Care Health Insurance vs Star Health Insurance Policy: which is better and why?

Star Health Insurance and Religare (Care Health Insurance) are two insurance giants in India with a whopping number of clients and loyalists. Both insurance companies are standalone health insurers and both present several benefits and offers to customers. In this post, let us take a close look at the differences in both insurers to find the best one and their plans in India.

Star Health Insurance vs Care (Religare) Health Insurance Which Plan is Better – Basic Comparison Guide of Plans and Features
Gone are the days when you had to be worried about healthcare expenses and keep yourself away from the much-needed medical treatment. These days, as soon as you get a job and become financially independent, you should buy a health insurance policy. The majority of us need some kind of medical treatment, especially as we grow old, and that is when one such health insurance plan can help us to get the right treatment and save some money at the same time. As a matter of fact, if you buy a health insurance policy when you are young, you will also do not have to pay a high premium. You also will not have to worry about the hospital that you have to choose during a medical emergency because you can simply go to a network hospital and get the needed treatment.
Nevertheless, the only confusion arises when it is about choosing a particular health insurance company. All of us want to get all the best features and benefits with our health insurance policy. And that is what creates so much confusion. Well, as we talk about features and benefits, we must discuss the two very popular insurances Star Health Insurance and Care (formerly known as Religare) Health Insurance Company.
Details | Star Health Insurance | Care Health Insurance |
Year of inception | 2005 | 2,007 |
Number of branches | 850+ | 230+ |
Network hospitals | 14000+ | 22900+ |
Claim Settlement Ratio (CSR) | 99.06% (2021-22) | 100% (2021-22) |
Claims settled so far | 60 lakhs + | 38 lakhs + |
Customer support | 24×7 claim and customer support | 24×7 customer support |
No Claim Bonus (NCB) | Up to 100% | Up to 100% |
Online buying discount | Available (up to 20%) | Available |
Free Health check | Available | Available |
Pre-existing diseases (PED) waiting period | 36 months | 48 months |
Room rent limit | Applicable | Applicable |
Sum insured | Up to 1 crore | Up to 6 crores |
OPD coverage | Coverage available | Coverage available as per plan and sum insured |
Maternity coverage | Available under several plans | Available under specific plans like Joy maternity insurance |
Wellness discount | Available (up to 10%) | Available (up to 30% on premium) |
Other special discounts | 10% on premium for buying plans before turning 36 and renewing it after turning 40 | Available |
Basic Differences Between the Star Health Insurance and Care (Earlier Known as Religare) Health Insurance Policy
Mentioned herein below are the basic differences between the two.
Parameter | Star Health Insurance | Care Health Insurance |
Tenure of policy | 1 | 1,2,3 |
Daycare treatments that are covered | All | 500 |
No pre-policy medical tests age | 51 | 45 |
Ambulance charges | INR 1500 | INR 2000 |
Pre-hospitalization expenses | Actual expenses for up to 60 days | Actual expenses for up to 30 days |
Cashless hospitals network | 8400 | 5420 |
Second opinion | Covered | Covered |
About the Star Health Insurance Company
Star Health & Allied Insurance Co. Ltd is one of the top insurance companies in the country that has been providing its insurance products since 2006. Star Health Insurance is popular for offering affordable plans and for having around 8400 network hospitals across the country.
Types of Health Insurance Plans Offered by Star Health Insurance Company
Let us discuss the types of plans offered by the insurance company:
1. Family insurance plans
As you take this Star Health policy, you will be able to avail cover for your entire family. Here are some of the salient features of the family insurance plans offered by Star Health Insurance.
- Under the family plans of this company, there are several health insurance plans included such as Star Super Surplus, Star Comprehensive, Senior Citizens Red Carpet, Diabetes Safe, Family Health Optima Midi-Classic, Cardiac Care, Health Gain, Cancer Care Gold, and Novel Coronavirus insurance policies
- Diabetic, HIV, and heart patients can get specialized plans
- They provide 24X7 consultation of expert doctors with free medical advice
- Insured can get a complimentary second medical opinion.
