- Explore Health Insurance Types
- Benefits of Health Insurance
- Features of Different Health Insurance
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Updated on Mar 25, 2025 8 min read
Types of Health Insurance in India
Did you know you can invest in different types of health insurance in India? Do not fret-you are not alone. Many people in India do not know the different medical coverage options to bear their medical bills. From individual to group health insurance, the health insurance landscape is diverse.
Identifying the right health insurance plan for yourself is crucial for making informed decisions that align with your medical care needs. It ensures that you have access to the best health insurance plans.
Explore the different types of health plans available in India like individual health plans, family floater health plans, maternity health insurance, group health insurance, critical illness health plans, etc.
traordinary Advice
It is important to assess factors such as age, sum insured, coverage features, health claim settlement ratio, network hospitals, and more to consider the best health plan category for you and your family. For further expert advice connect with PolicyX health insurance experts.
Individual Health Insurance
As the name suggests, individual health insurance covers a single individual. These plans offer coverage against all medical care expenses, including hospitalization expenses, surgeries, doctor visits, prescription bills, and more. With individual health insurance plans, you have options for preventive care, such as check-ups and screenings, it is an ideal health policy for young individuals in their early 20’s. With fewer responsibilities, and no dependents you can avail the full potential of your health plan and the premiums are comparatively low.
Features
- Designed to cover a single individual
- The sum insured available is dedicated entirely to one individual
- Covers expenses related to hospitalization, AYUSH and modern treatments, daycare treatments, and more
PolicyX Top Picks
| Individual Health Plan | Sum Insured | Eligibility |
| Care Supreme | 7 L to 1 Cr | 18 to 99 Years |
| Niva Bupa Reassure 2.0 | 5 L to 1 Cr | 18 years to no age limit |
| Star Health Youngstar | 3 L to 1 Cr | 18 to 40 Years |
Family Health Insurance
Family health insurance plans are designed to provide healthcare coverage for multiple family members under a single policy. This type of health insurance policy typically covers hospitalization expenses (pre and post), daycare procedures, and ambulance charges. Comprehensive family health plans also extend coverage to maternity and newborn care, annual health check-ups, and more. You can add family members like spouse, dependent children, parents, parents-in-law, and more. A single-family member becomes the primary proposer and has to pay the premium and can cover the rest of the family members. However, you must be aware that premiums are calculated based on medical condition, and age of all family members.
Features
- A single sum insured covers the entire family
- Some family health plans may limit coverage to immediate family like spouse and dependent children
- A family health plan premium is decided by considering the age and health conditions of all family members
PolicyX Top Picks
| Family Health Plan | Sum Insured | Eligibility |
| Aditya Birla Activ Health Platinum Enhance | 2 L to 2 Cr | 5 years to no age limit |
| ManipalCigna Prime Advantage | 5 L to 2 Cr | 18 years to no age limit |
| Bajaj Allianz Health Guard | 2 L to 1 Cr | 18 to 65 Years |
Critical Illness Health Insurance
Critical illness health plans are designed to provide financial protection if a serious, life-threatening illness is diagnosed. These types of health insurance plans typically provide a one-time, lump-sum payment upon diagnosis of a covered illness unlike traditional health plans offering coverage for medical expenses as they occur. Hospitalization is not required to avail of the benefits of a critical illness plan, the lump sum amount is provided based on the diagnosis of a critical illness. The various list of critical illnesses covered are heart attack, cancer of specific severity, stroke, etc.
Features
- Covers serious illnesses for major organs like the heart, lungs, brain, cancer, and more.
- Lifetime renewability available
- Policyholders need to serve a survival period for a fixed number of days after diagnosis of critical illness to get coverage benefits
PolicyX Top Picks
| Family Health Plan | Sum Insured | Eligibility |
| SBI Critical Illness | Up to INR 10 L | 18 to 65 Years |
| Aditya Birla Activ Secure Critical Illness | Up to INR 1 Cr | 5 to 65 Years |
| Niva Bupa Criticare | Up to INR 3 Cr | 18 to 65 Years |
Senior Citizen Health Insurance
Senior citizen health insurance is a category of health plans designed specifically for senior citizens. These plans cater to the specific healthcare needs of individuals over 60 and offer coverage for conditions and treatments that are more prevalent in older adults. Senior citizen health plans cover the cost of hospitalization and post-treatment. Additional features like domiciliary hospitalization, wellness benefits, and annual check-ups are also included.
