholamandalam medical insurance plans are a safe bet for the following reasons:

• The insurer provides a diverse range of products, including individual health plans, top-up plans, and critical illness insurance plans.
• Hospitalization expenses, home treatment, AYUSH treatment and maternity expenses are covered.
• Global hospitalization, bariatric surgery and consumables cover are available.
• Most plans cover pre-hospitalization expenses for up to 30 days and post-hospitalization expenses for up to 60 days.
• Some health plans also offer annual health check-up facilities.
• Both critical illnesses as well as accidental cover are available (in selected health plans)
• A health week discount of up to 10% is available.

Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited is a joint enterprise between the Future Group of Industries and the Generali Group. Future Generali health insurance plans are tailor-made to meet the requirements of different kinds of medical insurance seekers. Below are some of the benefits of buying these health plans:

• The insurer offers different kinds of medical insurance policies to cater to the needs of a wide range of customers, including personal accident, critical illness insurance, hospital cash insurance, top-up insurance, and senior citizen insurance plans.
• Day care treatments, hospitalization expenses and modern treatments are covered
• Cumulative bonus and preventive health check-ups are available
• It offers a family floater discount of up to 60%.
• The insurer processes cashless claims in merely 90 minutes.
• The policyholder can easily access their policy details with the Future Generali mobile app.

Galaxy Health Insurance Company offers affordable medical insurance plans for individuals and families catering to their specific health needs. Here are some of the reasons buying Galaxy health insurance plans is a good idea:

• Comprehensive coverage against a wide range of emergency and planned treatments are available
• Hospitalization expenses, maternity benefit, hospice care and OPD expenses are covered
• Coverage for PED asthma, blood pressure and cholesterol is available from 31st day.
• Home care treatment, bariatric surgery, cataract treatment and newborn baby expenses are covered
• No co-payment and pre-acceptance medical screening are required
• The insurer ensures hassle-free claims through their in-house claim settlement team.
• The customer support team is available for assistance round the clock.

Go Digit General Insurance Limited offers a diversified range of medical insurance plans for individuals and families in India. The company has a record of settling 75% cashless in just thirty minutes Check out what makes Digit Health Insurance plans a suitable choice:

• Coverage for domiciliary treatment, in-patient care and OPD expenses are available.
• Maternity benefit, worldwide cover and health check-up benefit are also available.
• Digit health insurance plans are available online and can be purchased without much paperwork.
• 10% city discount and 5% loyalty discount are available.

HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited provides a variety of medical insurance plans for individuals, senior citizens, families and women. Take a look at the key benefits of buying HDFC ERGO health insurance plans:

• Customized plans for critical illnesses, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, dengue, etc. are available.
• Hospitalization expenses, home healthcare, alternative treatments and OPD treatments are covered.
• Consumables cover, preventive health check-ups and recovery benefit are available.
• Up to 50% family discount is available.
• The company settles all cashless claims within 2 hours.

ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited has a wide range of health insurance plans in its product portfolio. Check out some of the reasons why buying ICICI Lombard health insurance plans is a great idea:

• The insurer provides specific health plans for senior citizens, families, critical illnesses, etc.
• In-patient treatment, home care treatments, maternity expenses and OPD treatments are covered.
• Preventive health check-ups, convalescence benefit and reset benefit are available.
• Up to 30% wellness discount is available.
• The customer support team is available 24x7 for assistance.

IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance Company Limited began its operations on December 4, 2000 in collaboration among the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-operative (IFFCO) and a popular Japanese insurance group - Tokio Marine. Here are some of the reasons to buy IFFCO Tokio health insurance plans:

• It provides coverage for any sudden illness, disease or injuries, which may require hospitalization, medical or surgical treatment, organ transplantation, etc.
• It compensates expenses incurred on chemotherapy, pacemaker, radiotherapy, dialysis, surgical appliances, blood, oxygen, operation theatre, medicines, etc.
• Up to 12.5% wellness discount is available.
• The company provides its customers timely and hassle-free claim settlement experience in a quickly and efficiently.
• It settles all cashless claims within 1 hour for initial authorization and 3 hours for discharge approval.
• It also offers critical illness add-on cover on payment of some extra premium.