2. Personal insurance plans
An individual can get Medi-Classic Insurance Policy with affordable premiums. The main highlights are mentioned herein below:
- For non-allopathic treatments, the insured can get 25% of the sum insured
- For each policy term, the insured can get an emergency ambulance facility of up to INR 1500
- For in-patients hospitalization, all expenses are covered up to 1% of the sum insured
- Insured can avail of lifetime renewal on policies.
3. Diabetes insurance plans
The medical conditions that come under the diagnosis of both types of Diabetes Mellitus are covered under Star Diabetes Safe Insurance Policy. The key features include:
- Stay at a hospital, boarding, and nursing charges
- Coverage on diagnostic tests, pharmacy bills, and drugs
- Payment for ambulance charges up to INR 2000
About the Care Health Insurance Company
Care or Religare Health Insurance Company was formerly called Religare Health Insurance. The company was founded in 2012. In a very short time, the company has established itself and has become one of the most sought-after insurance companies in the country. H
Types of Health Insurance Plans Offered by the Care Health Insurance Company
Here are some types of Care (earlier known as Religare) health insurance plans mentioned below:
1. Family insurance plans
Care Health Insurance provides plans for various stages of life. The key highlights of the plans are mentioned herein below:
- Under the family insurance plans of Care Health Insurance, several health insurance plans are available such as Care Joy for maternity insurance, Care Health, Care Heart Health, Care Freedom for diabetics, Care Enhance Health, and Care Senior Health Insurance Plan
- For over 540 procedures, daycare treatments are covered
- In the form of higher cover, up to 100%, No Claim Bonus is offered
- The minimum entry age for family insurance plans is 91 days, while there is no upper age limit.
2. Personal insurance plans
The key features of personal insurance plans offered by Care Health Insurance plan are mentioned herein below:
- The coverage offered under this type of plan range between INR 3 lakhs and INR 6 crores
- For organ transplants, the coverage ranges between INR 50,000 and INR 3 lakhs
- The 1-year policy period is offered with lifetime renewability
- Ambulance expenses are also reimbursed.
3. Diabetes insurance plans
As the name suggests, this type of plan is specially designed for diabetic patients. Under this kind of plan, coverage against regular medical expenses is offered that is incurred by patients for their treatment. The main features are as follows:
- The coverage offered ranges between INR 3 lakhs and INR 10 lakhs
- Expenses for diagnosis, medication, and consultation are covered
- A pre-medical checkup is not required.
Which Health Insurance Plan is Better Star Health or Care (Religare) Health Insurance Policy?
This comparison between two health insurance companies will make it easier for you to make up your mind and choose a particular company. You can also c
FAQs: Care Health Insurance vs Star Health Insurance Plan
Both the companies, Care Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance Policy provide health insurance policies for individuals, Families, and Diabetics. Once can compare the features and benefits provided by the company and choose one of them,
There are various factors considered to compare health insurance plans including age of insured, sum insured, policy term, premium, add-ons, and more. You can use a health insurance premium calculator to compare plans and their premiums.
While buying health insurance, you can ask questions like:
- What is the premium you will pay?
- What are the coverage benefits you will receive?
- Who is covered under the plan? (individual or family floater plan)
- Is the sum assured enough to fulfill your needs?
- Ask about inclusions and exclusions of the policy.
You can raise as many claims as you want during a policy year. However, the claim amount should not exceed the sum assured of your policy.

Author Bio
Paybima Team
Paybima is an Indian insurance aggregator on a mission to make insurance simple for people. Paybima is the Digital arm of the already established and trusted Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd., a reputed name in the insurance broking industry with 17 years of experience. Paybima promises you the easy-to-access online platform to buy insurance policies, and also extend their unrelented assistance with all your policy related queries and services.
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