Step 1Coverage Directory

Every category, decoded

All 6 coverage topics in one place - start with the worry on your mind, and open the features that decide it.

Step 2Feature Library

Every feature we checked

All 41 features across 6 coverage topics - pick one to see how the plans differ, what's critical at claim time, and what's already covered in your shortlist.

Big hospital billsCommonly Missed

Room Rent

Sets the maximum amount your insurer pays per day for your hospital room. If you stay in a room that costs more than this limit, your insurer may also reduce what they pay on your other hospital bills - like doctor fees and surgery charges - not just the room cost. Plans with no room rent cap give you the most protection.

When does my cover switch on?Commonly Missed

Pre-Existing Disease (PED) Waiting Period

If you already had a health condition (like diabetes, high blood pressure, or thyroid problems) before buying this policy, you must wait a set period before those conditions are covered. A shorter waiting period is strongly preferable - especially if you are managing a chronic condition today.

Big hospital bills

ICU / ICCU Charges

Covers the cost of staying in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or Cardiac Care Unit. A single serious event like a heart attack or major surgery can exhaust your entire cover in just a few days if the ICU limit is low. Plans that cover ICU without any cap offer the best protection.

Big hospital billsCommonly Missed

Sum Insured Restoration

If you use up your entire cover amount during the year, this feature automatically tops it back up so you can make more claims in the same year. Especially valuable for families where multiple members might need hospitalisation in a single year.

Big hospital bills

Cumulative Bonus

Rewards you for staying healthy. Every year you do not make a claim, your cover amount increases - sometimes doubling over 5 years - at no extra cost. The longer you stay claim-free, the better your coverage gets.

Cancer & serious illness

Guaranteed Extra Cover

Extra cover that sits on top of your Sum Insured, so a single large bill can be paid beyond what you bought. Some plans pre-fund this as a separate pool from day one; others provide the same extra amount through refills that can top up the very bill that used up your cover.

Big hospital billsCommonly Missed

Non-Payable Items Cover

Hospitals charge for many small items - gloves, syringes, bandages, sanitisers - that most insurers refuse to pay for by default. These non-payable items can make up 10-20% of your bill. This feature ensures your insurer covers those costs too, so you face fewer surprise deductions at discharge.

When does my cover switch on?Commonly Missed

Specified Disease Waiting Period

Even if a condition was not pre-existing, certain common treatments - like cataract surgery, hernia repair, or joint replacement - have a mandatory waiting period before they are covered. This determines when you can actually use your policy for planned procedures.

Cancer & serious illness

Modern Treatments

Covers advanced medical procedures like robotic surgery, oral chemotherapy, and stem cell treatment. These methods are now used by top hospitals but can be very expensive. Without this, your insurer might refuse to pay because the treatment does not appear on their older approved list.

Cancer & serious illness

Critical Illness Cover

Pays you a lump sum of money if you are diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, heart attack, or stroke. Unlike regular health insurance that pays the hospital directly, this money comes straight to you - use it for treatment, household bills, or time off work.

Big hospital bills

Pre-Hospitalisation

Covers the cost of doctor consultations, tests, and medicines you needed in the weeks before your hospital admission - as long as they were related to the same illness. For example, if you had scans and specialist visits before a planned surgery, your insurer will pay for those too.

Big hospital bills

Post-Hospitalisation

Pays for recovery expenses after you are discharged - like follow-up doctor visits, physiotherapy, and medicines - for a set number of days. This matters a lot after major procedures like heart surgery or knee replacement, where recovery can stretch over weeks or months.

Everyday medical costsMatters to Everyone

OPD Treatment

Covers everyday healthcare costs that do not require a hospital stay - like visiting a specialist, getting a blood test, or buying prescription medicines. Most health plans only cover you when you are admitted to hospital. OPD cover means your insurance is useful throughout the year, not just in emergencies.

Big hospital bills

Day Care Treatment

Covers medical procedures that only take a few hours and do not need an overnight stay - such as cataract surgery, kidney stone removal, or chemotherapy sessions. Without this, you would only be covered for treatments that required at least 24 hours in hospital.

Planning a babyKey for Families

Maternity Cover

Pays for the costs of having a baby - including normal delivery, C-section, pre-natal check-ups, and post-natal care - up to a fixed limit. Almost all plans have a waiting period (usually 9 months to 3 years) before this benefit kicks in.

When does my cover switch on?

Chronic Care Cover

An add-on that covers regular expenses for managing chronic conditions - Asthma, Blood pressure, Cholesterol, and Diabetes - including doctor visits, medicines, and tests. These costs are normally excluded from standard plans that only cover hospitalisation.

Everyday medical costs

Mental Health Cover

Covers treatment for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia - both for hospitalisation and, in some plans, for outpatient therapy sessions. In India, insurers are legally required to treat mental health on par with physical health.

