Care Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance are two prominent health insurers operating in India. Both provide comprehensive health insurance plans designed to offer financial protection and coverage for medical expenses. While they share the common goal of providing healthcare solutions, there are certain differences between Care Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance that set them apart.
When comparing the two, it’s important to consider factors such as coverage options, premium costs, claim settlement ratios, network hospitals, and customer reviews. It’s advisable to evaluate these aspects and choose the health insurer that aligns with your specific requirements and offers the best value for money. Ultimately, both Care Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance aim to provide reliable health insurance coverage and peace of mind to policyholders in times of medical emergencies.
If you are in a dilemma on what to choose, here is the complete analysis of both in a detailed manner.
Detailed Comparison Between Care Health Insurance & Star Health Insurance
Let’s take a look at the detailed comparison between Care Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance.
| Parameters | Care Health Insurance | Star Health Insurance |
| Incurred Claim Ratio | 65.07% (FY 2021-22) | 87.06% (FY 2021-22) |
| Claim Settlement Ratio (General) | 100% (FY 2021-22) | 99.06% (FY 2021-22) |
| Network Hospitals | 22900+ | 14000+ |
| Number Of Plans | 10+ | 20+ |
| Add-On Covers | A Few Major Covers
| A Few Major Covers
|
| Annual Health Check-Up | Available | |
| Pre-Hospitalization Expenses | Usually, 30 To 60 Days | |
| Post-Hospitalization Expenses | Usually, 60 To 180 Days | |
| Claims Settled Since Inception | 38 Lakhs+ | 97 Lakh + |
| AYUSH Treatment | Covered | |
| COVID-19 Treatment | Covered | |
| Claim Options | Cashless & Reimbursement | |
| Automatic Restoration of Sum Insured | Available | |
| Lives Covered Since Inception | 3 Crore+ | 17 Crore |
| Maternity Insurance | Available | Available With Only Star Women Care Insurance Policy |
| Quick Quote Facility | Available | |
| Tax Benefits | Up To Rs. 75000 | Up To Rs. 1 Lakh |
| Wellness Benefits | Available | |
| Online Renewal Option | Available | |
Note: The ICR and CSR ratios have been taken from the latest IRDAI report.
Understanding Care Health Insurance
Care Health Insurance Limited specializes in health insurance products, ensuring protection for you and your family from potential financial risks associated with medical emergencies through a single premium. Their health insurance plans cover a range of medical expenses, encompassing pre- and post-hospitalization, in-patient treatment, day-care procedures, ambulance charges, and domiciliary treatment. Domiciliary treatment refers to medical expenses incurred for treatment received at home, which would typically require hospitalization.
Care Health Insurance has been honored with several accolades, including the prestigious titles of ‘Best Health Insurance Company’ at the ABP News-BFSI Awards 2015 and ‘Best Claims Service Leader of the Year’ at the Insurance India Summit & Awards 2018. The company has also received recognition for its commitment to innovation, earning the ‘Editor’s Choice Award for Best Product Innovation’ at Finnoviti 2013. Additionally, Care Health Insurance was bestowed with the esteemed ‘Best Medical Insurance Product Award’ at The FICCI Healthcare Awards 2015.
What Distinguishing Key Features & Benefits Does Care Health Insurance Offer?
Here is the list of the salient features and benefits of health insurance plans by Care.
- Inpatient Hospitalisation Expenses
This benefit covers the costs associated with inpatient hospitalization, encompassing ICU charges, boarding charges, expenses for blood, oxygen, doctor’s fees, nurse’s fees, and the overall cost of treatments, among other relevant charges.
- Pre-hospitalization Expenses
Pre-hospitalization expenses refer to costs incurred before hospitalization. Such expenses are covered under Care Health Insurance so you won’t need to pay for pre-hosptalisation expenses from your own pocket.
- Post-hospitalization Expenses
Post-hospitalisation expenses include expenses incurred on medicines, diagnostic tests, doctor’s consultations, etc. which incur after you are discharged from the hospital. These expenses are covered for a specific number of days as stipulated in the plan that you buy.
- Ambulance Charges
Costs incurred on hiring an ambulance to take you to the hospital are covered under health plans offered by Care up to a specific limit.
- Daycare Treatments
Daycare treatments refer to medical procedures or interventions that do not require a patient to stay in the hospital overnight for a minimum of 24 hours. These procedures are advanced and technologically driven, allowing patients to return home on the same day of treatment.
Care health insurance plans include coverage for specified daycare treatments, reimbursing the medical expenses associated with these procedures up to the sum insured. This coverage is designed to provide financial support for outpatient or short-stay medical interventions.
- AYUSH Treatments
Care Health Insurance extends coverage to AYUSH treatments, allowing policyholders to avail themselves of non-allopathic healthcare services. This inclusion reflects a growing recognition of the value of traditional and alternative forms of medicine in promoting health and treating certain conditions.
- Domiciliary Treatments
Also known as home-based treatments, these treatments refer to medical care provided to a patient at their residence instead of in a hospital or healthcare facility. These treatments are typically necessary when it is not feasible for the patient to be moved to a hospital or when there are no available hospital beds.
Care Health Insurance includes coverage for domiciliary treatments under specific conditions. The coverage is usually triggered when a patient’s medical condition requires treatment at home due to the unavailability of hospital beds, the patient’s inability to be moved, or other similar circumstances.
- Organ Donor Treatments
Many Care health insurance plans provide coverage for the expenses associated with harvesting an organ from a donor for transplant surgeries.