Liberty General Insurance Limited started its operations in 2013. It is a collaboration between DP Jindal Group, Liberty City State Holdings PTE Ltd. and Enam Securities. Some of the benefits of buying Liberty health insurance plans are given below:

• The health plans are designed to offer wider health protection coverage with high sum insured options.
• Hospitalization expenses, worldwide cover, AYUSH treatment and ambulance charges are covered
• Some unique benefits include preventive care facilities, daily cash allowance, second medical opinion, etc.
• A wellness discount of 10% is available.
• The policyholder also gets a free-look period of 15 days to cancel the policy post-purchase

ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Limited was launched in 2014 as a collaboration between India's Manipal Group and USA's Cigna Corporation. Below are some of the features of ManipalCigna health insurance plans:

• It offers a wide range of health plans, including a top-up health plan, critical illness plan, accidental care plan, lifestyle protection plan, etc.
• Most health plans are customizable to meet customer's needs and preferences.
• The insurer also offers a critical illness plan covering nearly 30 major illnesses.
• In-patient treatment, maternity expenses, OPD expenses and day care procedures are covered.
• Switch off benefit, premium waiver benefit, annual health check-ups, and unlimited teleconsultations are available.
• The insurer provides 100% restoration of the sum insured in most plans.
• A fitness discount of up to 20% is available.
• The company settles over 96% of cashless claims within 2 hours.
• The insured can easily track health insurance claims online.

National Insurance Company Ltd. has been serving its customers for more than a century with comprehensive health insurance coverage. Below are some of the benefits of buying National health insurance plans:

• Coverage for in-patient care, mental illness, maternity expenses are available
• Most health plans cover medical expenses incurred for up to 30 days before hospitalization and 60 days after hospitalization.
• Adventure sports injuries, genetic disorders, obesity treatment and refractive error corrections are covered
• National Insurance Company Limited offers the Varishtha Mediclaim policy for senior citizens.
• A co-payment discount of up to 20% is available.
• Some health plans offer free health check-up benefits.

New India Assurance Company Limited has been in operation since 1919. Below are some of the features of New India Assurance health insurance plans:

• It offers a comprehensive health insurance plan for families, protecting self, spouse and two dependent children.
• Hospitalization costs, ambulance charges, AYUSH treatments and cataract surgery are covered.
• The insurer offers cancer coverage under the New India Cancer Guard policy.
• The company also offers New India Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana for emigrants with ECR or ECNR status.
• Health check-up benefits are also available under some plans.
• Up to 15% voluntary co-pay discount is available.

Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited is a standalone health insurance company in India that offers health insurance policies to individuals and families from all age groups. Below are some of the benefits offered by Niva Bupa health insurance plans:

• Home care treatments, modern treatments and hospitalization expenses are covered.
• Lock the clock benefit, booster+ benefit and annual health check-ups are available.
• Pre-existing hypertension and diabetes are covered from day 1 with the Smart Health+ rider.
• Up to 30% live healthy discount is available.
• The insurer also provides cashless claim intial authorization within 30 minutes.

Raheja QBE General Insurance Company Limited was established to provide insurance services to its consumers in the most seamless manner. Some of the features and benefits of Raheja QBE health insurance plans are given below:

• In-patient hospitalization expenses, ambulance charges and non-medical expenses are covered.
• Medical check-ups, daily allowance and recharge benefit are available.
• Raheja QBE health insurance plans also offer no claim bonus and domiciliary hospitalization cover.
• A co-payment discount of 20% is available.

Royal Sundaram General Insurance Co. Ltd. offers comprehensive insurance plans with innovative features and solutions. Take a look at some key features of Royal Sundaram health insurance plans:

• OPD treatments, in-patient treatment, modern treatments and ambulance charges are covered
• Domiciliary hospitalization, health check-up facilities and maternity coverage are also available.
• It offers worldwide emergency hospitalization expenses along with a second opinion for 11 major critical illnesses.
• 100% restoration of the sum insured and no claim bonus are available
• A health & wellness discount is also available.

