Care (Religare) Health Insurance Review 2023: Which Plan is Best For You

Care (Religare) Health Insurance is a specialized health insurer serving since 2012 and a part of Religare Group.  

The specialized insurance service offers include

• Health Insurance 
• Travel Insurance 
• Corporate Insurance

Let’s do a detailed review of Care health insurance

Care (Religare) Health Insurance Review

Care Health Insurance is an IRDA (insurance regulator) registered insurer based out of Gurgaon. The insurer has 1002 offices across India.

You can buy health insurance, critical illness insurance, personal accident insurance, top-up coverage, and maternity insurance from care.

Care Health Insurance also covers modern treatments like robotic surgery and health ailments such as HIV/AIDS. You can avail cashless medical services across the globe through 7400+ network hospitals associated with Care Health Insurance.

Care provided different type of health insurance to fulfill different insurance needs. I have reviewed the plans in the later section of the article.

Care Health Insurance has a 93% claims settlement ratio. The claims settlement ratio is the percentage of claims settled by an insurer out of the total received during the financial year. 

However, the insurance services are restricted to health, travel and corporate insurance.

Benefits of Care Health Insurance 

• 7400+ global network of hospitals
• Covers robotic surgeries and treatment of AIDS
• Policy cover for pre-existing heart ailments
• Global Plus policy with a sum insured up to Rs. 6 crores

Care Insurance Claim Process

You need to fill the “Pre-authorization” form and hand over the form to the hospital’s insurance or TPA desk (Third-party administrator).

TPA is an organization that processes insurance claims on behalf of a particular organization.

The hospital will complete the rest of the details and submit the form to Care Health Insurance.

Let’s review the Care best health insurance plans

Best Care (Religare) Family Floater Health Insurance Plan 

#1. Care Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Review

CARE Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan offers a family floater option with a wide range of sums insured starting from Rs. 3 Lakhs to Rs. 6 Crores.

The various floater CARE plans for different sum insured are

• Super Saver – for sum insured of Rs. 4 Lakhs
• Elite –  for sum insured of Rs. 5, 7 and 10 Lakhs
• Elite Pus – for sum insured of Rs. 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 Lakhs
• Global – for sum insured of Rs. 50, 60 and 75 Lakhs
• Global Plus – for sum insured of Rs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 Crores 

The super save is a basic plan. Whereas, Elite plans have a higher limit for ambulance cover, organ donor cover, alternative treatments. Elite Plus covers maternity cover up to Rs. 1 Lakh.

The Global Plans provide Global health insurance coverage (excluding the USA) and an additional vaccination cover. The global plans have a higher limit for ambulance cover, organ donor cover, alternative treatments and maternity cover. 

All the family floater plans come with lifelong renewability. You can have a cashless & hassle-free direct claim settlement at network hospitals. 

Plus, there is no pre-policy medical check-up for sums insured till Rs. 40 Lakhs and for age up to 60 years.

Features & Benefits

Minimum age for cover	91 days
Maximum age for Renewal	Lifelong renewability
Waiting period to cover pre-existing illness	Four years of continuous coverage
No-claim benefits	For every year of no-claims, the plan increases the  Sum Insured by 10%, up to a maximum of 50% in consecutive 5 years.
Pre-hospitalization	Medical expenses incurred up to 30 days before hospitalization is covered.
Post-hospitalization	Covers expenses like doctor consultations, Diagnostic tests, medications up to 60 days post your hospitalization
Restoration benefit	Add on cover for unlimited automatic recharge of sum insured.
Day care procedures	Over 540+ day care procedures are covered
Domiciliary hospitalization	The plan covers for medical expenses incurred during treatment at home for a period exceeding 3 consecutive days.
Alternative treatments – AYUSH	Ayurveda, Unani, Sidha or Homeopathy, with cover up to Rs. 50,000 under different plans.
Exclusions	Self-inflicted injuries (suicide), injuries caused by alcohol or drug use, pregnancy, abortion, congenital disease, Infertility and IVF treatment, war, riots, strike and nuclear weapon induces hospitalization.

