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A Comprehensive Guide on Health Insurance for Senior Citizens

Ageing comes with its own challenges. Financial constraints and deteriorating health are the top-most reasons why elders need to have a comprehensive health insurance plan for their healthcare needs in old age.

Senior citizens make up a significant portion of our population and with improving medical infrastructure, the healthcare costs are also rising. This has resulted in a growing demand for financial support to access healthcare services. To cover the specialized needs of senior citizens at an affordable cost, there are specially designed health insurance policies available for individuals above the age of 60 years.

Here is a comprehensive guide on health insurance for senior citizens that discusses all the important aspects of a senior citizen’s health insurance.

What is a Senior Citizen Health Insurance Plan?

A senior citizen health insurance (SCHI) policy is a specialised insurance plan that offers coverage for medical expenses incurred by individuals above the age of 60 years. These plans are designed keeping in mind the age-specific healthcare needs with adequate coverage for treatment, medications, and check-ups. A well-structured SCHI provides coverage for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and cardiovascular ailments. These plans cover a wide range of medical expenses including hospitalisation, OPD consultations, day-care procedures, and complicated medical treatments.

Who needs to buy a Senior Citizen Health Insurance Plan (SCHI)?

Any individual above the age of 60 should buy health insurance for senior citizens. SCHI ensures that a senior citizen gets the best medical attention during a medical emergency without causing any financial strain. A SCHI not only provides financial support but also provides the best medical service ensuring your peace of mind.

Why buy a separate Health Insurance plan for senior citizens?

When we talk about health insurance, one size does not fit all. Regular health insurance provides basic coverage for all individuals. However, senior citizens require more age-specific and comprehensive health insurance coverage. Following are some common reasons why separate health insurance for senior citizens is required.

  1. Customised coverage
    These plans offer coverage customised according to the needs of senior citizens such as coverage for common procedures required in old age like cataract surgery, knee replacement, OPD consultations, etc.

  2. Low premiums
    Senior citizen plans have lower premiums compared to a family floater plan and offer more comprehensive coverage.

  3. Reduced waiting periods
    Pre-existing conditions are common in old age, hence senior citizen plans have reduced waiting periods for such conditions ranging from 1 year to 3 years.

  4. Additional tax benefits
    Buying separate health insurance for senior citizen parents gives you additional tax benefits of ₹ 50,000 under section 80D of the Income Tax Act in addition to the deduction limit of ₹ 25,000 towards health insurance premiums.

Key Features of Senior Citizen's Health Insurance

Senior citizen’s health insurance plans have a unique set of features that differentiates them from a regular health insurance policy.

  1. No maximum entry age
    Senior citizen’s health insurance plans have a minimum entry age of 60 years and there is no upper limit on entry age.

  2. Wide medical coverage
    A senior citizen plan offers coverage for a wide range of medical expenses including cashless hospitalisation, surgeries, pre and post-hospitalisation, daycare treatments, OPD consultations, medical check-ups, medication, ambulance charges, and more.

  3. Preventive healthcare
    These plans also offer preventive healthcare benefits such as free annual check-ups, rewards for health management, free dietary counselling, and more.

  4. Lifetime renewability
    Senior citizen’s plans offer lifetime renewability ensuring coverage throughout life in your advance days.

  5. No medical check-up is required
    These plans mostly do not require any screening check-ups. However, it is recommended that you disclose your medical history and any pre-existing conditions at the time of availing the policy to have the maximum benefit.

  6. Tax benefits
    These plans offer tax benefits on the premium paid up to ₹ 50,000 in a year, under section 80D of the Income Tax Act.

Benefits of Senior Citizen Health Insurance

There are many benefits of investing in a senior citizen health insurance policy as given below;

  1. High medical coverage
    Senior citizen health insurance plans offer high coverage at an affordable cost. High coverage is crucial to cover the rising costs of medical care and frequent hospitalisation.

  2. Coverage for pre-existing and age-specific conditions
    Health risks are higher in senior citizens because of pre-existing conditions or other chronic ailments due to old age. Most senior citizen health insurance plans provide coverage for these pre-existing diseases after a waiting period. Some policies offer coverage with a reduced waiting period.

  3. Cashless treatment and hospitalisation
    Health insurance for senior citizens offers cashless treatments and hospitalisation facilities for all covered illnesses at the network hospitals. This facility comes as a big support for senior citizens when they need urgent medical attention, as they do not have to worry about the cost of the treatment.