SBI General insurance Co. Ltd is a joint venture between the State Bank of India (SBI) and four other investors. Here are some of the key features of SBI Health Insurance plans:

• Advanced procedures, in-patient treatment, OPD treatments and home healthcare are covered.
• Domestic emergency assistance services, bariatric surgery and annual health check-ups are available.
• Applicants do not need to undergo a pre-medical screening for up to the age of 45 years.
• Most health insurance plans cover pre and post-hospitalization expenses.
• Up to 30% walk healthy discount is available.

Star Health & Allied Insurance Company offers some of the most comprehensive medical plans for individuals and families. Below are some of the coverage benefits offered by Star Health insurance plans:

• Hospitalization costs, AYUSH treatments, second medical opinion and OPD expenses are covered.
• Star health insurance offers customized products covering diabetes and HIV positive patients.
• The insurer also provides a top-up health insurance plan that can be customized as per the insured's needs.
• Star Diabetes Safe plan covers pre-existing diabetes from day 1 under its Plan A.
• Unlimited restoration of the sum insured, freeze the age and consumables cover are available.
• A wellness discount of up to 20% is available.
• The company has an in-house claim settlement procedure for cashless hospitalization facilities.

Tata AIG General Insurance Company Ltd. was started in collaboration between the American International Group and the TATA Group. The insurer commenced its operation in the year 2001. Tata AIG health insurance plans come with the following range of benefits-

• The insurer offers customized health plans for individuals, families, senior citizens, critical illnesses, and medical emergencies.
• Coverage for hospitalization expenses, OPD treatments and maternity expenses are available.
• Tata AIG medical policies also recompense medical treatments taken at home, if required, as part of the treatment.
• The plans are also designed to compensate for the cost of Homeopathy, Siddha, Unani, and Ayurveda treatment.
• Up to 100 critical illnesses are covered under the Criti Medicare plan.
• Consumables benefit, restore benefit and preventive health check-ups are available.
• No pre-policy medical check-up is required for up to 45 years.
• A family floater discount of up to 32% is available.

The Oriental Insurance Company Limited is also a government-owned general insurance company that offers a wide range of health insurance products in India. Below are some of the benefits of buying Oriental health insurance plans:

• Oriental Insurance Company Limited offers both family floater and individual health insurance plans.
• Hospitalization expenses, mental illness treatment and OPD treatments are covered.
• Health check-ups, teleconsultations and second medical opinions are available.
• Most health insurance policies can be customized as per the customer's needs.
• It does not require a pre-policy medical test for up to the age of 55 years.
• A voluntary co-payment of up to 20% is available.

United India Insurance Co. Ltd. is one of the oldest general insurance companies in India. The insurer offers affordable and personalized health plans to its customers. Furthermore, United India Insurance Company Ltd. received ICRA accreditation for high solvency margin ratio and claim paying ability. Check out the benefits offered by United India health insurance policies:

• In-patient hospitalization, modern treatments and day care treatments are covered.
• Free medical check-ups and cumulative bonus are available.
• A no claim discount of up to 15% and a 5% of family discount is available.
• A 30-day free look period is provided from the date of policy inception.

Zuno (Formerly Edelweiss) General Insurance Company Limited is a trusted health insurance provider with a wide range of insurance products. Here are some of the advantages of purchasing Zuno health insurance plans:

• The policies are designed to cover in-patient, pre and post-hospitalization expenses, critical illnesses, accidents, diseases, etc.
• AYUSH treatments, modern treatments and day care treatments are covered.
• Recovery benefit, shared accommodation benefit and health check-up benefit are available.
• A single premium discount of up to 10% is available.

Zurich Kotak General Insurance Company (India) Limited allows customers to pick from a range of customised medical policies. Zurich Kotak health insurance plans come with the following features and benefits:

• Zurich Kotak health plans can be selected to cover basic emergency hospitalization and life-threatening illnesses like benign tumours, end-stage liver diseases, coma, loss of speech, etc.
• The plans cover critical illnesses like heart attack, cancer, organ transplants, etc. and accidental injuries.
• Zurich Kotak Secure Shield plan also provides loss of job benefits to the insured along with child education benefit.
• It also offers coverage for air ambulance services, home nursing, maternity expenses, and newborn baby expenses.
• Compassionate visit, annual health check-ups and convalescence benefit are also available.