What I Like 

• Annual health check-up for you and all members covered
• Second opinion at no extra cost by Care Health Insurance
• Add-on cover for automatic recharge of sum insured 
• Organ donor cover up to Rs. 5 Lakhs

What I Did Not Like

• 20% co-payment if the age of the eldest member insured at the time of the first policy is 61 years or above
• 4 years of continuous coverage required to cover pre-existing illness
• Vaccination and maternity benefits only in higher plans

#2. CARE Freedom Insurance Plan-2 Review

CARE Freedom Insurance Plan-2 offers a family floater plan for Individuals of 46 years and above. The Floater Plan covers 6 members with the minimum entry age for the eldest person of 46 years.

The various sum insured under the plan is of Rs. 3, 5, 7 and 10 Lakhs. All the adult insured members covered to get an annual health checkup. 

The plan gives you a companion benefit up to Rs. 15,000, if hospitalization exceeds 10 days. 

The difference is in the amount limits for various expenses like treatment of cataract (up to Rs. 30,000 per eye), knee replacement (up to Rs. 1.2 lakhs per knee). 

Features & Benefits

Minimum age for cover	Eldest insured person – 46 years Other adults – 18 YearsChild – 90 Days
Maximum age for renewal	Lifelong renewability
Waiting period to cover pre-existing illness	Two years of continuous coverage.
Pre-hospitalization	Medical expenses incurred up to 30 days before hospitalization is covered.
Post-hospitalization	Covers expenses like doctor consultations, Diagnostic tests, medications up to 30 days after discharge.
Restoration benefit	Recharge of sum insured at no extra cost. But not for ailment already claimed during the same year.
Domiciliary hospitalization	The plan covers up to 10% of the Sum insured if domiciliary hospitalization exceeds 3 days
Exclusions	Self-inflicted injuries (suicide), injuries caused by alcohol or drug use, pregnancy, abortion, congenital disease, Infertility and IVF treatment, war, riots, strike and nuclear weapon induces hospitalization.

What I Like  

• A free annual check-up for adults insured
• Lifelong renewability 
• Companion benefit up to Rs. 15,000

What I Did Not Like

• 20% / 30% co-payment per claim 
• 10% increase in co-payment beyond 70 years 
• Sub-limits for various illnesses

Best Care Health Insurance Plan for Parents 

#3. CARE Senior Insurance Plan Review

CARE Senior Insurance Plan offers a family floater plan for Individuals of  61 years and above. The Floater plan covers 2 Adults (Self, Spouse, Father, Mother). 

The plan gives you a free annual check-up for all insured persons. Plus, you can avail ambulance cover (up to Rs. 2,000) and an  organ donor cover (up to Rs. 1 Lakh)

There are two plans under CARE Senior 

• Care 8 – for sum insured of Rs. 3 Lakhs
• Care 9 – for sum insured of Rs. 5, 7 and 10 Lakhs

The Care 9 Senior floater plan has amount wise a higher limit. 

Features & Benefits

Minimum age for cover	Adult – 61 years and above
Maximum age for renewal	Lifelong renewability
Waiting period to cover pre-existing illness	48 months
No- claim benefits	For every year of no-claims, the plan increases the  Sum Insured by 10%, up to a maximum of 50% in consecutive 5 years.
Pre-hospitalization	Medical expenses incurred up to 30 days before hospitalization is covered.
Post-hospitalization	Covers expenses like doctor consultations, Diagnostic tests, medications up to 60 days after discharge.
Restoration benefit	Once in a policy year.
Daycare procedures	All daycare procedures covered
Domiciliary hospitalization	The plan covers up to 10% of the Sum insured if domiciliary hospitalization exceeds 3 days
Alternative treatments – AYUSH	Covered up to Rs. 20,000.
Exclusions	Self-inflicted injuries (suicide), injuries caused by alcohol or drug use, pregnancy, abortion, congenital disease, Infertility and IVF treatment, war, riots, strike and nuclear weapon induces hospitalization.

What I Like 

• A free annual check-up for all persons insured
• Lifelong renewability 
• Alternative treatments covered

What I Did Not Like

• 20% co-payment per claim where the age of Insured / eldest member is 61 years or above
• Covers only 2 adult members
• 48 month waiting period.

