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/Tele-Consultation (GP)
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Step 1Coverage Directory
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2 more features here look much the same across the plans we cover - they rarely decide the choice.
Step 3Plan Comparison
What is Tele-Consultation (GP) in health insurance?
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.
Every plan, ranked11 · 6 strong · 1 standard · 3 not covered · 1 not yet reviewed
Star HealthStrongSuper StarUnlimited
Strong
Tele-consultations with a qualified doctor or healthcare professional are unlimited: the policy sets no cap on how many an Insured Person can take in a Policy Year. You reach them by audio, video, online portal or chat through the Star Health app. It is part of the base plan on every Sum Insured, not a paid extra.
Coverage detailstap any row to understand it
How it's coveredIncluded in the base plan
Consultations per yearUnlimited
Available ViaVoice Call, Video Call, Chat
Watch out
If the tele-consultation doctor refers you to a specialist outside the Star Health empanelled network, you pay that specialist yourself. The policy also says a tele-consultation is not a substitute for seeing a doctor in person.
Star HealthStrongStar ComprehensiveUnlimited
Strong
Tele-consultations with a qualified doctor or healthcare professional are arranged at no extra cost, through audio, video, the online portal or chat on the Star Health app. If the doctor refers you to a specialist outside the empanelled network, you pay that doctor yourself.
Coverage detailstap any row to understand it
How it's coveredIncluded in the base plan
Consultations per yearUnlimited
Available ViaVoice Call, Video Call, Chat
Watch out
The doctor can suggest over-the-counter medicines only, and the policy says a tele-consultation should not replace seeing a doctor in person. Using the service is left out of the Favourable Claim Experience Discount calculation, so it does not cost you the 5% renewal discount.
Star HealthStrongFamily Health OptimaUnlimited
Strong
You can speak to a doctor by phone, video or chat through the Star Health app, with no limit on how many times each insured person uses it in a policy year.
Coverage detailstap any row to understand it
How it's coveredIncluded in the base plan
Consultations per yearUnlimited
Available ViaVoice Call, Video Call, Chat
Watch out
The wording says these calls should not replace an in-person consultation, and the doctor may only recommend over-the-counter medicines. If the tele-consultation doctor refers you to a specialist outside Star Health's empanelled network, you pay that specialist yourself.
Care HealthStrongCare SupremeUnlimited
Strong
Unlimited E-Consultation is included in the base plan. You can consult qualified General Physicians in the company's network as many times as you need in a policy year, by voice call, video call or chat. It does not reduce your Sum Insured.
Coverage detailstap any row to understand it
How it's coveredIncluded in the base plan
Consultations per yearUnlimited
Available ViaVoice Call, Video Call, Chat
Watch out
The doctors are General Physicians in the company's network, so this is for everyday medical questions rather than a specialist opinion. Seeing a specialist is still a normal consultation, which this plan does not pay for outside hospitalisation.
Star HealthStrongStar Health AssureUnlimited
Strong
Tele-consultations with a qualified doctor or healthcare professional are arranged through the Star Health app by audio, video, online portal or chat. There is no limit on how many you can take in a policy year, for each insured person.
Coverage detailstap any row to understand it
How it's coveredIncluded in the base plan
Consultations per yearUnlimited
Available ViaVoice Call, Video Call, Chat
Watch out
If the doctor refers you to a specialist or a physician outside the insurer's empanelled network, you pay those charges from your own pocket. A tele-consultation is not meant to replace seeing a doctor in person.
ICICI LombardStrongElevateOptional - Unlimited
Strong
Offered as an optional cover. Once you buy it, you can consult a qualified doctor as often as you like - the wording puts no limit on the count in a policy year - at any hour on any day, by audio, video, online portal or chat. Bookings run only through the insurer's mobile application.
Coverage detailstap any row to understand it
How it's coveredOptional add-on
Consultations per yearUnlimited
Available ViaVoice Call, Video Call, Chat
Watch out
Everything runs through the insurer's app, so install it and sign in before you are unwell. If the doctor refers you to a specialist or general physician outside the insurer's empanelled network, you pay for that consultation yourself.
Care HealthStandardCare AdvantageOptional - Unlimited
Standard
Unlimited online consultations with a general physician come only if you buy Optional Cover 12. They are with doctors in the insurer's network inside India, by voice call, video call, chat or email chat.
Coverage detailstap any row to understand it
How it's coveredOptional add-on
Consultations per yearUnlimited
Where AvailableIndia Only
Available ViaVoice Call, Video Call, Chat
Watch out
The consultations are with general physicians, not specialists, so a second view on a serious diagnosis is not part of this. The network is inside India only, so a consultation while you are travelling abroad is not covered.
HDFC ERGONot coveredOptima RestoreNot in this plan, and not sold as an add-on
Not covered
This policy does not offer doctor tele-consultations. Neither the policy wording nor the prospectus mentions a phone, video or chat consultation benefit, and neither Schedule of Benefits has a row for one.
Coverage detailstap any row to understand it
How it's coveredNot covered
Aditya BirlaNot coveredActiv One · VYTLNot in this plan, and not sold as an add-on
Not covered
This product does not offer a general doctor tele-consultation benefit. The only online doctor visits anywhere in it sit inside the optional Chronic Management Program (OPD), which is limited to seven declared chronic conditions and is not sold on every plan.
Coverage detailstap any row to understand it
How it's coveredNot covered
Watch out
If you have one of the listed chronic conditions and buy the Chronic Management Program (OPD), Annexure IV gives you one or two teleconsultations with a physician for that condition each policy year, cashless at network providers only.
HDFC ERGONot coveredOptima Secure · Optima-SelectNot in this plan, and not sold as an add-on
Not covered
This product does not offer tele-consultation with a general doctor. The only remote medical service in the plan is the E-Opinion for a listed critical illness.
Coverage detailstap any row to understand it
How it's coveredNot covered
Niva BupaUnverifiedReAssure 3.0Unlimited
Unverified
Unlimited e-consultations with the insurer's partner doctors are included in the base plan, on every variant, with no cap on how many you use in a year. If you also buy WellConsult+, that adds a separate out-patient benefit which includes unlimited tele or video consultation with general practitioners.
Coverage detailstap any row to understand it
How it's coveredIncluded in the base plan
Consultations per yearUnlimited
Watch out
The consultations run through Niva Bupa's partner network, so you consult their doctors, not your own.
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Or read one we prepared for Tele-Consultation (GP)Super Star vs Optima RestoreSuper Star vs Star ComprehensiveOptima Restore vs Star Comprehensive
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