Ans: No single insurer can be said to be the best health insurance company in India. This is because the medical coverage needs of different people are different. And hence, the definition for best varies. However, an ideal health insurance company is the one that offers comprehensive benefits at an affordable price and has a high claim-settlement ratio, 24/7 customer support, transparent policies and claim process, wide network of hospitals and a high solvency ratio.

Ans: To select the best health insurance plan, you must first assess your medical care requirements and decide your budget. Choose a health insurance company that is reliable, and offers adequate coverage at an affordable premium. Review the exclusions, sub-limits, waiting period and co-payment clauses to get a clear picture. Always compare various health insurance plans to ensure you buy the one that is the best for your specific needs.

Ans: There is no single best private healthcare plan as medical coverage requirements differ among people. There is no one-size-fits-all plan that provides coverage requirements and benefits critical to everyone. The ideal health plan depends on your specific requirements and details, including age, location, pre-existing diseases and family history.

Ans: Yes. Some health insurance companies in India provide diabetes health plans that cover insulin expenses.

Ans: Yes. You can port a health insurance policy from one insurer to another insurer of your preference without losing the benefits accumulated. As per IRDAI, you have the right to port your mediclaim policy to another health insurance provider around 45 days before the expiry of your existing policy.

Ans: Yes. All health insurers cover the cost of dental treatments resulting from accidents. However, some health insurance companies provide dental health insurance coverage for non-accidental treatments as well.

Ans: A lot of health insurance companies cover cancer treatment expenses. Moreover, some insurers also offer customized cancer insurance plans in India. You can check and compare various cancer medical insurance plans on Policybazaar.com before purchasing.

Ans: Kidney transplantation or failure is a critical illness and, therefore, is covered under a critical illness insurance policy. Most health insurers in India offer critical illness plans. You can compare them and buy the most suitable one on Policybazaar.com.

Ans: Yes, many health insurance companies in India offer OPD cover for expenses, doctor consultations, medicines and diagnostic tests.

Ans: As per the IRDAI Annual Report 2023-24, 28 insurance companies offer health insurance plans in India.

Ans: Firstly, make sure the health insurance company you have selected is legitimate and approved by the IRDAI. Check the insurer’s details, like the incurred claim ratio, claim settlement ratio, etc., on the insurer's official website or by going through the IRDAI annual reports. You can also check customer reviews for various insurers to know about their reputation and quality of products & services.

Ans: Yes. All medical insurance companies in India offer the facility of cashless hospitalisation across all hospitals in India under the Cashless Everywhere facility.

Ans: To pick a good health insurance company for yourself, it is important to find a plan with adequate coverage under your budget. You should also check the company's reputation, customer reviews, and the product range it offers. Ensure that the company has a high CSR (Claim settlement ratio) and less claim-settlement time.

Ans: Yes. There are 4 public insurance companies in India that offer health insurance plans. These are National Insurance Co. Ltd., The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., The Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd., and United India Insurance Co. Ltd.

Ans: Yes, CSR is an important way to know about the insurer's reputation. You can search for the best health insurance company in India as per claim settlement; however, remember that CSR should not be the only deciding factor. Other important factors, like the ICR, time taken to settle claims, product portfolio, customer reviews, etc., should also be considered while selecting health insurer.

Ans: During medical emergency, you can contact your health insurance provider by calling the customer service number, or through their designated mobile app. You can also visit the nearest branch of the insurer.

Ans: Yes, there are 5 standalone health insurance companies in India offering a variety of plans. These are Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd., Care Health Insurance Limited, ManipalCigna Health Insurance Co. Ltd., Niva Bupa Health Insurance Co. Ltd., and Star Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd.

Ans: Usually, the health insurers provide cashless claims only at network hospitals. For treatments at non-network hospitals, reimbursement claims must be raised. However, with the new ‘Cashless Everywhere’ benefit, most health insurers provide cashless hospitalisation even at non-network hospitals. For this, you must inform your insurer within 48 hours of a medical emergency and at least 48 hours before a planned treatment.