Cashless health insurance plans provide medical coverage without the need for upfront payment during hospital treatment. In these plans, policyholders can avail medical services at network hospitals without having to personally fund the treatment, up to the sum insured.
The insurer directly settles bills with the hospital, following policy terms. While opting for such a policy has numerous benefits, selecting the best cashless health insurance can be challenging.
In India, there are three main types of cashless mediclaim policies: individual, family, and senior citizen health insurance plans. It’s important to understand that not all medical expenses may be covered. Generally, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic surgeries, and alternative treatments may not be covered. Common coverages include pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses and in-patient care.
With a network of over 8000 hospitals across the country, the plan allows you to avail cashless treatment facilities. Coverage extends to various expenses, including ambulance facilities, daycare treatments, in-patient hospitalization, advanced treatments, and donor transplantation.
10 Best Cashless Health Insurance Policy in India 2023
| Cashless health insurance plans | Premiums |
| Bajaj Allianz Health Guard Family Cover | Varies with the sum insured |
| Reliance Cashless Health Insurance Policy | ₹243 per month |
| Niva Bupa Health Insurance Plan | Varies with age and the sum insured |
| The Care Health Care Insurance Plan | Varies with the sum insured |
| HDFC Ergo | ₹19 per day |
| The New India Assurance Senior Citizen Mediclaim policy | Varies with the sum insured |
| ICICI Lombard Health Care Plus | Starts at ₹15.09 per day (for 21 years of age at the time of the issuance of the policy) |
| Bharti AXA Smart Health Insurance Plan | Varies with the sum |
| Navi Health Insurance | ₹235 per month |
| The New India Mediclaim policy | Varies with the sum |
| Aditya Birla Cashless Health Insurance Policy | ₹2,486 per year |
1. Bajaj Allianz Health Guard Family Cover
When considering the best cashless medical insurance in India, Bajaj Allianz Health Guard Family Cover stands out as a top choice. This comprehensive cashless insurance plan offers a sum assured ranging from INR 5 lakhs to INR 50 lakhs. It includes pre-hospitalization coverage of up to 60 days and post-hospitalization coverage of up to 90 days.
The policy features a lifelong renewal option and the flexibility of co-payment. With an entry age ranging from 18 to 65 years, the policy has a normal waiting period of 30 days, and for pre-existing illnesses, the waiting period is up to three years. These features contribute to making it one of the top 10 cashless health insurance plans in India.
2. Reliance Health Gain Insurance
Reliance Health Gain Insurance from Reliance General Insurance is a comprehensive cashless health insurance policy that offers extensive coverage for medical expenses.
With features like reinstatement of the sum insured, cumulative bonus, extra sum insured, and more, it provides a reliable and convenient solution for healthcare needs. The policy boasts a network of 8600+ cashless hospitals and ensures a quick 6-day cashless claim period.
Key features of Reliance Cashless Health Insurance Policy:
- Age: 5 years to 65 years (minimum entry age may vary)
- Sum insured: Starts at ₹3 lakh (varies with the plan)
- Waiting period: 30 days, 15 days for COVID-19 treatment, and 2 to 3 years for other pre-existing conditions
- Minimum premium: ₹243 per month
The policy covers pre and post-hospitalization expenses, ambulance costs, in-patient hospitalization, domiciliary hospitalization, organ donor expenses, and modern treatments.
In case of a critical illness diagnosis, the renewal premium for that period is waived off. Moreover, the premiums paid towards the policy qualify for deductions under section 80D of the Income Tax Act.
3. The Niva Bupa Health Insurance Plan
The Niva Bupa Health Insurance Plan stands out as one of the top 5 cashless health insurance plans in India, offering an effective option for comprehensive coverage.
With the convenience of cashless treatment available in 9100 hospitals, this policy is cost-efficient and covers various aspects, including pre- and post-hospitalization expenses, room rent, domiciliary treatment, advanced treatment methods, and in-patient hospitalization.
The policy comes with refill and renewal benefits, making it highly regarded by many as one of the best cashless health insurance policies in the country. It provides four sum assured options – INR 5 lakh, 10 lakh, 7.5 lakh, and 12.5 lakh, with a term period of one year.
Opting for a two-year term period also offers a 12.5% discount on the premium for the second year. The policy is open for entry from 18 to 65 years of age.