- Sum insured Restoration
Care Health Insurance permits the reinstatement of the sum insured for subsequent claims within the policy year if it has been exhausted in a previous claim. In most plans, 100% of the sum insured can be reinstated.
Next, What is Star Health Insurance?
Star Health Insurance is one of the leading health insurance companies in India. It is a standalone health insurance provider, meaning that it focuses solely on health insurance and does not offer other types of insurance policies. The insurer was established in 2006 and has since gained a strong presence in the Indian insurance market.
Star Health Insurance offers a wide range of health insurance products to cater to the diverse needs of individuals, families, and senior citizens. Their policies cover various aspects of healthcare expenses, providing financial protection and peace of mind to policyholders. Star Health Insurance has tie-ups with 14, 000+ network hospitals across India, allowing policyholders to avail cashless hospitalization facilities. This means that the insured individuals can receive treatment without paying upfront, as the insurance company settles the bills directly with the hospital.
What Sets Star Health Insurance Apart From Others?
Listed below are the features and benefits of Star Health Insurance.
- Diagnostic Centres
Experience the convenience of accessing a vast network of 1,635 diagnostic centers throughout India, where you can benefit from the added convenience of home pickup for lab samples and health check-ups right at your doorstep.
- E-Pharmacy
With Star Health Insurance, policyholders can enjoy the convenience of ordering medicines online at discounted prices, with the added flexibility of home delivery or store pick-up options available in 2,780 cities across the country.
- In-Patient Hospitalisation
Star Health Insurance provides coverage for hospitalization expenses that occur for a duration exceeding 24 hours due to illness, injury, or accidents.
- Pre-Hospitalisation
Health Insurance Plans by Star also cover pre-hospitalization expenses, which include medical costs incurred up to 60 days prior to the date of admission to the hospital.
- Post-Hospitalisation
Star Health Insurance coverage extends to post-hospitalization medical expenses incurred within 90 days from the date of discharge from the hospital. This provision ensures that individuals have financial support for medical costs that may arise during the recovery period following a hospital stay, offering a comprehensive approach to healthcare coverage beyond the primary hospitalization phase.
- Shared Accommodation
Costs related to the insured person staying in a shared accommodation are covered within the limits specified in the policy clause.
- Assisted Reproduction Treatment
The insurance provider will reimburse medical expenses associated with Assisted Reproduction Treatment for sub-fertility, subject to certain conditions. A waiting period of 36 months is applicable from the initial commencement of this policy. The maximum liability of the company for such treatments is capped at Rs. 1 lakh for a sum insured of Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 2 lakhs for a sum insured of Rs. 10 lakhs and above for each 36-month block.
- Domiciliary Hospitalisation
Domiciliary hospitalization expenses, including AYUSH treatments recommended by a medical practitioner and lasting more than three days, are eligible for coverage under Star Health Insurance.
- Organ Donor Expenses
In the case of organ transplantation, the incurred expenses are covered up to a maximum of 10% of the Sum Insured, with a cap of Rs. 1,00,000, whichever is lower. These provisions aim to offer financial support for extended home-based medical care and the costs associated with organ transplantation within specified limits.
- Repatriation of Mortal Remains
The costs associated with repatriating the mortal remains of the insured person are covered, with reimbursement up to a maximum of Rs. 5,000 per policy period. This provision is designed to assist in shouldering the expenses related to the repatriation of the deceased insured person.
Sample Premium Illustration Of Care & Star Health Insurance
Mr. Shubham Rawat, a 30-year-old male, is a successful HR Head at Google. He understands the importance of having a health insurance plan to safeguard his health and financial well-being. As he begins his search for the right health insurance provider, he comes across Care Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance, two reputable companies in the market. Curious to explore their offerings, Mr. Rawat decides to compare the premium illustrations of both plans using the same parameters.
Now, let’s take a look at the premium amount that he needs to pay for both health insurance plans with similar parameters.
Star Health Insurance:
| Gender | Age | Policy Term | Health Insurance Cover | Premium Amount |
| Male | 30 Years | 1 Year | Rs. 10 Lakhs | ₹ 11,476 (Including Tax) |
Care Health Insurance:
| Gender | Age | Policy term | Total Coverage | Premium Amount |
| Male | 30 Years | 1 Year | Rs. 10 Lakhs | Rs. 10592 (Including 18% GST) |
With a clear understanding of the premium illustrations and the need for thorough research, Mr. Rawat is determined to make an informed choice and secure a suitable health insurance plan from either Care Health Insurance or Star Health Insurance.
Which One Should You Choose: Care Health Insurance OR Star Health Insurance?
In conclusion, the choice between Care Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance depends on your unique healthcare needs, budget, and priorities. Both companies are reputable health insurance providers in India, offering comprehensive coverage and a range of benefits. To make an informed decision, consider factors such as coverage options, premium costs, network hospitals, claim settlement ratios, customer reviews, and additional features.
Care Health Insurance, with its extensive coverage, customer-centric approach, and personalized service, maybe a suitable choice for individuals and families seeking comprehensive health insurance solutions. They have a strong emphasis on efficient claim settlement processes and a wide network of hospitals for cashless hospitalization.
On the other hand, Star Health Insurance, as a leading standalone health insurance provider, offers a diverse range of plans tailored to meet specific needs. They are known for their prompt claim settlement, strong focus on customer satisfaction, and comprehensive coverage for hospitalization, pre- and post-hospitalization expenses, day-care procedures, and critical illnesses.
