There are many types of health insurance available in the market, but choosing the right one can be challenging. Health insurance is a financial lifesaver during medical emergencies, especially with rising treatment costs. Having the right health insurance not only ensures access to quality treatment but also keeps financial stress at bay. Understanding the type that best suits your needs is essential. Let’s discuss the 10 types of health insurance plans in India, along with insights on choosing the right one.
Health insurance is a financial safety net designed to cover the cost of medical expenses, providing either cashless treatment or reimbursement. Policies are typically tailored to meet various healthcare needs, from covering specific illnesses to offering family-wide protection. The right health insurance plan helps cover everything from hospitalisation and prescription costs to preventive services and emergency care.
To make an informed choice, it’s essential to understand the different types of health insurance and their terms. Here are the plan details:
Sr No. |
Types Of Health Insurance Plans |
Suitable For |
1 |
Individual Health Insurance |
For a single person |
2 |
Family Health Insurance (Family Floater) |
The entire family, including parents, children, and spouse |
3 |
Critical Illness Insurance |
To cover treatment cost of critical illnesses like cancer, heart and kidney diseases, etc |
4 |
Senior Citizen Health Insurance |
For individuals above 65 years of age |
5 |
Top-Up Health Insurance |
For additional cover for the basic plan up to a certain extent. |
6 |
Maternity Health Insurance |
To cover the pre/post-natal and delivery expenses |
7 |
Personal Accident Insurance |
For partial/ total disability or death due to an accident |
8 |
Mediclaim Plan |
To cover the hospitalisation expenses |
9 |
Group Health Insurance |
Corporate/Company employees |
10 |
Disease-Specific Insurance (e.g., M-Care, Corona Kavach) |
To cover specific diseases |
Individual health insurance provides a dedicated cover for a single person. It covers expenses such as surgery, room rent, doctor’s consultation, and prescription costs.
Features of Individual Health Insurance:
Exclusively for one person.
The sum assured is separate for each policyholder.
Covers hospitalisation, surgery, and other medical expenses.
Available for people aged 18 to 65.
Family health insurance covers an entire family under one policy. The sum insured is shared among all family members, making it cost-effective compared to individual policies.
Features of Family Health Insurance:
One plan for the whole family.
The sum insured is divided among beneficiaries.
Covers doctor’s fees, surgery, room rent, and prescription costs.
Critical illness insurance provides a lump sum payout if diagnosed with a severe illness like cancer, heart disease, or stroke. This one-time payout can help cover treatment expenses, including surgeries and hospital bills.
Features of Critical Illness Insurance:
Lump sum payout upon diagnosis of a critical illness.
Renewable for life, ideal for senior citizens.
It can include annual health checkups.
The policy terminates after the lump sum payout.
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Designed for individuals over 65, senior citizen health insurance offers coverage for illnesses, accidents, and age-related health issues. The premiums are higher due to the increased risk.
Features of Senior Citizen Health Insurance:
For people over 65 years old.
Covers hospitalisation, domiciliary expenses, and psychiatric treatments.
Higher premiums than individual or family plans.
Top-up health insurance plans offer additional coverage over your basic health insurance policy. They activate once the sum insured of your primary policy is exhausted, ensuring you’re not left without coverage in times of need.
Features of Top-Up Health Insurance:
Covers additional expenses over a base plan.
Fixed deductibles apply.
Super top-up options provide a higher coverage limit.
Maternity health insurance covers pre- and post-natal care, delivery expenses, and sometimes the medical needs of a newborn. It’s often available as an add-on to a basic policy.
Features of Maternity Health Insurance:
Covers prenatal, postnatal, and delivery costs.
It may cover two pregnancies.
Some plans offer coverage for newborn expenses.
Personal accident insurance offers financial protection in case of an accidental death or disability. It supports the family financially if the policyholder is a primary earner.
Features of Personal Accident Insurance:
Coverage for accidental death and partial or permanent disability.
Weekly compensation for partial/permanent disability.
Lump sum payout to family in case of accidental death.
Mediclaim policies cover hospitalisation expenses only. Unlike comprehensive health plans, they do not cover pre- or post-hospitalisation expenses.
Features of Mediclaim Insurance:
Covers in-patient hospital expenses, surgeries, doctor fees, and anaesthesia.
Limited to hospitalisation and does not include outpatient treatments.
Group health insurance is typically offered by employers to their employees, providing coverage for employees and sometimes their family members. It’s a valuable benefit that often has minimal or no waiting periods.
Features of Group Health Insurance:
Covers employees and their families.
No waiting periods for pre-existing conditions.
Basic coverage, with top-up options for family members.
Disease-specific plans are designed to provide coverage for high-cost treatments of specific diseases, like COVID-19 or cancer. These plans are short-term but highly beneficial during specific health crises.
Features of Disease-Specific Insurance:
Covers consumables like PPE, masks, and gloves.
Duration options are 105, 195, or 285 days.
Individual or family options are available.
Indemnity Plans: These cover expenses up to the sum insured, allowing multiple claims until the limit is reached. Claims can be cashless or reimbursed post-treatment.
Fixed Benefit Plans: These offer a lump sum payout upon diagnosis or treatment of a specific illness, like critical illness plans or personal accident coverage.
OkBima, a leading insurance agency, partners with top insurance providers to provide you with various health insurance types. With OkBima’s in-depth industry knowledge and extensive network, you can rely on unbiased advice and customised insurance solutions. Whether you’re looking for family health insurance or senior citizen coverage, OkBima simplifies the process, ensuring you find the right plan for peace of mind.
