Health Insurance for Parents

What is Health Insurance for Parents?

Health insurance for parents is a type of policy that covers eligible medical expenses arising from illnesses, injuries and accidents. Depending on the policy terms, it covers hospitalization expenses, such as room rent, ICU charges, surgery cost and doctor's fees, along with pre- and post-hospitalization, day care procedures and other eligible medical costs. With health insurance, your parents can also receive cashless treatment at network hospitals.

A dedicated health insurance policy for parents helps manage medical expenses during their planned treatments and medical emergencies while protecting your personal savings from unexpected hospital bills. When choosing a policy, check important factors such as the sum insured, pre-existing disease waiting period, co-payment, room rent limits, claim process and other policy terms.

Why Do Parents Need Health Insurance?

Parents need health insurance so that when they need medical care, arranging money does not become the first concern.

Parents usually develop health conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes or heart disease, as they age. While their healthcare needs become more frequent due to age-related illnesses, a medical treatment or sudden hospitalization can put pressure on family finances. Health insurance for parents helps cover eligible medical expenses, reducing the financial burden of paying large medical bills entirely from your own pocket.

Your Parents Protected You. Now It’s Your Turn!

Then

They stood by you at every step of life.

Help them access quality healthcare without financial stress

Now

Stand by them when they need you the most.

Why a Separate Health Insurance Plan for Parents is Needed?

Constantly Rising Medical Costs

Hospital bills are much higher than expected due to medical inflation.

Coverage Restrictions in Corporate Insurance

Corporate insurance may have limits, sub-limits, co-payments or exclusions.

Arranging Funds at the Last Moment

You may have to withdraw investments or borrow from relatives & friends.

A dedicated health insurance plan for your parents ensures timely treatment without financial worry.

Here's why it is important for parents to have health insurance:

• Handling Age-related Health Risks

  According to India's national ageing survey, LASI, 23% of people aged 60 and above have two or more diagnosed chronic conditions.* This highlights the growing need for healthcare support as parents age.

  Chronic conditions often require regular doctor visits, tests and treatments, and may even lead to hospitalization. Health insurance provides financial protection against eligible medical expenses arising from covered illnesses.

• Managing Rising Medical Costs

  Healthcare costs are rising in India, making hospitalization, surgeries, tests and other medical procedures more expensive. According to the NSS 80th round survey on Household Social Consumption: Health 2025, the average medical expenditure per hospitalization across all types of hospitals nearly doubled from ₹20,135 in 2017-18 to ₹37,858 in 2025.**

  This shows how medical costs are increasing significantly over time. Having adequate health insurance coverage can help you stay better prepared for rising treatment costs and future medical expenses.

How Much Health Insurance Coverage is Enough for Parents?

The adequate health insurance coverage your parents need varies based on their age, location and medical history. You must carefully assess these factors before deciding the sum insured for them.

Recommended Health Insurance Coverage by Parents' Age

Depending on the age of your parents, you can choose the following coverage amount:

• 45-60 years: Healthcare needs of parents are usually limited to preventive care, occasional hospital visits and planned treatments. A coverage of ₹15-20 lakh is recommended.
• 60-70: The likelihood of age-related illnesses, surgeries and regular medical care increases as parents become senior citizens. Recommended coverage for parents above 60 years is ₹20-30 lakh.
• Parents above 70 years: Parents require long-term chronic illness care and frequent hospitalizations. A coverage of ₹25-30 lakh+ is recommended.
• If parents have pre-existing conditions: A coverage of ₹25-30 lakh+ is usually recommended if a parent has existing health conditions like diabetes, high BP, heart problems, etc.

You must keep in mind that as parents get older, they may face stricter medical underwriting and have to pay higher premiums since age is one of the key factors determining health insurance costs.