4. The Care Health Care Insurance Plan
The Care Health Care Insurance Plan, offered by Care Health Insurance Company, is a comprehensive and popular health insurance option covering both individuals and families. It provides an extensive range of health insurance coverage, including domiciliary hospitalization, alternative treatment, air ambulance cover, and international second opinion.
Features & Benefits:
- Individual & Floater Cover: Offers coverage under both individual and family floater basis.
- Pre-hospitalization Coverage: Covers expenses before hospitalization, including tests and investigations up to 30 days before admission.
- In-patient Hospitalization: Covers in-patient expenses, including ICU charges and room rent during hospitalization.
- Day-Care Expenses: Covers medical treatment not requiring a stay in the hospital for more than 24 hours.
- Post Hospitalization: Reimburses post-hospitalization expenses, including pharmacy bills, investigation charges, and doctor’s fees for up to 60 days after discharge.
- Domiciliary Hospitalization: Covers the cost of home-based treatment when admission to the hospital is not possible.
- Ambulance Cover: Reimburses charges for road ambulance in emergencies; certain variants cover air ambulance costs as an add-on.
- Daily Hospital Allowance: Provides a daily allowance for day-to-day hospital expenses.
- Organ Donor Cover: Reimburses medical expenses borne by the organ donor during organ transplant surgery.
- Alternate Treatment: Covers costs of alternative treatments like Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha, and Unani.
- Second Opinion: Covers the cost of obtaining an international second opinion from another doctor
5. HDFC Ergo
HDFC Ergo offers a range of cashless health insurance policies with a vast network of 12,000+ hospitals. These plans cater to individuals, families, senior citizens, and more, providing numerous benefits such as recovery benefit, lifelong renewability, multiplier benefit, and uninterrupted medical coverage with the rebounding of the sum insured.
Key features of HDFC Cashless Health Insurance Policy:
- Age: Available for individuals aged 18 to 65 years.
- Sum Insured: Ranges from ₹5 lakh to ₹2 crore.
- Waiting Period: Not Applicable.
- Minimum Premium: Starts at ₹19 per day.
The policy covers various aspects including day care treatments, home treatments, mental health treatments, Ayush treatment, organ donor expenses, and hospitalization expenses. Additionally, pre and post-hospitalization expenses are covered for 60 days before and 180 days after hospitalization.
6. The New India Assurance Senior Citizen Mediclaim policy
Undoubtedly, medical expenses during hospitalization can strain finances. The New India Assurance Senior Citizen Mediclaim policy addresses this concern, covering medical costs and offering additional benefits to enhance coverage.
Features and Benefits:
- Age Range: Available for individuals aged 60 to 80 years.
- Sum Insured: Options of Rs. 1 lakh or Rs. 1.5 lakh.
- Cumulative Bonus: Earn 5% for every non-claim year or policy renewal, up to a maximum of 30%.
- Family Discount: Enjoy a 10% discount if the spouse is also insured.
- Alternative Treatment: Cover for Ayurvedic, homeopathic, and Unani treatment in government hospitals, with specific coverage limits.
- Pre-existing Conditions: Covered after 18 months of policy purchase.
- Additional Premium Coverage: Certain pre-existing ailments like diabetes, hypertension, and related complications can be covered after 18 months with the payment of an additional premium.
7. ICICI Lombard Health Care Plus
ICICI Lombard Health Care Plus is considered one of the best cashless mediclaim policies for families in India. It’s renowned for offering cashless treatment within four hours and has a vast network of over 7500 hospitals. The policy is flexible regarding the sum assured and covers various expenses, including post and pre-hospitalization, room rent, diagnostic expenses, doctor’s fees, and daycare treatment.
Key Features:
- Cashless Treatment: Provides cashless treatment within four hours.
- Hospital Network: Extensive network of over 7500 hospitals.
- Coverage: Includes post and pre-hospitalization, room rent, diagnostic expenses, doctor’s fees, and daycare treatment.
- Eligibility: Maximum entry age is 65 years, minimum age for coverage is five years.
- Renewal: Policy can be renewed until the age of 70 years.
- Medical Tests: Required for proposers over 56 years.
- Waiting Period: Normal waiting period is 30 days; for pre-existing diseases, it could be up to two years.