Health insurance has evolved into an essential financial safety net, providing both direct and indirect benefits that make it indispensable. Here’s a detailed look at its advantages:
The cost of healthcare has been rising significantly, especially in terms of quality treatments and advanced medical procedures. Without insurance, paying out-of-pocket for surgeries, hospitalisation, or chronic illness treatments can cause severe financial strain. Health insurance covers these major expenses, ensuring you don’t have to compromise on quality care or dip into your savings during a medical crisis.
Health insurance policies provide access to a vast network of hospitals, including cashless facilities, allowing you to receive treatment without worrying about immediate payments. The insurance company directly settles the hospital bills within this network, enabling faster and more efficient access to healthcare facilities.
Many health insurance plans extend beyond just hospitalisation by covering expenses incurred before and after hospital stays, such as doctor consultations, diagnostic tests, medications, and follow-up treatments. This holistic approach ensures that even the costs of recovery and preventive care are managed, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for policyholders.
Health insurance premiums qualify for tax deductions under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act in India. Individuals can claim tax benefits of up to ₹25,000 annually on health insurance premiums paid for themselves, their spouses, and their children. For senior citizens, this limit extends to ₹50,000, offering additional financial incentives and making health insurance a tax-efficient investment.
Many health insurance plans cover a broad spectrum of medical needs, including surgeries, critical illnesses, maternity care, and sometimes even alternative treatments like Ayurveda, Yoga, and Homeopathy. Plans often allow customisation with add-ons like critical illness riders, ensuring coverage that’s tailored to your unique health requirements.
Health emergencies can cause immense stress, both emotionally and financially. Health insurance brings peace of mind, knowing that you are financially protected from sudden medical expenses. This security allows you to focus on recovery without the constant worry about treatment costs, especially if you are the primary income earner in your family.
Some health insurance plans offer annual health checkups, encouraging preventive care that helps identify health issues early. This feature is especially valuable for maintaining overall well-being and preventing the escalation of minor issues into significant health concerns.
With the rise of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancers, health insurance offers specific critical illness coverage that provides lump-sum payouts upon diagnosis. This lump-sum payout can be used for treatment or lifestyle adjustments, safeguarding your family from the financial impact of long-term treatment.
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With many types of health insurance options available in the market, understanding your priorities and choosing the right health insurance plan is essential. Here are some key aspects to consider:
The sum insured should reflect your and your family’s healthcare needs. In metropolitan cities, where medical costs are higher, opting for a larger cover is wise. Ensure that the sum insured is sufficient to cover critical expenses like surgeries, hospital stays, and treatment for severe illnesses without the risk of exhausting your coverage.
While affordable premiums are attractive, the benefits they provide are paramount. Compare plans to ensure you’re getting sufficient coverage for the price you’re paying. Sometimes, it’s worth paying a slightly higher premium for more comprehensive coverage, especially if it includes benefits like pre-and post-hospitalisation care, domiciliary treatments, and annual checkups.
Many insurance plans have a waiting period for pre-existing medical conditions, ranging from one to four years. If you or a family member has a pre-existing condition, check the waiting period to ensure you can access coverage when needed. Some plans offer reduced waiting periods as an added benefit.
Carefully review the inclusions (what’s covered) and exclusions (what’s not covered) in each policy. Exclusions often include cosmetic procedures, dental treatments, or specific chronic illnesses. A clear understanding of what’s excluded can help you avoid disappointment at the time of a claim.
Insurance providers typically have a network of hospitals where policyholders can avail of cashless treatment. Confirm that the insurer’s network includes hospitals near your location and any speciality hospitals that you might require. Cashless facilities ease the claim process and reduce immediate financial stress during hospitalisation.
The claim settlement ratio (CSR) indicates the percentage of claims settled by an insurer compared to claims filed. Opt for insurers with high CSRs to increase the likelihood of smooth claim processing. Review the claim process as well—simpler, faster claim processes with online submission options are usually preferable.
Many insurers offer optional riders such as critical illness coverage, maternity coverage, room rent waiver, and personal accident coverage. These add-ons can tailor the policy to meet your specific needs. Evaluate the riders based on your lifestyle, family size, and financial goals to make your policy more comprehensive.
Lifetime renewability is crucial, as healthcare needs often increase with age. Opt for a policy that offers renewability throughout your life, ensuring you won’t have to look for new coverage or pay higher premiums due to age in the future.
Some policies have sub-limits on room rent or specific treatments, which could increase your out-of-pocket expenses during hospitalisation. Be sure to select a policy with higher or no capping on room rent and essential treatments to avoid extra costs.
Today, insurers offer added benefits like discounts on medicines, annual health checkups, and telemedicine services. These extra services not only increase the value of the policy but also promote overall wellness and preventive healthcare.
By carefully considering these factors, you’ll be in a better position to select a health insurance plan that aligns with your medical and financial requirements. With the right plan, you can enjoy financial security, peace of mind, and access to quality healthcare when you need it most.
Choosing the right health insurance plan from many types of health insurance is crucial to secure your and your family’s future. With options like individual, family floater, and critical illness plans, understanding each plan’s features will help you make an informed choice. OkBima is here to guide you every step of the way, offering you options tailored to your unique health and financial needs.
Invest in health insurance today and gain peace of mind knowing you’re financially prepared for any medical emergency.