Health Insurance Coverage per Parents' City

Depending on the place of residence of your parents, here is the recommended health insurance coverage amount for them:

• If they live in a tier-1 city (Mumbai, Delhi, etc.): ₹20-30 lakh+
• If they live in a tier-2 or 3 city (Bhopal, Surat, Ujjain, etc.): ₹10-20 lakh

Also, treatment at a top private hospital is usually more expensive, hence you must choose a higher sum insured accordingly.

Recommended Health Insurance Plans for Parents in 2026

Take a look at the list of health insurance plans for parents in India:

*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. This list of plans listed here comprise of insurance products offered by all the insurance partners of Policybazaar. For complete list of insurers in India, refer to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India website www.irdai.gov.in.

Types of Health Insurance for Parents in India

Check out the various types of health insurance plans that you can buy for your parents in India:

1. Individual Health Insurance Plans

   Individual health insurance for parents covers only one person, i.e. either your father or mother, for a single premium amount. This means that only the single person covered in the policy can use the sum insured to claim their medical expenses from the insurer.

2. Family Health Insurance Plans

   Family health insurance covers the medical expenses of both parents, i.e. your father and your mother, for a single premium amount. This implies that your parents have to share the sum insured of the policy on a floater basis and can claim it on a need basis.

   How much cover amount is sufficient for you? Let’s find out ›

3. Senior Citizens Health Insurance Plans

   A senior citizen health insurance plan provides medical coverage to your parents if they are 60 years old or older. This health insurance for parents above 60 years has been designed to cover their age-related health needs during the later years of their life, so that they have a stress-free retirement.

4. Top-up Health Insurance Plans

   A top-up health insurance plan provides additional medical coverage to your parents on top of their base mediclaim policy. This policy comes in handy when their base policy gets exhausted. However, you need to pay a mandatory deductible in health insurance to activate the policy coverage offered by your insurer to your parents.

5. Critical Illness Insurance Plans

   Critical illness insurance plans pay a lump sum amount in case your parents are diagnosed with any of the listed critical illnesses, including cancer, kidney failure, stroke, heart attack, etc., irrespective of the actual medical expenditures.

What is Covered by Health Insurance for Parents?

Health insurance for parents covers the following medical expenses:

• Hospitalization Expenses - It covers the medical expenses incurred by your parents on getting admitted to a hospital for more than 24 hours (2 hours under some plans).
• Day Care Procedures - It pays for day care treatments, like varicose veins surgery, cataract surgery, etc., that do not require your parents to get hospitalized for 24 hours. The number of day care procedures covered depends on the opted plan.
• Pre-Hospitalization Expenses - It pays for the diagnostic tests and doctor consultations availed before your parents get hospitalized. Usually, it ranges from up to 30 days to up to 120 days before hospitalization, depending on the plan.
• Post-Hospitalization Expenses - It covers the medical expenses incurred after your parents are discharged from the hospital. Usually, it ranges from up to 60 days to 180 days after hospitalization, depending on the plan.
• Modern Treatments - It pays for the cost of 12 modern treatments that your parents may avail, including deep brain stimulation, oral chemotherapy, and robotic surgeries.
• AYUSH Treatment - It covers the medical expenses incurred on the in-patient treatment of your parents availed through the AYUSH system of medicines, including Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani, Siddha and Yoga.
• Pre-existing Diseases - It pays for the treatment of your parents' pre-existing diseases after a waiting period of up to 3 years. However, several health insurance plans now offer pre-existing disease (PED) coverage from day 1.
• Organ Donor Expenses - It pays for the cost of harvesting the donated organ for your parent's transplant surgery.
• Major Surgeries - It covers the cost of major surgeries, such as knee replacement surgery cost, brain surgery cost, bariatric surgery cost, liver transplant surgery cost, heart surgery cost, cataract surgery cost, etc.
• Ambulance Charges - It pays for the ambulance charges used to transport your parent to the hospital during a medical emergency.
• Preventive Health Check-ups - It pays for the medical expenses incurred on your parents' preventive health check-ups. While some plans may offer this facility every year, others may offer it after every few claim-free years.
• Domiciliary Hospitalization - It covers the cost of availing domiciliary hospitalization at home if shifting your parents to the hospital is not possible.
• Home Treatment - It covers the medical expenses incurred on providing home treatment to your parents on the advice of a doctor.
• OPD Expenses - It covers OPD expenses incurred by your parents on doctor consultations, OPD treatments, diagnostic tests, pharmacy, etc.
• Mental Illness Treatment - It covers the medical expenses incurred on the treatment of your parents' mental illnesses.
• Consumables Cover - It pays for the cost of consumables or non-medical items incurred during the hospitalization of your parents.