  4. Preventive medical check-ups
    Regular preventive health check-ups are essential for monitoring the health of senior citizens. Most senior citizens’ health insurance covers the cost of preventive annual health check-ups. This facility is really helpful in identifying major health concerns at an early stage and can help in getting timely treatment.

  5. Best medical service
    Often senior citizens avoid going to the best doctors or the top-notch hospitals due to high costs. With health insurance, it becomes possible for them to access the best medical service without worrying about the costs.

Tax Benefits of Senior Citizen Health Insurance Plans - For self and senior citizen parents

Section 80D allows a tax deduction of up to ₹ 25,000 in a financial year for health insurance premiums. For senior citizens, the deduction allowed is up to ₹ 50,000. Let us take an example, assume that Aakash is 40 years old and pays ₹ 30,000 for his family floater health insurance policy and ₹ 40,000 for his 70-year-old father’s health insurance policy. He can claim ₹ 25,000 for his insurance policy and ₹ 40,000 for his father’s policy, so his total claim for the financial year will be ₹ 65,000.

The table given below explains the tax benefits of senior citizen health insurance plans for self and senior citizen parents.

PolicyDeduction for Self/FamilyDeduction for ParentsMaximum Deduction
Self and Family (below 60 years)25,000NA25,000
Self and Family (below 60 years) + Parents (below 60 years)25,00025,00050,000
Self and Family (below 60 years) + Parents (above 60 years)25,00050,00075,000
Self and Family (above 60 years) + Parents (above 60 years)50,00050,000100,000

What is covered/ What is not covered in Senior Citizen Health Insurance Plans?

Coverage under a senior citizen health insurance plan varies depending on the insurance provider. However, the basic coverage provided by most health insurers includes;

  1. Hospitalisation – In-patient hospitalisation due to accident or illness is covered with cashless treatment facilities available at network hospitals.
  2. Pre and Post-hospitalisation – Medical expenses before hospitalisation and after discharge are also covered for the specified period as per the policy terms.
  3. Daycare procedures – Any medical procedure that requires less than 24 hours of hospitalisation is also covered.
  4. Ambulance and room rent – Expenses for ambulance and room rent are also covered as per the limits specified in the policy.
  5. AYUSH treatments – AYUSH treatments are also covered at an authorised AYUSH clinic or hospital.
  6. Critical illness – Critical illnesses are also covered as per the policy terms. It may be available as an add-on benefit in some policies.

It is important to understand what is covered and not covered in a policy before you purchase so that you get the right coverage. Now, let us have a look at what is not covered in health insurance for senior citizens;

  1. Any treatment within 30 days of buying the policy except for hospitalisation due to an accident.
  2. Pre-existing diseases and specialised treatments/procedures during the waiting period.
  3. Dental treatments
  4. Cosmetic procedures
  5. Injuries due to participation in adventure sports
  6. Treatment for substance abuse or addiction
  7. Treatments for HIV, AIDS, or STDs

How to buy/ renew Senior Citizen Health Insurance? - Online + Offline

If you are looking to buy a senior citizen health insurance plan, you can buy either online or offline at your convenience.

Online mode of buying/renewing SCHI

Online mode lets you explore, compare, and buy health insurance sitting at home. With instant issues of policy and secure payment options, online modes are popular.

  1. Company website – Most insurance companies have online portals, where you can easily explore all plans, understand features and also calculate premiums. These websites provide the facility to buy/renew health insurance by submitting an application online
  2. Insurance aggregators platforms – These platforms have insurance plans available from different insurance companies and let you compare various plans from different insurers in one place. These platforms help you in making informed decisions.
  3. Mobile apps – All the insurance providers and aggregators now have mobile apps with user-friendly interfaces. These apps help you buy/renew/file claims on the go. These apps provide a range of features for a good user experience.

 

Offline mode of buying/renewing SCHI

Many people still prefer buying insurance offline because it offers benefits like face-to-face interaction and personal guidance with doubts and clarification.

  1. Insurance company branch – You can visit your nearest branch, inquire about plans, get expert guidance on which plan is better for you, understand its features and terms and conditions, fill out the application form, provide documents, and buy the plan.
  2. Insurance brokers – These are professionals who can guide you and help you select a plan. They will provide assistance throughout the buying process including the paperwork.

Documents needed to buy/ renew Senior Citizen Health Insurance Plans

Here is a list of documents that can be required to buy/renew health insurance for senior citizens.

