The current COVID-19 pandemic has made the entire world sit up and realise that medical emergencies are unpredictable and can cause a financial upheaval that is tough to handle. People have started to understand the importance of a health insurance plan with the arising medical costs. Apart from this, access to good medical facility and hospitalisation can be a financial burden for many. Therefore, one must know the benefits of a health insurance policy that can provide the added long-term protection in times like these. Even though while having the financial confidence to take care of your loved ones, a health insurance plan is extremely useful when it comes to beating medical inflation.

Here are 5 recommended reasons why you need to get a Health Insurance plan today:

1. To fight lifestyle diseases

Lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, respiratory problems, heart disease are on rise - especially among the people under the age of 45. Lack of healthy lifestyle, stress, pollution, leading an undisciplined life may cause such complications. Even though you follow precautionary measures, an unfortunate incident to face a sudden high hospital expenditure will be a tough phase to get through. Therefore investing in a Mediclaim Policy that covers regular medical tests can be a kick-start to cope up with medical expenses, leaving you stress-free.

2. To safeguard your family members

While you opt for a highly beneficial insurance policy, you should always choose to secure the whole family with insurance plan that would suit your requirements (i.e) if you have a suitable medical insurance, you need not stress about getting the best and the advanced treatment. In such a case, a basic plan along with a top-up plan would be ideal. Also, a health insurance company will always provide professional counselling for you to choose the plan in which you would have the maximum benefit.

3. To deal with pre and post-hospitalisation conditions

Apart from the cost of treatment, your medical bill would also include the expense of pre and post hospitalisation conditions. The costs for doctor’s consultation, diagnosis tests, ambulance charges, operation theatre costs, medicines, room rent, etc. are simultaneously increasing. All of these could put an additional strain on your finances if you fail to have a suitable health insurance cover. By paying an affordable health insurance premium each year, you can beat the burden of medical inflation while opting for quality treatment.

4. To protect your savings

While an unexpected illness can lead to mental stress, there is another side you need to think about - the expenses. By purchasing a health insurance policy, you are transferring your risk to the insurance company while the insurer manages a pool of people to help them with their medical expenses. Additionally, a health insurance lets you avail tax benefits, which further increases your savings. In short, you can manage your medical expenses without dripping your savings off.

5. Insure early to stay secured

Having a medical insurance early in life has numerous benefits. When you buy a health cover early in life, you can avail plans at lower rates and you can enjoy the continuity benefits as well. Additionally, you will be offered extensive coverage options by the health insurance company.

Here are some tips that would help you to choose the right insurance cover for you and your family:

• Look for a contingency plan as a solution for any exigencies, with add-on benefits / talk to the insurance consultant to get a clear view on the policy.
• Keep it affordable
• Always opt for a higher sum insured
• Check the range of network hospitals near you

Individual health insurance policies offers coverage to a single person on an individual sum insured basis. This particular sum insured, can solely be utilised by the insured for his medical expenses.

• Star Comprehensive Insurance Policy

  Under this health insurance plan any person between the ages 18 and 65 at the time of entry can be covered with the benefit of lifetime renewal. This health insurance plan provides coverage for individuals based on the various sum insured options. Individuals can choose the specified sum insured option with a minimum of 5 lakhs and a maximum of 1 crore based on his/her needs.

  Having a comprehensive cover keeps your finances intact and ensures you get covered for all your medical expenses like in-patient hospitalisation, emergency transport charges, daycare treatments, annual health check-ups and much more.

  What is covered under the Star Comprehensive Insurance Policy?

  The coverage offered under the Star Comprehensive Insurance Policy are as follows:

  • In-patient hospitalisation expenses
  • Pre and post-hospitalisation expenses
  • Daycare procedures / treatments
  • Domiciliary hospitalisation
  • Emergency Road and Air ambulance expenses
  • AYUSH treatments
  • Second medical opinion
  • Delivery and new-born cover
  • Organ donor expenses
  • Bariatric surgery
  • Personal accident cover – lump sum benefit for death & permanent total disablement
  • Hospital cash benefit
  • Modern treatments
  • Annual health check ups
  • Wellness services

  What is not covered?

  The following list comprises of a partial list of policy exclusions. For a detailed list, you can refer to the policy document.

  • Pre-existing medical conditions until the completion of the waiting period
  • Any hospitalisation with the primary goal of obtaining diagnostic information
  • Treatment outside of India
  • Circumcision, sex-change surgery, cosmetic surgery, and plastic surgery
  • Refractive error repair less than 7.5 diopters , hearing impairment correction, corrective and aesthetic dental surgery
  • Hazardous or adventure sports-related injuries
  • Unproven treatments
  • Venereal diseases and STDs (other than HIV)
  • Nuclear weapon and war-related perils
  • Intentional self-injury

  Waiting periods

  • A 30-day waiting period is applicable for all treatments except in case of accidents.
  • The policy will cover pre-existing diseases after a waiting period of 36 months from the inception date of the policy.
  • Specific diseases mentioned in the policy document will be covered after a waiting period of 24 months from the inception date of the policy.