What is Not Covered by Health Insurance for Parents?

The following medical expenses are not covered by health insurance for parents:

• Self-inflicted injuries or an attempted suicide
• Dietary supplements and substances
• Treatment for overconsumption of alcohol, intoxicants and drug overdose
• Cost of spectacles, lenses and other external aids
• Cost of dental treatments (unless it is an accidental case)
• Plastic or cosmetic surgeries
• Correction of a refractive error of less than 7.5 dioptres
• Unproven treatments
• Venereal diseases

How to Choose the Right Health Insurance for Your Parents?

Buying adequate health insurance coverage for your parents is essential to ensure that they receive the best medical treatment without any financial worries. Although there is a wide variety of health insurance plans available for your parents, you should keep the following points in mind while purchasing a mediclaim policy for your ageing parents:

1. Assess the Current Health Needs of Your Parents

   Firstly, you should analyze your parents' health to understand their current health status, including the condition of their pre-existing illnesses. Doing so will help you determine their health needs and choose the right type of health insurance policy with the required level of coverage.

2. Opt for Adequate Coverage

   While buying medical insurance for your parents, you should choose a policy that offers maximum coverage at an affordable price. Make sure to opt for a plan that covers a large number of critical illnesses, day care procedures, & consumables, and also pays for home treatment, domiciliary hospitalization, modern treatments, etc. Moreover, you should choose a plan that offers attractive benefits, including unlimited restoration of the sum insured, cumulative bonus and preventive health check-ups.

3. Go for a Lower PED Waiting Period

   If your parents have pre-existing medical conditions, like diabetes, hypertension, etc., then you must choose a health plan with a lower PED waiting period of 1 or 2 years. You can also opt for a plan that offers pre-existing disease cover from day 1 of the policy.

4. Choose an Adequate Sum Insured

   Since your parents are more vulnerable to age-related health risks, you must opt for a health insurance policy with a sum insured of at least ₹20 lakh. A higher sum insured will ensure that you can afford the best available treatment for your parents without any financial constraints. However, the premium will also be more for a higher sum insured. Hence, opt for a sum insured that attracts a premium you can afford to pay.

5. Go for a Lower or No Co-Payment

   Co-payment refers to the percentage of the claim amount that you will have to pay at the time of claim settlement. While choosing a parents health insurance policy, make sure to opt for a low co-payment that you can afford to pay during claim settlement. You can also go for plans with a 'no co-pay' clause.

6. Choose an Individual Policy

   Parents are more prone to age-related ailments, and hence, they attract a higher insurance premium. If you add your parents to your family floater health insurance policy, you may end up paying an exorbitant premium. Hence, buying an individual health insurance plan for your parents is recommended instead of adding them to your existing family floater plan.

7. Avoid Sub-limits

   When buying parents health insurance, avoid choosing plans with sub-limits, especially on in-patient treatments. Sub-limits not only reduce the total expenses covered by the insurer for a treatment but also increase your out-of-pocket expenses. Fortunately, IRDAI has directed insurers to remove any sub-limits on AYUSH treatments under its latest guidelines.

8. Opt for Insurers with an Easy Claim Process

   While choosing the right mediclaim policy for your parents, go through the claim process of various insurance companies. To avoid any delays or hassles during a medical emergency involving your parents, you must opt for a policy that involves a smooth and hassle-free claim process.