Everyday medical costs

AYUSH Treatment

Covers hospitalisation for treatment through traditional Indian systems of medicine - Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy - at recognised centres. If you prefer traditional medicine for managing chronic conditions or post-illness recovery, your insurer pays for it just like a regular hospital stay.

Big hospital bills

Air Ambulance

Covers emergency evacuation by helicopter or aircraft when a road ambulance is not fast enough or reachable - for example, after a serious accident in a remote area. These flights can cost Rs 1-10 lakh, so having this covered can be a lifesaver.

Big hospital bills

Home Health Care

Pays for professional medical care at your home - like nursing, IV drips, or physiotherapy - when you are too unwell to travel to a hospital or no beds are available. Especially useful for elderly patients who recover better at home.

Everyday medical costs

Dental

Covers dental treatment requiring a hospital visit - like surgical tooth removal under anaesthesia, jaw injury treatment, or oral cancer surgery. Some plans also cover routine dental check-ups and fillings. Cosmetic dental work and braces are not included.

Cancer & serious illnessCommonly Missed

Organ Donor Expenses

If you receive an organ transplant, this feature pays for the donor's hospital and surgery costs. Without this, the donor's family would have to pay those bills out of their own pocket - for an act they did entirely for your benefit.

Cancer & serious illness

Specialist Second Opinion

Allows you to get another specialist's opinion on a serious diagnosis - like cancer or a recommendation for surgery - often for free through the insurer's network. A second opinion can prevent an unnecessary operation or point you to a better treatment.

Planning a babyKey for Families

Newborn Baby Cover

Automatically adds your newborn baby to the policy from the day of birth, covering any medical care the baby needs right away - including NICU admission. Without this, any immediate health issues for the baby would be out of pocket.

Big hospital bills

Personal Accident Cover

Pays you or your family a lump sum if you die or become permanently disabled in an accident - on top of your regular health cover. Since accidents can suddenly take away your ability to earn, this add-on provides important financial protection for your family.

When does my cover switch on?

30-Day Initial Waiting Period

For the first 30 days after you buy your policy, only accident-related hospitalisation is covered. No illness claims are accepted during this window. Your policy is not fully active for illness from Day 1 - it is important to know this.

Everyday medical costs

Preventive Health Check-up

Pays for your yearly health screening - blood tests, ECG, sugar levels, cholesterol, and more - even when you are feeling well. Catching health problems early is one of the most effective things you can do for your long-term health, and this feature covers the cost.

Big hospital bills

Domiciliary Hospitalisation

Covers treatment at home for conditions that would normally need a hospital stay - for example, when the patient cannot be moved or the hospital is full. Note that many plans exclude common conditions like diabetes or asthma from this benefit.

Big hospital bills

Road Ambulance

Covers the cost of a registered road ambulance to take you to the hospital in an emergency. A small but important benefit - no one should worry about ambulance costs in the middle of a medical crisis.

Cancer & serious illnessCommonly Missed

Rehabilitation

Covers structured recovery programmes - like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy - after a serious injury, stroke, or major surgery. These sessions help you regain strength and normal function, but are often not covered under standard plans.

Planning a baby

Assisted Reproductive Treatment

Covers fertility treatments like IVF or IUI for couples having difficulty conceiving naturally. Each treatment cycle can cost Rs 1-2 lakh and often needs multiple attempts. This cover is rare in standard plans and is usually an optional add-on.

Cancer & serious illnessCommonly Missed

Interventional Pain Procedures

Covers specialised pain management treatments - like nerve injections or spinal procedures - for people suffering from long-term chronic pain (like a herniated disc or severe arthritis). These are alternatives to surgery or heavy painkillers that most standard plans do not cover.

Planning a baby

In-Utero Fetal Surgery / Intervention

Covers complex procedures performed on the baby while still in the womb - for example, to correct a life-threatening condition detected during pregnancy. These surgeries are only available at very specialised hospitals and are relevant for high-risk pregnancies identified through advanced scans.

Worth it if I never claim?

Wellness Discount

Rewards you with a discount on your premium or an increase in your cover if you achieve health goals - like daily step targets, completing your annual check-up, or maintaining a healthy weight. Active users can save 5-15% on their annual premium.

Big hospital bills

Hospital Cash Benefit

Gives you a fixed daily cash amount for every day you are in hospital - on top of your regular hospitalisation cover. Use this money for anything: food, travel, attendant charges, or to compensate for income lost while you were away from work.

Cancer & serious illness

Global Cover

Extends your health insurance to cover emergency or planned treatment outside India. Valuable if you travel internationally, live abroad for part of the year, or want the option to seek specialised treatment at hospitals in other countries.

Big hospital billsCommonly Missed

Aggregate Deductible

An optional feature where you agree to pay the first fixed amount of medical expenses yourself each year, in exchange for a significantly lower premium. Once you cross that threshold, your insurer covers everything above it fully. A smart way to reduce premium if you are generally healthy.