  1. KYC documents including your ID proof and address proof.
  2. Income proof
  3. Age proof
  4. Medical reports if required by the insurance company
  5. Passport size photograph
  6. Application form

Top 10 Senior Citizen Health Insurance Plans in India

The following table presents a list of the top 10 senior citizen health insurance plans in India with their features:

Insurance CompanySenior Citizen Health Insurance PlanCoverageEntry ageSum Insured (₹)Waiting period
Bajaj AllianzSilver Health PlanHospitalisationDomiciliary ExpensesDaycare proceduresPre & post-hospitalisationAmbulance CoverHealth Check-ups46 -8050,000 – 10 lakhsInitial 30 days 1 year for PEDs and certain listed illnesses4 years for joint replacement
Star HealthSenior Citizen Red Carpet PlanHospitalisationPre & post-hospitalisationAmbulance CoverSpecified Daycare procedures60 – 751 lakh – 25 lakhsInitial 30 days 1 year for PEDs2 years for certain listed illnesses4 years for joint replacement
HDFC ERGO HealthOptima Senior PlanHospitalisationDomiciliary ExpensesDaycare proceduresPre & post-hospitalisationAmbulance CoverDonor expenses61 and above2, 3 and 5 lakhsInitial 30 days 3 years for PEDs2 years for certain listed illnesses
CareFreedom PlanHospitalisationDomiciliary ExpensesDaycare proceduresPre & post-hospitalisationAmbulance CoverHealth Check-upsDialysis CoverCompanion Benefits46 and above3 – 10 lakhsInitial 30 days 2 years for PEDs and certain listed illnesses
Tata AIGMedisenior PlanHospitalisationDomiciliary ExpensesDaycare proceduresPre & post-hospitalisationAmbulance CoverHealth check-upsOrgon Donor expenses61 and above2 – 5 lakhsInitial 30 days 2 years certain listed illnesses4 years for PEDs 
New India AssuranceSenior Citizen Mediclaim PolicyHospitalisationDomiciliary ExpensesDaycare proceduresPre & post-hospitalisationAmbulance CoverAYUSH CoverHealth check-upsOrgon Donor expenses60 – 801 – 1.5 lakhsInitial 30 days 1.5-4 years certain listed illnesses4 years for PEDs 
National InsuranceVaristha MediclaimHospitalisationDomiciliary ExpensesDaycare proceduresPre & post-hospitalisationAmbulance CoverHealth Check-upsOrgon Donor expenses60 – 801 – 2 laksInitial 30 days 1 year for PEDs and certain listed illnesses
Oriental InsuranceHOPE PlanHospitalisationDomiciliary ExpensesDaycare proceduresPre & post-hospitalisationAmbulance CoverHealth Check-ups60 and above1 – 5 lakhsInitial 30 days 2 years for PEDs and certain listed illnesses
ICICI LombardGolden Shield PlanHospitalisationDomiciliary ExpensesDaycare proceduresPre & post-hospitalisationAmbulance CoverHealth Check-upsOrgon Donor expensesModern Treatments60 and aboveUpto 50 lakhsInitial 30 days 2 years for PEDs and certain listed illnesses
United India InsuranceSenior Citizen Health Insurance PolicyHospitalisationDomiciliary ExpensesDaycare proceduresPre & post-hospitalisationAmbulance CoverHealth Check-upsModern Treatments61 – 652, 3 and 5 lakhsInitial 30 days 2 – 4 years certain listed illnesses4 years for PEDs

How to file a claim for Senior Citizen Health Insurance?

It is important to understand the claim procedure of your insurance provider to get the benefit of insurance coverage. Claims can be filled on a cashless as well as reimbursement basis. For planned hospitalisation, notify the insurance company before hospitalisation within the timeline mentioned in your policy. For emergency hospitalisation, you have to inform the insurance company within 24 hours of hospitalisation.

  1. Cashless Claims – Cashless claims can be availed at network hospitals only. Inform the hospital about your senior citizen’s health insurance plan and provide the policy details and all the required documents. The insurance helpdesk at the hospital will guide you through the process and coordinate with the insurance company for claim approval. Once approved, your hospital bills will be settled directly by the insurance company at the time of discharge.

  2. Reimbursement Claim – If you are seeking treatment at a non-network hospital, you can file for a reimbursement claim. You will have to pay the bills at the time of discharge. Later you can submit your claim form with all the necessary documents to the insurance company. Your claim request will be verified and if approved the claim amount will be reimbursed.