Care provides wide range of health insurance plans. Let’s discuss them

Types of Health Insurance Care Offers 

#1. “Care” Health Insurance Plan

Care is a comprehensive family health insurance plan. The plan is offered on an individual or as a family floater basis with coverage up to Rs. 6 crores.

Care Health Insurance Plan also covers the annual health check-ups of the persons insured. You can have a 150% no claim bonus with NCB Super.  

The minimum entry under the plan is 91 days and the policy has a lifelong renewability option.

#2. “Care Freedom” Health Insurance Plan

“Care Freedom” Health Insurance Plan is specifically designed for diabetes health insurance. You would get the insurance even without a pre-policy checkup up to a sum insured of Rs. 10 Lakhs.

The policy covers annual health check-up, automatic recharge of sum insured, and lifelong renewability. 

You have a waiting period of 2 year in case of pre-existing disease. 

#3. “Care Heart” Health Insurance Plan

“Care Heart” Health Insurance is for covering pre-existing heart ailments in cardiac patients with an annual sum insured of up to Rs. 10 Lakhs.

The policy covers comprehensive coverage for hospitalization expenses. The policy also includes coverage of alternative treatments like Ayurveda and Unani treatments.

You can avail of the inbuilt ambulance expenses, free annual checkup and automatic policy recharge facility.

#4. “Care Senior” Health Insurance Plan

“Care Senior” Health Insurance Plan covers individuals above 61 years of age and is suited for your old parents with a sum insured of up to Rs. 10 Lakhs. 

The policy is offered as individual and floater (only 2 adults) insurance with no requirement of pre-medical checkup requirements.

However, you have a 96 months-long waiting period in case of pre-existing disease.

#5. “Joy” Health Insurance Plan

“Joy” is a maternity insurance health plan with baby cover with the sum insured up to Rs. 10 Lakhs. The minimum entry age for mothers is 18 years of age and 1 day for the child. 

The “Joy” policy can be taken for a 3-year long term. The policy offers pre & post hospitalization cover, daycare and inpatient treatment care cover.

#6. “Cancer Mediclaim” Health Insurance Plan

“Cancer Mediclaim” Health Insurance Plan covers lifelong expenses on cancer treatment with the facility to pay premiums in easy EMIs of Rs. 258 per month for sums insured up to Rs. 50 Lakhs.

The policy covers all stages of cancer and global treatment expenses coverage.

You can have air ambulance, organ donation and alternate treatment covered under the policy.  

#7. Care “Critical Mediclaim” Health Insurance Plan

“Critical Mediclaim” Health Insurance Plan comes with an easy EMIs option. The policy offers sums insured up to Rs. 2 crores at a monthly EMI of Rs. 495.

The policy covers 32 critical diseases with no limit on ICU charges, global treatment facility and air ambulance.

The critical disease includes cancer, renal failure, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, major organ transplant, blindness, burns and paralysis among others.

#8. “Heart Mediclaim” Health Insurance Plan

Religare “Health Mediclaim” Health Insurance Plan covers 16 major heart ailments with sums insured up to Rs. 25 lakhs on payment of monthly premium of Rs. 141.

The highest sum insured amount is up to Rs. 2 Crore.

The heart mediclaim insurance policy coverage stands good even in case of relapse. You can have the global treatment and have an international second opinion under the policy.

#9. “Operation Mediclaim” Health Insurance Plan

Care “Operation Mediclaim” Health Insurance Plan is for covering operational and surgical expenses. You can have an Rs. 25 Lakhs coverage at a monthly premium of Rs. 448. The maximum sum insured can be up to Rs. 2 crores.

The policy only covers defined surgical procedures. So, you need to check before you buy the policy.

You have a pre-existing disease waiting period of 48 months. The policy covers air ambulance, international second opinion and lifelong renewability.

Conclusion

I suggest that getting a health insurance plan and a term insurance plan should be the first priority for better financial planning. You can choose the cover amount based on your financial position, age and financial responsibilities.

You can pick the individual or floater policy for yourself and your parents depending on the cover needed. Care insurance offers various health-related policies that cover all modern-day illnesses and diseases.

You have the benefit of global coverage through a 7400 network hospital, international second opinion and easy EMI’s premium payment options under the various health insurance policies.