Features
- Tailored to address the increased health risks associated with aging
- Provide coverage for hospitalization, domiciliary care, medical expenses due to accidents, and more
- Premiums are usually higher for senior citizens as compared to individual or family floater plans
PolicyX Top Picks
| Senior Citizen Health Plan | Sum Insured | Eligibility |
| Care Senior Plan | 1 to 25 L | 60 to No upper age limit |
| Star Senior Citizen Red Carpet | 3 to 10 L | 60 to 75 years |
| ManipalCigna Prime Senior | 3 to 50 L | 61 to 75 Years |
Group Health Insurance
Group health insurance is gaining widespread popularity. It provides coverage to a group of people, most commonly employees or members of an organization. Group health plans usually cover pre and post-hospitalization coverage, critical illness, maternity cover, etc. Additionally, under a group health plan, you do not need to serve any waiting periods.
Features
- Provides coverage to the employee and his/her family members
- Basic cover is provided by the group/company, however additional coverage might be chargeable
- No waiting periods under group health plans
PolicyX Top Picks
| Group Health Plan | CSR | Features |
| Star Group Plan | 82.31% | Covers newborn baby, daycare, and optional maternity cover |
| Care Group Plan | 92.77% | Covers children and parents, makes easy changes, etc. |
| TATA Group Plan | 95.43% | Affordable premiums, Customisable policy, etc. |
Maternity Health Insurance
Maternity health insurance plans offer facilities to expecting mothers or women planning motherhood. Medical expenses include regular and C-section deliveries, pre-and post-natal healthcare, doctor consultations, and more. Many health insurance providers offer coverage for two pregnancies, vaccinations, and newborn birth anomalies.
Features
- Covers everything for expectant mothers
- Might have a waiting period before maternity coverage begins
- Some plans also let you cover your spouse
PolicyX Top Picks
| Maternity Health Plan | Sum Insured | Eligibility |
| Niva Bupa Aspire | 5 L - 1 Cr | 18 to 46 Years |
| Bajaj Allianz HERizon | 3 L - 2 Cr | 18 to 80 Years |
| Future Generali PowHer | 5 L - 1 Cr | 18 to 65 Years |
Personal Accident Health Insurance
With the number of accidents increasing in India, it is imperative to have personal accident health coverage. Personal accident health plans are designed to provide financial protection in the event of accidents that result in injury, disability, or death. The injuries include Permanent Total Disability (PTD) and Permanent Partial Disability (PPD). Some plans also offer compensation or daily wages in case of job loss due to an accident. This particular type of health plan also covers medical expenses for coma, burns, complete paralysis, etc.
Features
- Provides coverage for accidental death and disabilities resulted due to accidents
- Personal accident plans offer education cover for dependent children
- The sum insured may be provided as a lump sum in case of the death of the policyholder
PolicyX Top Picks
| Personal Accident Health Plan | Sum Insured | Eligibility |
| Aditya Birla Activ Secure | 5 to 65 Years | Up to 12 times of sum insured |
| Bajaj Allianz Personal Accident Guard | 5 to 65 Years | 10 - 25 Lakhs up to 120 times of monthly income |
| Care Secure Personal Accident | 91 days to 70 years | 15 Lakh - 25 Crore |
Top Up Health Insurance
Top-up health plans are designed to supplement your existing health insurance coverage.
They provide additional financial protection when your base policy’s coverage is exhausted. However, you must be aware of the deductibles concept. A top-up health plan offers increased coverage at affordable premiums, and flexibility to choose your deductibles, alongside features such as domiciliary hospitalization, pre and post-hospitalization, ambulance cover, and more.