8. Bharti AXA Smart Health Insurance Plan
Bharti AXA Smart Health Insurance Plan provides coverage for all medical expenses and emergency hospitalization. The insurer, Bharti AXA Health Insurance Company, received the Customer Service Excellence Award in 2019. Exclusive benefits include tax savings, renewal discounts as a no-claim bonus, and free health check-ups. Here are some key features:
Features and Benefits:
- Suitable for individuals aged between 91 days to 65 years.
- Sum assured options of Rs. 3/4/5 lakhs.
- Family floater plan covers you, your spouse, and 2 dependent children aged between 90 days to 23 years.
- No-claim renewal discount ranging from 5% to 25%.
- Coverage for critical illnesses.
- Recuperation benefit for critical illnesses or dread diseases.
- Pre-hospitalization cover for 30-40 days and post-hospitalization cover for 60 days.
- Compensation for day-care treatment up to the sum insured.
- Ayush Treatment cover.
- Domiciliary hospitalization cover up to 10% of the sum insured.
Navi Health Insurance is an excellent choice for individuals and families seeking the best cashless medical insurance in India. With comprehensive coverage, unique benefits, and affordable monthly premiums, it offers a hassle-free experience. Key features include coverage up to ₹1 crore, a waiting period as low as 1 year, and a minimum premium of ₹235 per month.
The policy ensures 100% coverage of hospital bills, with no sub-limits on room rent charges and even includes consumables. It provides a 20-minute cashless claims process at over 11,000 network hospitals, making it convenient for emergencies and planned hospitalizations.
The policy offers paperless onboarding and claim processes, pre and post-hospitalization cover, unlimited online doctor consultations, and a complimentary annual health checkup. Additional benefits include coverage for accidental injuries, organ donor expenses, air ambulance, and maternity benefits.
Navi Health Insurance boasts a high claim settlement ratio, with over 99.99% of claims settled within the first 3 months, leading in the IRDAI claim settlement ratio for private general insurance companies in FY 2021-22.
9. The New India Mediclaim policy
The New India Mediclaim policy offers cashless health insurance plans for individuals aged 18 to 65 years, with coverage for dependent children aged 3 months to 25 years. The policy provides lifelong renewability and allows investors to choose a sum insured ranging from INR 1 lakh to 15 lakhs.
As a leading public sector health insurance provider, New India Assurance offers a wide range of health insurance products, allowing policyholders to avail themselves of treatment at network hospitals across the country.
Key features include health check-ups every 3 claim-free years, coverage for newborn babies, cumulative bonus benefits of up to 25% of the sum insured for a claim-free year (up to 50% of the sum insured), coverage for organ transplants, and inclusion of AYUSH treatments up to 25% of the sum insured.
10. Aditya Birla Cashless Health Insurance Policy
Aditya Birla Cashless Health Insurance Policy offers cashless medical treatment to policyholders, ensuring hassle-free hospitalisation at any of its extensive network hospitals, which includes 10,051+ healthcare facilities. This policy comes with various benefits, such as comprehensive health check-ups, cashless home treatment, premium waiver, no claim bonus, discounted premiums, and more.
Key features of Aditya Birla Cashless Health Insurance Policy:
- Age: The eligibility criteria vary with different plans.
- Sum insured: The policy provides coverage starting at ₹5 lakh.
- Waiting period: There is a waiting period of 30 days.
- Minimum premium: The minimum premium for the policy is ₹2,486 per year.
- Coverage: The policy covers pre and post-hospitalisation expenses for 60 days before and 180 days after hospitalisation. It also covers expenses related to hospitalisation for the treatment of COVID-19. Additionally, the policy includes coverage for daycare procedures, Ayush in-patient treatment, and maternity expenses (depending on the chosen plan).
Why to Buy Best Health Insurance Policy?
It’s crucial to invest in the best health insurance policy to cope with rising healthcare costs and ensure a healthy future for yourself and your family. The right health insurance plan provides assurance, relieving you from concerns about medical bills and hospitalization expenses. However, with numerous options available, choosing the right plan can be confusing.
You can compare and choose the best health plan for yourself and your family, covering various medical expenses like pre and post-hospitalization, day-care, coronavirus treatment, critical illness hospitalization, and more. This ensures you make an informed decision based on your preferences.