  Buyback PED (optional cover)

  Under the Star Comprehensive Insurance Policy, an optional feature is introduced named as the ‘The Buyback PED’. While you choose this cover, the waiting period for pre-existing diseases will be reduced from 36 to 12 months on payment of additional premium.

  Tax Benefits

  One can avail tax benefit on the premium amount under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act 1961-21.

  Eligibility Criteria

  Individuals between 18 years and 65 years of age at the time of entry can take this Insurance. Dependent children can be covered from 3 months and up to 25 years of age.

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• Medi Classic Insurance Policy (Individual)

  This health insurance plan is an affordable health insurance plan that provides a variety of benefits that will help individuals manage their medical expenses. This uniquely designed health plan covers individual from 16 days to 65 years of age, with a lifelong renewal option. The plan is also available under Gold variant.

  Medi classic Insurance Policy (Individual) Gold plan offers sum insured options ranging between Rs. 3 lakhs - Rs. 25 lakhs. It exclusively covers organ donor expenses up to sum insured, AYUSH treatments, domiciliary hospitalisation, modern treatments and much more.

  What is covered under the Medi classic Insurance Policy (Individual)?

  The coverage offered under the Medi classic Insurance Policy (Individual) Gold Plan are as follows:

  • In-patient hospitalisation
  • Pre and post-hospitalisation
  • Emergency ambulance
  • Non-allopathic treatments
  • New born baby cover (from 16th day after birth)
  • Domiciliary hospitalisation
  • Modern treatments
  • Psychiatric and Psychosomatic disorders
  • Annual health check-ups
  • Daycare treatments
  • Shared accommodation
  • Road Traffic Accident (RTA)
  • Super Restoration of basic sum insured
  • Automatic Restoration
  • Organ donor expenses

  What is not covered?

  The following list comprises of a partial list of policy exclusions. For a detailed list, you can refer to the policy document.

  • Rest cure, rehabilitation and respite care
  • Change of gender treatments
  • Cosmetic / plastic surgery unless for a reconstruction followed by an accident
  • Injuries caused due to hazardous / adventurous sports and activities
  • Any unproven treatment
  • Refractive error less than 7.5 dioptre
  • Expenses incurred upon maternity, sterility and infertility

  Waiting periods

  • A 30-day waiting period is applicable for all treatments except in case of accidents.
  • The policy will cover pre-existing diseases after a waiting period of 48 months from the policy’s date of inception.
  • Specific diseases mentioned in the policy document will be covered after a waiting period of 24 months from the inception date of the policy.

  Tax Benefits

  One can avail tax benefit on the premium amount under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act 1961-21.

  Eligibility Criteria

  Any individual between the age of 16 days to 65 years can take this insurance.

  Beyond 65 years, the policy provides a lifelong renewable option.

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• Young Star Insurance Policy

  Earlier, there was an assumption that health insurances are only for old people.

  With the arising health complications, even the younger generations today have started to realise the need for a health insurance. This situation has also made us realise that unforeseen situations might occur at any point of life. By opting policy at young age, you can get higher coverage at lower premium

  Young Star Insurance Policy is specially crafted with a motive to ensure young adults have a serene lifestyle and get instant access to the best health care facilities without any hassle. This plan has been specially tailor-made for young individuals under the age of 40 who want to lead a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their families. You can get this health insurance under individual plan basis.

  The Young Star Insurance Policy provides wide sum insured options of Rs. 3 lakhs to Rs. 1 crore. Through this, you can enjoy wide range of benefits such as incentive-led wellness programs, discount on renewals, the lowest waiting periods, coverage for pre and post-hospitalisation expenses, cumulative bonus, hospital cash benefits, annual check-ups, automatic restoration of the sum insured and additional basic sum insured for road accidents.

  What is covered under the Young Star Insurance Policy?

  The coverage offered under the Young Star Insurance Policy are as follows:

  • In-patient hospitalisation
  • Pre and Post-hospitalisation
  • Emergency road ambulance
  • Day care treatments
  • Delivery expenses (Gold)
  • Hospital cash benefit (Gold)
  • Modern treatments
  • Road Traffic Accident (RTA)
  • Automatic Restoration of sum insured
  • Mid-term inclusion of spouse or new born baby
  • Annual health check-ups
  • E-medical opinion
  • Wellness programs

  What is not covered?

  The following list comprises of a partial list of policy exclusions. For a detailed list, you can refer to the policy document.

