Is there an Upper Age Limit on Health Insurance?

If there's anything recent time has taught us, it's the unpredictability of life. Health issues can develop at any time, but their chances increase as we age. Financial security becomes crucial over time, but until when can you buy health insurance?

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      What is the Maximum age of Buying Health Insurance?

      Most health insurance companies in India offer a variety of health insurance policies up to the age of 65 years. Individuals over the set age brackets can buy comprehensive senior citizen plans that cover a variety of medical expenses.

      While the entry age of these plans may vary from insurer to insurer, there is usually no upper age limit. In fact, several insurers even offer plans to people aged 80 years and more.

      However, this should be confirmed with the insurer before buying any plan, as there are many insurers who don’t offer health insurance plans beyond a certain age.

      Can you buy Health Insurance for Senior Parents?

      Yes, definitely. Most of us prepare for our old age by investing in various things, including appropriate health insurance plans so that we are financially secure whenever there's a medical emergency. Many insurance companies in India offer plans specifically aimed at older people to provide them much needed coverage.

      You can buy the best travel insurance plan for your elderly parents depending on their requirements and budget. These plans are aimed at people above 60-65 years and consist of several benefits.

      However, it is recommended that you buy health insurance as early as possible. This is because the premium costs of most insurance plans increase with the age of the insurer. As we grow old, the chances of falling sick or developing disorders increase which also increases the financial risk of the insurance company.

      Why Should You Avoid Buying Health Insurance Later?

      The benefits offered by most insurance policies decline with the policyholder's age. In fact, many insurers also have additional terms such as a compulsory pre-policy checkup, no coverage for pre-existing diseases etc. This is why many people suggest buying health insurance from an early age. Take a look at some drawbacks of delaying your health insurance purchase:

      Expensive Premium

      Buying a policy later in life means a higher premium. Since people over 50 years are considered under high-risk, insurers demand higher premiums. Otherwise, the premium is lowest for children, nominal for individuals under 30-40s and higher for people over 50 years. You will either have to go for a lower sum insured or remove some add-ons.

      Many insurers will also offer the insured to go for the option of co- payout which reduces the insured's premium. However, they will need to pay for a certain amount of the bill.

      Limited Sum Insured

      Most health insurance companies in India put a cap on the total amount you can claim under different cases. This is usually because of any underlying health conditions or pre-existing conditions that the insurer may have noticed after a pre-policy checkup. People over 50 years have to undergo a health checkup before they buy a policy. The sum insured offered to seniors is also lower, with several sub-limits.

      Fewer Benefits

      As you get older, the benefits offered by your policy also decrease. Getting a higher coverage and optional covers is a difficult task as you are more likely to develop health ailments. Diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure etc. are some extremely common conditions that make you a high-risk person. Since the chances of raising a claim are higher in such cases, insurers reduce the benefits and coverage.

      Waiting Period

      Almost all health insurance policies have a set waiting period ranging from a few months to years. While this time period may vary, purchasing a plan at an older age when you're more likely to need that money is higher. If you buy a plan in your early years, that waiting period will be over and you will be able to file a claim for the covered medical expenses.

      The duration of this waiting period can be 30 days to 2 years, depending on the ailment. Suppose you need to undergo treatment for a pre-existing disease that you’re covered for. Even then, most policies have a waiting period of 2 to 4 years. This will serve you no purpose if you need to undergo the treatment early or can’t be compensated for the same.

      Pre-Existing Illnesses

      Pre-existing diseases are those diseases that you are aware of or getting treated for at the time you purchased a policy. The older a person is, the higher are the chances of developing such conditions increase. Most insurers don't cover pre-existing diseases unless it is a special plan or an additional cover has been purchased.

      Many insurers can also place a longer waiting period in the case of pre-existing diseases, often around 2 to 4 years. Buying comprehensive health insurance earlier will save you from such conditions and restrictions.

      Wrapping it Up,

      The older you get, the higher is the risk of needing medical assistance. If for some reason you’re unable to buy health insurance plans early, plenty of senior citizen health insurance plans are available to meet your needs. However, it is ideal to buy it as early as possible to avoid disappointments and financial burdens later in life.

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      Disclaimer: The list mentioned is according to the alphabetical order of the insurance companies. Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by any insurer. For complete list of insurers in India refer to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India website www.irdai.gov.in

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      *Product information is authentic and solely based on the information received from the Insurer. Policybazaar is acting only as a facilitator and claims settlement shall be at the sole discretion of the Insurer. Policybazaar does not provide any medical or surgical advice or diagnosis and is not responsible for your interactions / treatment by a medical practitioner/hospital. Please consult a registered medical practitioner for any medical or surgical advice. The Information that you obtain or receive from Policybazaar, and its employees, or otherwise on the Website is for informational purposes only. As per the Insurance guidelines, you are allowed to cancel the policy with-in 30 days from the date of Issuance of policy.This option is available incase of policies with a term of one year or more.

      *All the health insurance plans cover hospitalization expenses including COVID-19 treatment cover up to the specified limits. You can also buy specific COVID-19 health insurance policies such as Corona Kavach Policy and Corona Rakshak policy.

      **All savings and online discounts are provided by insurers as per IRDAI approved insurance plans. #Tax Benefits are subject to changes in tax laws. GST Exemptions depend on fulfilment of qualification criteria and submission of relevant documents.

      *₹1748/month is the starting price for a 1 crore health insurance for an 18-year-old male, with no pre-existing diseases. Discount on renewal premium is subject to the number of wellness points earned in the health insurance policy. For more details about the plans, please read the sale brochure carefully to get upto 100% discount on renewal premium.

      *₹400/month is the starting price for ₹ 5 lakh Health insurance for a 30 year old male & 29 years old female, living in Delhi with no pre-existing diseases

      *₹541/month is the starting price for ₹ 10 lakh Health insurance for a 30 year old male & 29 years old female, living in Delhi with no pre-existing diseases

      *₹762/month is the starting price for ₹ 1 Crore Health insurance for a 30 year old male & 29 years old female, living in Delhi with no pre-existing diseases

      *₹243/month(₹ 8/day) is the starting price for a 5 lakh health insurance for a 20-year-old male, non-smoker, living in Bengaluru with no pre-existing diseases

      *₹2020/month is the starting price for ₹ 1 Cr Health insurance for a 50 year old male & 50 years old female, living in Bangalore with no pre-existing diseases rounded off to nearest 10.

      *₹390/month (₹13 per day) is starting price for 1 cr. Health insurance for 25 years old male, with pre-existing diseases, residing from tier 1 city rounded off to the nearest 10.

      *No medical tests are required unless requested by the insurer’s underwriter. In-case of pre-existing diseases relevant medical proof would be required as per the terms and condition of the policy opted.

      *The values taken for effective cost calculation are indicative values and may change as per the selected plan.

      *Coverage upto double the amount of Sum Insured is available on certain covers for a minimum plan of Rs. 5 Lakh on the first claim only to an individual of upto 45 years of age with no pre-existing diseases. The benefit is available with or without extra cost depending on the plan chosen.

      *Coverage of pre-existing diseases is provided by insurer as per their underwriting policy.

      *The scope of coverage may vary from plan to plan.

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