Features
- You must pay out-of-pocket expenses before your top-up health plan coverage is activated
- The deductible amount is decided by the policyholder
- Acts as a supplement to your base health plan
PolicyX Top Picks
| Top-up Health Plan | Sum Insured | Deductibles Available |
| HDFC Ergo Medisure Top-up | 3 to 20 L | 2 to 5 L |
| Niva Bupa Health Recharge | 2 to 95 L | 1 to 10 L |
| Star Health Super Surplus | 5 L to 1 Cr | 5 to 25 L |
Special Needs Health Insurance
An array of health problems specific to certain sections of people or during changing seasons are on the rise. Special health plans cover specific medical needs. Disease-specific health plans cover ailments like dengue, malaria, Zika virus, etc. Some plans are designed specifically to cover kids with autism, and individuals with HIV are also covered now by many health insurers.
Features
- Covers vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, etc.
- These health plans cover specific medical conditions like autism.
- Such health policies are designed to cover conditions like HIV/AIDS.
PolicyX Top Picks
| Special Health Plan | Sum Insured | Eligibility |
| Star Special Care | 3 L | 3 to 25 Years |
| Care Supreme Direct | 7 L - 1 Cr | 18 to 99 Years |
| ManipalCigna Prime Protect | 3 L - 1 Cr | 18 years to no upper limit |
Benefits of Investing In Health Insurance
Let us look at the benefits of investing in different health policies in India:
Financial Backup
Financial assistance for policyholders comes with investing in the right type of health insurance plan. Consistently soaring medical care costs are a cause for concern. However, investing in the right type of health insurance plan can help you become financially secure.
Cashless Hospitalization
Different types of health insurance plans will offer you the benefit of cashless hospitalization. Avail cashless hospitalization at network hospitals, eliminating the need for immediate out-of-pocket payments.
Tax Benefits
You are eligible for tax deductions under section 80D of the Income Tax Act of 1961.
Preventive Healthcare
Avail annual health check-ups and preventive healthcare by investing in the right type of health insurance plans.
Fight Medical Inflation
Be prepared to face medical inflation, as India recorded the highest medical inflation among Southeast Asian countries in the past year.
Tips To Buy The Best Type Of Health Insurance
Here are some tips to identify the right health policy for you and your family:
- Family size and dependent members are important factors when opting for the type of health plan to invest in.
- An adequate sum insured is necessary when making a purchase decision for a type of health insurance plan.
- Consider the coverage type you require, for example, senior citizens, maternity, personal accident, and more.
- Consider value-added services when it comes to types of health insurance plans. All health plans offer different types of additional benefits.
- Consider network hospitals with the type of health insurance plans you invest in.
Conclusion
The consistent rise in health insurance premium costs is an indicator of investing in an adequate health insurance plan. With multiple health insurance providers in the market offering different categories of health insurance plans in India, you must choose wisely. Selecting a health plan that suits your medical care needs is crucial. Go through the various types of health insurance plans mentioned in the article above to make an informed purchase decision or connect with PolicyX health insurance experts.
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Types of Health Insurance in India: FAQs
1. How many types of health insurance are available in India?
Common examples of health insurance in India are individual, family floater, senior citizen, critical illness, group health insurance, etc.
2. Can I buy different types of health insurance together?
Yes, you can purchase different health insurance products together. For example, if you have a group health plan, you can invest in an individual, family floater, or top-up health plan to enhance your medical coverage.
3. Will I be eligible for tax benefits under the different types of health insurance?
Yes, health insurance premiums are eligible for tax benefits under section 80D of the Income Tax Act of 1961 regardless of the type of health insurance you invest in.
4. Will I be able to avail of cashless hospitalization in different types of health insurance?
Yes, you can avail of cashless hospitalization in all types of health insurance plans.
5. How to claim health insurance?
You can easily claim different types of health insurance by intimating your health insurance provider. Connect with your health insurance provider within 24 hours of hospitalization, and 48 hours before your planned hospitalization.
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Written By: Simran Kaur Vij
Simran is an insurance expert with more than 4 years of experience in the industry. An expert with previous experience in BFSI, Ed-tech, and insurance, she proactively helps her readers stay on par with all the latest Insurance industry developments.
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