Health Insurance is an imperative buy as it helps you to keep up with the ever soaring healthcare costs,

thus securing a healthy future for yourself and your family. But it is the most intricate insurance product of
all. It comes with numerous riders and benefits and hence there are so many variants to it. To make the
matter more confusing, there stands a long string of fine prints to meddle with. Besides, there are so
many health insurance companies to choose from. Buying a health insurance plan is no longer a simple
affair.
But you can put a halt to your confusion because at Policy Bazaar we are passionate about getting you
the best of insurance. Take your pick from the 10 best health insurance plans in India. These plans have
been chosen over others as they stand superior on certain parameters such as eligibility, uniqueness of
the features, coverage, affordability, limits and exclusions.

10 Best Health Insurance Plans in India

Star Health Senior Citizen Red Carpet

Star Health Cardiac Care
Apollo Munich Optima Restore
ICICI Lombard Complete Health Insurance
Max Bupa Heartbeat
Religare Care - Health Insurance Policy
New India Assurance Janata Mediclaim Policy
Bharti AXA SmartHealth
Oriental Insurance Happy Family Floater
L&T my:health Medisure Prime Insurance
S.No.

Company

Plan

Entry Age

Star Health

Senior Citizen 60 75
Red Carpet years

Star Health

Cardiac Care

10 65
years

Sum
Assured
(Rs)

Premium
starts from
(Rs)

1,00,000 to
5000
5,00,000
3,00,000 to
4,00,000
18000

USP
Specially designed for old aged

A boon for the cardiac patients

18 65
years
3

Apollo
Munich

Optima
Restore

3,00,000 to
91 days to
5000
15,00,000
21 years
(for floater)

ICICI
Lombard

Complete
6 years 3,00,000 to 3300
Health
No upper 10,00,000
Insurance
limit
- iHealth Plan

Restores the exhausted sum

assured

A comprehensive plan featuring

a floater cover that can extend to
all the family members
including brothers and sisters

3 months
(for floater)

Max Bupa

Religare

Heartbeat

Care Health
Insurance
Plan

No age
limit

2,00,000 to
50,00,000 3700

5 years
No upper
limit
2,00,000 to
60,00,000 2300
3 months
(for floater)
18 65
years

New India
Assurance

Janata
Mediclaim

50,000 or
3 months 75,000
(for floater)

700

2- 65 years
8

Bharti AXA

50,000 to
Smart Health 3 months
5,00,000
(for floater)

4300

A family oriented health

insurance with unique features
such as inbuilt maternity and
new-born benefits. The insured
can get up to 13 family members
covered under one single plan

This plan set a new benchmark

by extending the upper limit of
the sum insured to 60 lakh
(highest in health plans)

This plan has also set a

benchmark. With a lower cap of
premium at just Rs 700, it is the
most affordable health insurance
plan
A truly smart plan with flexible
coverage and distinctive
features such as inbuilt critical
illness benefit, personal accident
add-on at a nominal additional
cost and 11 different valueadded benefits

21 65
years
9

10

The Oriental Happy Family

1,00,000 to
1300
Insurance
Floater
3 months 10,00,000
(for floater)

L&T
Insurance

my:health
Medisure
Prime
Insurance

18 65
years
3 months
(for floater)

3,00,000 to
10,00,000 6000

An affordable family floater with

valuable add-ons and discounts

It was recognized as the product

of the year in 2012 and for the
right reasons. my:health takes
the best of all plans and serve it
on one plate

1. Star Health Senior Citizen Red Carpet

Buying a health insurance becomes more and more costly when you need it the most, in the old age.
Star Health has really proved to be a star when it comes to serving a niche. With an intention to serve the
insurance needs of the old aged, the company launched Senior Citizen Red Carpet. This plan not only
extended the entry age from 69 to 75 years but also worked on making the overall coverage and features
more old-aged friendly.
Standout Features:

Created for people aged between 60-75 years

Entry age extended to 75 years
Pre-existing disease starts getting covered right from the first year (except those for which

treatment was received/recommended during the preceding 12 months from proposal date)
10% discount can be availed on providing test reports of stress thallium, BP report, sugar, blood

urea and creatinine. The discount can also be availed if the insured submits a self declaration
mentioning that any surgery related to brain, heart or cancer has not been done in the past
Lifelong renewal (no age limit for renewal)
No medical screening required
Emergency ambulance charges covered
Domiciliary treatment covered
Regular features:

In-patient hospitalization expenses covered including ICU expenses, nursing expenses, surgeon's
fees, consultant's fees, anesthetist's and specialist's fees, cost of blood, oxygen, pacemaker, cost of
drugs and diagnostic tests
Pre and post hospitalization expenses covered
Day care procedures covered
Tax benefits under section 80D
Exclusions:

30 days initial waiting period, before which no coverage is given

2 years waiting period for specific diseases like cataract, knee replacement surgery etc.
1 year waiting period for specific diseases like hernia, piles etc.
Treatments currently availed or availed during the preceding 12 months from proposal date
Naturopathy treatment
Cosmetic surgery
Diagnosis tests
Whats not so good
Treatment can be availed at network hospitals only
The insured has to make a 50% co-payment of the claim amount, for pre-existing diseases
The insured has to make a 30% co-payment of the claim amount, for all other claims

2. Star Health Cardiac Care

Its an irony that in India, a country with over 32 million cardiac patients, no insurer has come forward to
serve the insurance needs of cardiac patients especially those who have undergone a heart surgery. Star
Health has finally introduced Star Cardiac Care a plan that is especially designed for cardiac patients.
Innovative in the true sense, this plan is offered in two variants, Silver and Gold.
Standout Features:

Created for cardiac patients aged between 10-65 years

Lifelong renewal (no age limit for renewal)
Cardiac ailments get covered right after 3 months from the commencement of the policy
All the insured persons will have to go through a medical screening
Coverage for cardiac ailments requiring surgery /intervention
Coverage for cardiac medical management (only for Gold plan)
Regular Features:

In patient hospitalization expenses covered

Pre and post hospitalization expenses covered
30 days grace period
Tax benefits under section 80D
Exclusions:

30 days initial waiting period, before which no coverage is given

4 years waiting period for pre-existing diseases (other than cardiac diseases)
2 years waiting period for specific diseases like cataract, hernia, renal stones etc.
90 days waiting period for cardiac related complications
Hearing aid/visual care
Alternative treatment
Stem cell therapy
Dental treatment
Pregnancy related expenses
Whats not so good
It is available only as an individual plan, not as a floater plan
If the insured person is above 60 years of age, he/she has to make a 10% co-payment of the claim
amount
3. Apollo Munich Optima Restore
Usually in a health plan, if sum assured is utilized before the end of the term, the insured is left uncovered
for the rest of the term. But Apollo Munich has taken a daring initiative by introducing Optima Restore
which restores the basic sum assured (if its exhausted before the end of the term), ready to be utilized
afresh. This restoring of the sum assured is done without any rise in premium.
Standout Features:

Post hospitalization coverage extended to 180 days (the usual period is 60 days)
Domiciliary treatment covered

Emergency ambulance covered

Lifelong renewal (no age limit for renewal)
Expenses for organ donor covered
Restore benefit
50% increase in sum assured for every claim free year (up to a maximum of 100%)
7.5% discount when the tenure is 2 years
Regular Features:

In-patient hospitalization expenses covered

Pre and post hospitalization expenses covered
Day care procedures covered
Tax benefits under section 80D
Exclusions:

30 days initial waiting period, before which no coverage is given

4 years waiting period for pre-existing diseases
2 years waiting period for specific diseases like cataract, hernia, renal stones etc.
Treatment for HIV, genetic disorders and related diseases
Treatment for internal and external congenital diseases
Non allopathic treatments
Cosmetic treatment
Alcohol/drug abuse
Self inflicted injuries
Mental disorders
Act of war, nuclear war or radiation
Whats not so good
The Sum Assured will be restored only when the insured is hospitalized as a consequence of a new
illness (and not the same illness for which he/she got his sum assured exhausted)
4. ICICI Lombard Complete Health Insurance iHealth Plan
A good health insurance either serves a niche well or offers a comprehensive coverage. ICICI Lombard
Complete Health Insurance iHealth Plan is the perfect example of the latter. No wonder, it was
recognized as Product of the Year in a survey conducted by Nielsen in 2013.
Standout Features:

The widest floater that cover all your family members including self, spouse, dependent parents,
dependent children, brothers and sisters, under a single plan
No upper cap on entry age
Value added services
Free health check-up (2 times a year)
Online doctor chat
Specialist consultation
Dietician & nutritionist consultation

Discount coupon book

2 valuable add-ons at a nominal additional cost on the base premium
Daily cash (Rs 500-1,000) + Convalescence benefits (a lump sum up to Rs 10,000, apart from

the sum assured, given to the insured to take care of household expenses post-hospitalization)
Critical illness cover + Donor expenses (reimbursement up to Rs 50,000)
No sub limits applicable on any major medical illness, medical procedures and joint replacement

surgery
Lifelong renewal (no age limit for renewal)
Medical test not required for individuals below 46 years of age
Regular Features:

In patient hospitalization expenses covered including room charges, doctor/ surgeon's fee,
medical bills, etc.
Pre and post hospitalization expenses covered
15 days grace period
Cashless hospitalization
Increased sum insured on every claim free year
Tax benefits under section 80D
Exclusions:

30 days initial waiting period, before which no coverage is given

4 years waiting period for pre-existing diseases
2 years waiting period for specific diseases like cataract, hernia, renal stones etc.
Alcohol/drug abuse
Dental care expenses
Vision care/hearing aid
AIDS
Pregnancy related expenses
Infertility and in-vitro fertilization
Non-allopathic treatment
Suicide attempts/self-inflicted injury
Whats not so good
The insured aged above 46 years have to undergo medical tests to get insured. The tests would be
conducted at one of the ICICI Lombard designated diagnostic centers.
5. Max Bupa Heartbeat
Heartbeat is a family oriented health insurance plan with minimal exclusions and unique features such as
no lower or upper cap on the entry age, inbuilt maternity and new born benefits and many more. It is
available in three variants, silver, gold and platinum.
Standout Features:

Covers up to 13 relationships under one single policy

Free health check-up every second year

Direct claim settlement, without the intervention of TPA

High deductible option to get a broader coverage at a nominal additional cost
No claim-based extra loading
Maternity benefit (after 2 year waiting period)
Newborn baby cover
Vaccination for children up to 12 years
24x7 health advice helpline
Relationship manager assigned for claim facilitation (for gold and platinum plan)
Consultation and diagnostic tests (for gold and platinum plan)
Outpatient benefits (for platinum plan)
Lifelong renewal (no age limit for renewal)
Organ donors expenses covered
Organ transplant (if absolutely necessary)
Domiciliary treatment
Emergency ambulance expenses
Regular Features:

In-patient hospitalization expenses covered including surgical operations, nursing care, doctors

fees, operation theatre charges, ICU charges, pathology, x-rays, diagnostic tests, prosthetic implants,
etc.
Pre & post hospitalization expenses covered
Cashless hospitalization at network hospitals
Day care expenses
Increased sum insured on every claim free year
Tax benefits under section 80D
Exclusions:

90 days initial waiting period, before which no coverage is given (except in case of an accident or

emergency)
4 years waiting period for pre-existing diseases
2 years waiting period for specific diseases like cataract, hernia, renal stones etc.
Addictive conditions and disorders, ageing and puberty, artificial life maintenance, circumcision,

dental/oral treatment, conflict and disaster, congenital conditions, convalescence and rehabilitation,
cosmetic surgery, drugs and dressings for out-patient or take-home use, eyesight, experimental
treatment, nature cure, wellness clinics, HIV, AIDS, obesity, hereditary conditions, genetic disorder,
sleep disorders, speech disorders
Non-allopathic treatment, unrecognized physician or hospital
Psychiatric and psychosomatic conditions
Out-patient treatment
Self-inflicted injuries
Treatment received outside India
Unlawful Activity
Whats not so good

If the insured person is above 65 years of age, he/she has to make a 20% co-payment of the claim
amount
The initial waiting period is 90 days from the commencement of the policy (usual initial waiting period is
30 days)
6. Religare Care - Health Insurance Policy
Religare Care is truly comprehensive and offers the best of health insurance. Religare Care set a new
benchmark for the health insurance by extending the upper cap of sum insured to Rs 60 lakh.
Standout Features:

Reinstatement of the sum insured if exhausted before the end of the policy term
Free health check-ups every year
No maximum-entry age limit
No claim-based loading
Ambulance expenses covered
Organ donors medical expenses covered
7.5% discount on 2 year policy terms and more
Avail treatment anywhere in the world
Cashless treatment & daily allowance
The policy can be bought online with no paperwork required
Lifelong renewable (no age limit for renewal)
Regular Features:

In patient hospitalization expenses covered

Day care expenses covered
Pre and post hospitalization expenses covered
Increased sum insured on every claim free year
Tax benefits under section 80D
Exclusions:

30 days initial waiting period, before which no coverage is given

4 years waiting period for pre-existing diseases
2 years waiting period for specific diseases like cataract, hernia, renal stones etc.
Any pre-existing disease diagnosed within 48 months prior to issuance of the first policy
Non-allopathic treatment
Self-inflicted injury
Alcohol/drug abuse
Dental care
Vision care/hearing aid
AIDS
Pregnancy related disorders
Congenital disease
Infertility and in-vitro fertilization
Whats not so good

If the insured person is above 61 years of age, he/she has to make a 20% co-payment of the claim
amount.
7. New India Assurance Janata Mediclaim Policy
New India Assurance is the leading health insurer in India and the most trusted name in the health
insurance sector. It offers many health insurance plans out of which Janata Mediclaim Policy is the best,
not only because its the most affordable health plan of all, but also because of the amazing discounts it
offers.
Standout Features:

Ambulance charges covered

Ayurvedic/Homeopathic and Unani system of medicine
Discount in premium for family cover
Loyalty discount
Good health discount.
Cumulative bonus
Cost of health check up
Regular Features:

In-patient hospitalization expenses covered

Pre and post hospitalization expenses covered
Day-care treatment
Tax benefits under section 80D
Exclusions:

30 days initial waiting period, before which no coverage is (except in case of an accident or
emergency)
4 years waiting period for pre-existing diseases
2 years waiting period for specific diseases like cataract, hernia, renal stones etc.
Dental treatment except arising out of accident
Debility and general run down conditions
Sexually transmitted diseases and HIV (AIDS)
Cosmetic surgery
Vaccination and Inoculation
Pregnancy and child birth
War, Act of foreign enemy, ionizing radiation and nuclear weapon
Treatment outside India
Domiciliary treatment
Whats not so good
Theres no flexibility in sum assured. There are just two slots of sum assured offered 50,000 and 75,000.
8. Bharti AXA Smart Health

Bharti Axa Smart Health is an innovative insurance plan that seems to truly care about the healthcare
needs of the insured. It offers a gamut of unique and useful features such as inbuilt critical illness benefit,
personal accident add-on at a nominal additional cost, 11 different value-added benefits and so forth.
Standout features:

In-built critical illness cover including 20 critical illnesses - cancer, first heart attack, coronary
artery disease, coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve surgery, surgery to aorta, stroke, kidney
failure, aplastic anaemia, end stage lung disease, end-stage liver failure, coma, major burns, major
organ / bone marrow, transplantation, multiple sclerosis, fulminant hepatitis, motor neuron disease,
primary pulmonary hypertension, terminal, illness, bacterial meningitis
Personal accident cover at a nominal additional cost
Domiciliary hospitalisation
Dread disease recuperation
Transplantation of organs
Hospital cash allowance
Ambulance charges covered
Physiotherapy charges covered
Recovery grant (to meet household expenses post hospitalization)
Accompanying persons expenses
Parent accommodation as companion for child
Out-patient dental emergency treatment (arising out of accident only)
Out-patient emergency treatment for accidents
Childrens education fund
Transportation of mortal remains
5% discount on the renewal premium for every claim-free year (up to a maximum of 25%)
Costs of pre-policy health check-up
Cost of regular health check-up (for every block of four claim-free years)
Regular Features:

In-patient hospitalisation expenses

Pre and post-hospitalisation expenses
Day care treatment
Tax benefits under section 80D
Exclusions:

30 days initial waiting period, before which no coverage is (except in case of an accident or
emergency)
4 years waiting period for pre-existing diseases
2 years waiting period for specific diseases like cataract, hernia, renal stones etc.
Pregnancy related expenses
Suicide, self-inflicted injury or illness, mental disorder
Anxiety, stress or depression, use of alcohol or drugs
Diseases such as HIV or AIDS
Vision care/hearing aid

Dental treatment
Treatment by a family member or self- medication
Treatment taken from a person not registered as medical practitioner
Treatment that is not scientifically approved
Any hospitalisation expenses incurred outside India
Whats not so good
Any person aged above 46 years and anyone with a history of pre-existing disease has to go
through a medical screening to get insured.
9. Oriental Insurance Happy Family Floater
This plan from Oriental Insurance is a family floater offered at a steal away price with valuable add-ons
and discounts. Happy family floater gets you a complete family cover for yourself, your spouse, children,
parents and parents in law. It comes in two variants, silver and gold.
Standout Features:

A floater covering the proposer and his/her family under one sum insured under one policy.
The Sum insured floats over all the beneficiaries under the policy.
No medical screening up to the age of 60 years
Personal accident add-on (including death and disability)
Discount in Overseas Mediclaim Policy premium when family floater policy is taken
Discount in premium if TPA services not opted
Domiciliary hospitalizationOrgan donors expenses covered
Midterm inclusion of members (for newly wed spouse)
The insured gets to enjoy a discount of 5% on the premium on every claim free year (up to a
maximum of 20%)
Daily hospital cash allowance (for gold plan)
Attendant allowance (for gold plan)
Life hardship survival benefit (for gold plan)
Regular Features:

In-patient hospitalization expenses covering room, boarding and nursing expenses, ICU

expenses, surgeon, medical practitioner, consultants, specialists fees, anaesthesia, blood, oxygen,
operation theatre charges, medicines and drugs, x-ray, dialysis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, cost of
pacemaker, artificial limbs & similar expenses
Tax benefits under section 80D
Exclusions:

30 days initial waiting period, before which no coverage is given (except in case of an accident or
emergency)
4 years waiting period for pre-existing diseases
2 years waiting period for specific diseases like cataract, hernia, renal stones etc.
Dental treatment except arising out of accident
Cosmetic surgery

Pregnancy and child birth

Whats not so good
10% co-payment of the claim amount has to be made by the insured, irrespective of the age (for silver
plan). If the insured makes a claim, he/she has to bear a loading charge (5% of the renewal premium).
Policy can be renewed only till 65 years of age.
10. L&T my:health Medisure Prime Insurance
Wondering why such a good plan as my:health Medisure Prime from L&T Insurance took the last slot in
our list? Well, it was because this is one plan that takes every possible feature from all of the above plans
and fit it in one single pack. It was voted product of the year in a survey conducted by Nielsen in 2012.
Standout Features:

Two-fold sum insured in the event of critical illness

Maternity benefits (up to Rs 50,000)
New born benefits
Pre-existing conditions covered, after a probation period of 2 years
Reinstatement of the sum insured in case it is exhausted before the end of the policy term
Lump-sum recovery benefit given to take care of household expenses post-hospitalization
Free health check up every alternate year
Cashless settlement will be given within 6 hours
Unlimited day care procedures
Organ donors expenses covered
Ambulance charges covered
Hospital cash & expenses for accompanying person
Concierge Service available on request in select cities
Personal case manager assigned to facilitate the claim process
24 X 7 claims assistance
Lifelong renewal (no age limit for renewal)
Instant Policy issuance without medical tests if you are below 45 years
No sub-limits on any medical expenses incurred
Regular Features:

In-patient hospitalisation expenses covered

Pre and post hospitalisation expenses covered
Increased sum insured on every claim free year
Tax benefits as per section 80(D)
Exclusions:

30 days initial waiting period, before which no coverage is given

4 years waiting period for pre-existing diseases
2 years waiting period for specific diseases like cataract, hernia, renal stones etc.
Any domiciliary treatment
Suicide/self-inflicted injury

Mental disorder, anxiety, stress or depression

Alcohol/drug abuse
HIV/AIDS
Whats not so good
If the insured person is above 70 years of age, he/she has to make a 25% co-payment of the claim
amount.