9. Compare Different Health Insurance Plans

   To buy the right medical insurance policy for parents in India, make sure to compare different health plans available in the market. You can compare multiple plans online on policybazaar.com and choose the policy that suits your parents' health needs & budget.

Benefits of Having Medical Insurance for Parents

Check out a few benefits of having medical insurance for your parents:

1. No Compromise on the Quality of Treatment

   With rising medical inflation, you may not be able to afford the best quality treatment for your parents due to a lack of funds. But if you buy health insurance for parents above 50 years, you can provide top-quality treatment to your parents at the best hospital in your city without worrying about paying the bills.

2. Safeguard Your Parents' Retirement Funds

   Without medical insurance, a severe health emergency can exhaust your parents' retirement funds in no time. It can break all their retirement dreams. By buying health insurance for parents in India, you can protect their lifelong savings from getting exhausted in paying medical bills so that they can fulfil their retirement goals.

3. Cashless Hospitalization Facilities

   Health insurance allows your parents to avail cashless hospitalization facilities at all hospitals across India with the 'Cashless Everywhere' benefit. This saves you from the hassle of looking for a network hospital for the cashless treatment of your parents during a medical emergency. Instead, you can get your parents admitted to any good hospital nearby and still avail cashless treatment.

4. Tax Benefits

   The premium paid to buy a mediclaim policy for your parents is eligible for tax deductions as per Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

How to Save Tax With Health Insurance for Parents?

The premium paid to buy a mediclaim policy for your parents is eligible for tax deductions under the old tax regime. From FY 2026-27, this deduction falls under Section 126 of the Income Tax Act, 2025, which replaced Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961, from April 1, 2026.

You can claim up to ₹25,000 a year if you pay for your parents’ premium, or up to ₹50,000 if either parent is 60 years or older. This is in addition to the deduction for premiums paid for yourself, your spouse and your children.

If you buy a long-term health policy of 2 or 3 years, the tax deduction is divided equally across the policy years, subject to the overall annual limit. For example, if you pay a health insurance premium of ₹1 lakh for a 2-year policy for your senior citizen parents, you can claim ₹50,000 in each of the two years.

You must remember that these deductions are not available under the new tax regime.

Note: For FY 2025-26 (or earlier), you must claim the deduction under Section 80D.

Things to Consider While Buying Health Insurance for Your Parents

Here are a few things to consider while buying health insurance for your parents:

1. Sum Insured

   Choose a sum insured that adequately covers all the medical expenses of your parents in their city of residence. For instance, if your parents live in a tier-1 city like Delhi or Bombay, they must buy a mediclaim policy of at least ₹20 lakh. Similarly, if they live in a tier-2 or tier-3 city, they can opt for a minimum policy of ₹15 lakh and ₹10 lakh, respectively. 

2. Coverage

   While buying a mediclaim policy for your parents, you must consider their medical history and current health needs to determine the required coverage. You must include critical illness cover in your policy to safeguard your parents' against life-threatening illnesses, like heart attack, cancer, etc. You must also check if the policy covers the cost of OPD treatments, consumables, day care procedures, modern treatments, etc. for comprehensive coverage.

3. Parents Age

   Every health insurance plan for parents has a different entry age. Therefore, you must check the entry age of the mediclaim policy you want to buy for your parents to see if they suffice the eligibility criteria.

4. Waiting Periods

   If your parents have a pre-existing disease, then you must check the PED waiting period for different health plans before selecting one. Usually, pre-existing diseases are covered after a waiting period of up to 3 years. However, several plans today offer PED coverage from day 1 or day 30. You can compare the PED waiting periods of different plans to find the one with the lowest waiting period.

5. Premiums

   Before you opt for a parents health insurance policy, you must check its estimated premium to know if it fits your budget. You should opt for a plan with a premium that you can easily afford to pay over the years. You can use a parents health insurance premium calculator to determine the approximate premium for a policy before purchasing it for your parents.