  3. OPD care, Critical illness, and Pre and post-hospitalisation Claims – For OPD and Pre and post-hospitalisation claims, fill out the claim form and provide all the medical bills, doctor’s statements, and consultation papers to the insurance company within the specified timeframes. The claim amount is reimbursed after verification and approval. For critical illness claims, once the diagnosis is confirmed, inform the insurance company and provide all the medical reports and documents confirming the diagnosis. Remember to notify within the timeframes for approval of your claim request. Once the claim is approved, the claim amount is credited to your account.

Documents needed to file a claim under Senior Citizen Health Insurance

To get your claim approved, it is crucial to provide all the required documents. Here is a list of documents you need to submit for filing a claim.

  1. Duly filled claim form
  2. Original medical bills, receipts, and discharge summary
  3. Medical reports
  4. Copy of policy document
  5. KYC documents
  6. Any other document required by the insurer

What to consider when buying Senior Citizen Health Insurance?

While choosing a senior citizen health insurance plan, make sure that its coverage matches your medical needs. Following are certain important factors, you should consider when buying health insurance for senior citizens.

  1. Coverage
    Check the coverage offered by a plan including hospitalisation expenses, room rent, pre and post-hospitalisation cover, daycare procedures, and more. Check that it covers everything you need.

  2. Waiting Period
    A waiting period is an important factor to consider if you have any pre-existing disease. It is ideal to select a plan with a low waiting period. Some SCHI plans have a low waiting period of just 1 year for pre-existing diseases.

  3. Network hospitals
    Do check the list of network hospitals of the insurance company. Ensure that you choose an insurance company that has a tie-up with nearby hospitals and major hospitals in different cities.

  4. Co-payments and deductibles
    These will be your out-of-pocket expenses, so select a plan with a lower percentage of co-payments and deductibles.

  5. Premiums
    Ensure that you opt for a plan with high coverage at an affordable premium. Compare different plans and find one that suits your budget.

  6. Claim Procedure and Claim Settlement Ratio
    This is the most important factor to consider, your coverage will go to waste if you are not able to file a claim easily. Also, check the company’s track record of settling claims, it will give you an idea of the chances your claim will be approved.

Myths Busted for Senior Citizen Health Insurance

Given below are some of the common myths about senior citizen health insurance plans and the actual facts behind them.

  1. Myth 1. Senior Citizen Health Insurance is too costly
    Fact – Due to the high risk of falling sick, premiums of senior citizens’ health insurance are on the higher side. But if you compare it with the coverage and benefits offered, the premiums are justified. However, with a range of options available, you can easily find one that suits your pocket.

  2. Myth 2. Pre-existing diseases are not covered
    Fact – Most Senior Citizen Health Insurance plans cover pre-existing diseases, that too with reduced waiting periods. Read the policy document to know about the waiting periods.

  3. Myth 3. A family floater plan is enough to cover senior citizens
    Fact – Senior citizens have specific needs and may require high coverage. Hence, a family floater plan will not be sufficient to cover their needs. Also, other family members may not get any coverage when they need it.

Conclusion

Consider all the above-mentioned factors before choosing the right health insurance for senior citizens. Take your time to research, compare plans, and then make an informed decision. Don’t delay buying a senior citizen health insurance plan because it will give you much-needed financial support in your old age.

Frequently Asked Questions

On an individual basis, it covers self and spouse.

IRDAI has laid down a cap on the premiums of SCHI plans in 2006/2007

Individuals are allowed to buy new health insurance for senior citizens up to the age of 65 years.

50% of the cost of the pre-policy medical check-ups is to be reimbursed by the insurance company if the risk is accepted.

No insurer can refuse the renewal of a senior citizen’s health insurance policy.

The insurance company has to provide reasons for the rejection of the proposal of health insurance for a senior citizen in writing.

A senior citizen policyholder is allowed to change his TPA where practicable.

To select the best health insurance plan for people above 60 years, consider coverage, waiting period, network hospital, premiums, and claim procedure.

Compare the benefits, waiting periods, affordability, and claim support when exploring different health insurance plans.

60 years

Yes, you can. There are many insurance companies that provide health insurance for senior citizens without any upper age limit but remember that the premiums will be high at this age.

Yes, many SCHI plans offer zero co-pay options at an additional premium.

Yes, it is possible. You can check with your insurance company.

You can claim a maximum deduction of ₹ 75,000 under section 80D of the IT Act.

Leading Health Insurance Companies

Manipal cigna health insurance
Aditya birla capital
STAR health insurance
NIVA HEALTH INSURANCE
care health insurance

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