Big hospital bills

Shared Accommodation Benefit

Gives you a small daily cash bonus if you voluntarily choose a shared (twin-sharing) room even though your policy allows a private room. Think of it as a reward for choosing modesty - but it does not add much to your core health protection.

Everyday medical costs

Tele-Consultation (GP)

Lets you consult a general doctor over a phone or video call without stepping out of your home. Convenient for minor ailments, getting a prescription refilled, or deciding whether you need to see a specialist.

Cancer & serious illness

Overseas Travel Companion Benefit

If you are hospitalised in a foreign country, this benefit pays the travel and hotel costs for one family member to fly out and be with you. It removes the financial barrier to having a loved one by your side during a frightening medical situation far from home.

Everyday medical costs

Vision Cover

Reimburses part of the cost of prescription glasses or contact lenses under an OPD or wellness benefit. Amounts are usually small (Rs 2,000-10,000 per year) and it is more of a useful perk than a core coverage benefit.

Step 3Plan Comparison

What is Critical Illness Cover in health insurance?

HDFC ERGO

Optima Restore

Limited

The base policy pays no lump sum for a critical illness. HDFC ERGO offers my:health Critical Illness, covering 50 critical illnesses, as a paid add-on alongside Optima Restore, and a Critical Advantage rider for planned treatment abroad for 8 listed major illnesses. Neither document carries the add-on's own terms.

Coverage detailstap any row to understand it

tap any row to understand it

Watch out

The add-on's waiting period, survival period, sum insured and payout terms live in a separate document, so read that before buying. Inside Optima Restore itself the only critical-illness benefit is a written second opinion.

View plan

HDFC ERGO

Optima Secure – Optima-Secure

Standard

It is sold only as a paid add-on: my:health Critical Illness pays a lump sum on diagnosis of any of 51 listed critical illnesses, with a sum insured you choose from ₹1 lakh up to ₹5 Cr. A second add-on, Serious Illness Booster, pays actual medical expenses instead of a lump sum.

Coverage detailstap any row to understand it

tap any row to understand it

Watch out

The lump-sum add-on is a separate contract and its own terms, so the waiting period and survival period are set in that document, not in the Optima Secure wording. Ask for the add-on wording before you buy.

View plan

ICICI Lombard

Elevate

Standard

Sold as an optional cover. On first diagnosis of any of 20 named critical illnesses - cancer, first heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, major transplant and more - Elevate pays a lump sum of up to ₹50,00,000 in cash, over and above your hospital cover. You can buy it only between the ages of 18 and 50, and it pays once in your lifetime.

Coverage detailstap any row to understand it

tap any row to understand it

Watch out

A 90-day waiting period applies from the start of the cover, and the wording sets no survival period after diagnosis. No claim is paid if the critical illness is a consequence of a pre-existing disease.

View plan

Step 4Shortlist & Decision Tray

Your decision so far

Review your shortlisted plans, track how many coverage concerns they fulfill, and pick any two to compare side-by-side.

Nothing shortlisted yet

Every plan for your chosen feature is listed in the comparison above. Tap Bookmark on the plans that read well to pin them here.

Bookmark at least 2 plans to unlock side-by-side comparison

Or read a full head-to-headSuper Star vs Optima Restore Super Star vs Star Comprehensive Optima Restore vs Star Comprehensive

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Find what matters most to you.

Start Here

Every category, decoded

Big hospital bills

Cancer & serious illness

When does my cover switch on?

Planning a baby

Everyday medical costs

Worth it if I never claim?

Every feature we checked

Room Rent

Pre-Existing Disease (PED) Waiting Period

ICU / ICCU Charges

Sum Insured Restoration

Cumulative Bonus

Guaranteed Extra Cover

Non-Payable Items Cover

Specified Disease Waiting Period

Modern Treatments

Critical Illness Cover

Pre-Hospitalisation

Post-Hospitalisation

OPD Treatment

Day Care Treatment

Maternity Cover

Chronic Care Cover

Mental Health Cover

AYUSH Treatment

Air Ambulance

Home Health Care

Dental

Organ Donor Expenses

Specialist Second Opinion

Newborn Baby Cover

Personal Accident Cover

30-Day Initial Waiting Period

Preventive Health Check-up

Domiciliary Hospitalisation

Road Ambulance

Rehabilitation

Assisted Reproductive Treatment

Interventional Pain Procedures

In-Utero Fetal Surgery / Intervention

Wellness Discount

Hospital Cash Benefit

Global Cover

Aggregate Deductible

Shared Accommodation Benefit

Tele-Consultation (GP)

Overseas Travel Companion Benefit

Vision Cover

What is Critical Illness Cover in health insurance?

Optima Restore

Optima Secure – Optima-Secure

Elevate

Your decision so far

Nothing shortlisted yet