6. Co-Payment

   You must check the co-payment clause in various medical insurance plans before selecting one for your parents. Since co-payment increases your out-of-pocket expenses, you must choose a plan with minimal or no co-payment.

7. Exclusions

   Make sure to check the exclusions of a mediclaim policy before buying it for your parents. This will help you know in advance what exactly the policy does not cover your parents for.

8. Sub-limits

   Before selecting a medical insurance policy for your parents, check the policy documents for any sub-limits. Sub-limits reduce the coverage limit of a treatment or procedure, thereby increasing your out-of-pocket expenses. By checking the sub-limits beforehand, you will be aware of how much your insurer will pay for different covers.

9. Claim Process

   The claim process of various health insurance companies should also be considered before finalizing a policy for your parents. An easy and quick claim process ensures that your insurer covers your parents' medical expenses hassle-free.

10. Claim Settlement Ratio

    Make sure to check the claim settlement ratio (CSR) of various insurers before selecting a parents health insurance policy. An insurer with a high CSR of 90% or above is more likely to settle your claim than an insurer with an average CSR.

11. Reputation of the Insurer

    Check the reputation of the insurance company before buying their policy for your parents. Opt for an insurer with positive customer reviews, and who has been in the industry for more than 5 years.

How to Claim Health Insurance for Your Parents?

There are two ways to file a health insurance claim for your parents - cashless claims and reimbursement claims. Take a look at the process for both types of claims below:

1. Steps to Make a Parents' Cashless Health Insurance Claim:

   Step 1: Admit your parent to a hospital and inform the insurer within 24 hours of a medical emergency. In case of a planned hospitalization, notify the insurer at least 48 hours in advance.

   Step 2: Fill out the pre-authorization form and submit it to the hospital insurance desk.

   Step 3: The hospital will send the cashless pre-authorization form to the insurer/TPA for approval.

   Step 4: After reviewing, the insurer/TPA will approve your parent's cashless treatment request.

   Step 5: Let your parent obtain the treatment.

   Step 6: The insurer will settle your parent's medical bills directly with the hospital at the time of discharge.

2. Steps to Make a Reimbursement Health Insurance Claim for Parents:

   Step 1: Inform the insurance company about your parent's emergency hospitalization within 24 hours and planned hospitalization at least 48 hours in advance.

   Step 2: Pay all the hospital bills during discharge once the treatment is complete.

   Step 3: Submit all the required documents to the insurer/TPA within the timeframe.

   Step 4: The insurer/TPA will verify all the documents and pay you the claim amount.

Documents Required to File a Parents Health Insurance Claim

The following documents are required to file a reimbursement claim under your parents health insurance policy:

• Health insurance claim form
• Copy of your health ID card or policy document
• Doctor consultation papers
• All investigation and lab test reports
• Hospital discharge certificate
• All hospital bills, along with their payment receipts
• Pharmacy bills supported by doctor's prescription
• List of consumables utilized by the patient
• FIR report in case of accidents
• Any other document requested by the insurer

Should You Add Your Parents as Dependents or Buy a Separate Health Insurance Policy for Them? 

Insurance experts advise people to buy individual health insurance for their parents and avoid adding them as dependents to their existing family health policy. Check out the following table to understand why buying a separate health insurance policy for your parents is beneficial:

How to Buy Health Insurance for Your Parents?

Take a look at the steps to buy a health insurance policy for your parents:

Step 1: Go to Policybazaar.com and select 'Health Insurance'

Step 2: Choose 'Father' and 'Mother' among the family members to be insured, and select the gender

Step 3: Enter your parents' age and the city where they reside

Step 4: Fill in your full name and the mobile number. NRIs can choose their country code and enter their phone number

Step 5: Provide details of any medical history of your parents

Step 6: Choose the health insurance policy you want to buy for your parents after comparing all available plans

Step 7: Check the policy details and pay the premium amount online

The insurer will issue the medical insurance policy to your parents after receiving the premium.