  • Expenses related to gender change and obesity.
  • Expenses related to cosmetic or plastic surgery unless for a reconstruction following an accident
  • Expenses for treatment of infertility or sterility
  • Expenses for treatment due to war, nuclear attack or invasion
  • Correction of eye sight due to refractive error less than 7. 5 dioptres
  • Intentional self injury
  • Injury/disease directly or indirectly caused by or arising from or attributable to war, invasion, act of foreign enemy, warlike operations

  Waiting Periods

  • A 30-day waiting period is applicable for all treatments except in case of accidents.
  • The policy will cover pre-existing diseases after a waiting period of 12 months from the policy’s date of inception.
  • Specific diseases mentioned in the policy document will be covered after a waiting period of 12 months from the inception date of the policy.

  Tax Benefits

  One can avail tax benefit on the premium amount under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act 1961-21.

  Eligibility

  People between 18 years and 40 years of age at the time of entry can take this insurance. Dependent children can be covered from 91 days and up to 25 years of age.

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• Star Micro Rural and Farmers Care

  India is one of the largest populated countries. Health insurance is optional, but health care is free for all citizens at Individual State & Government Facilities, which have challenges with staff & supplies. The percentage of the rural population in India was at 65.07 % in 2020. - reported by World Bank

  Star Micro Rural and Farmers Care: is specially designed only for rural farmers to be self-reliant towards healthcare. This policy is offered to rural residents to individual or farmer’s families in the age group of 1 year to 65 years. An individual can opt for Rs. 1 Lakh and family with Rs. 2 lakhs sum insured options. The policy has an easy instalment premium payment option of quarterly & half-yearly. The Medical Expenses for Road Ambulance, daycare treatments, and modern treatments like Chemotherapy, Dialysis, and Robotic surgeries are payable. The waiting period for Pre-existing Diseases and specified illnesses is just Six months from the policy inception date.

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• Senior Citizens Red Carpet Health Insurance Policy

  Health insurance is most needed for elderly People as exposed to age-related illnesses. A Prolonged or Costly treatment would impact their savings, but buying health insurance after 60 + would be a costly proposition. Star health understands, welcomes the elderly with respect, and caters to the needs of their complete medical or treatment expenses with a red carpet.

  Senior Citizens Red Carpet Health Insurance Policy is designed only for individuals/ families in the age group of 60 years to 75 years with lifelong renewal options. The Pre-insurance medical screening is not mandatory. The Pre-existing disease (PED) waiting period is reduced to 12 months from the date of policy inception, declaring that PEDs are always advantageous. The Policy has various Sum insured options to choose from 1 / 2 /3 /4/ 5/ 7.5 /10/ 15 /20 /25 lakhs. Health insurance premiums won’t increase as age increases like other insurance policies in the marketplace.

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• Star Women Care Insurance Policy

  Health insurance plan specially caters to the needs of women factors influencing the needs of women are compiled together and designed for women and their families. The best health insurance plan is well crafted for women towards hospitalization in different stages of life.

  Star Women Care Insurance Policy is a policy aimed towards the welfare of ladies as individuals or families with spouses and children ages between 91 days to 75 Years with various sum insured options of Rs. 5 /10 /15 /20 /25 /50 /100 Lakhs. Women-centric treatment expenses are payable like Maternity, Antenatal (Pregnancy Care), In-utero Surgeries, In-utero-fetal repairs, newborns, Pre & Postnatal along with sterilisation procedures.

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• Star Health Premier Insurance Policy

  Best Health insurance bring security and protection to all. In India, people aged 50 + years are prone to higher health risks related to younger ones. Get a health insurance plan designed for individuals or families above 50 years with a wide range of coverage. Financial assistance during hospitalisation brings a lot of contentment and courage to face the situation.

  Star Health Premier Insurance Policy is an All-inclusive Health insurance Policy offered by the Health Insurance Specialist to accommodate Families or individuals above the age of 50 years with no upper limit.

  This policy offers various sum-insured options from 10 lakhs to 1 crore. This health insurance plan pays for AYUSH, Bariatric surgeries, modern treatments, Air Ambulance, Homecare treatments, Outpatient consultations, and many more.

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• Super Surplus Insurance Policy

  Many have suffered monetary loss & lost their loved or dear ones in the financial battle of medical treatment, leading to bankruptcy. Some believe that being covered under the corporate policy would be enough for their medical treatment costs. Having a cost-effective top-Up health insurance plan with sufficient cover is always recommended.

  Super Surplus Insurance Policy - (Top-up Gold Plan) is an additional cover along with the existing health insurance policy to cater to the ever-changing treatment costs during hospitalization in the most economical way.

  Super Surplus Insurance Policy offers indemnity cover from 5 lakhs to 1 crore Sum-insured above certain defined limits. The policyholder is to pay a certain amount in the Policy period for admissible claims under the health insurance policy. This Policy offers coverage for Air / Road Ambulance, Day-Care Procedures, Pre & Post hospitalization, Maternity, and Modern treatments

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