Most employed Indians have some form of group health insurance through their employer. It's usually free, easy, and provides a comforting false sense of security. Here's why you need a personal policy on top of it.
The three failure modes
First, group policies end the day you leave the job. If you switch companies, take a sabbatical, or get laid off during a health crisis, your cover disappears exactly when you need it most. Second, employer cover is typically ₹3–5 lakh — enough for routine hospitalization but nowhere near what a cardiac surgery or cancer treatment costs. Third, pre-existing conditions acquired on a group policy often don't carry over when you later try to buy your own — and by then, you may be uninsurable.
What to buy
Get a base family floater of ₹10 lakh, plus a super top-up of ₹25–50 lakh for high-cost scenarios. Look for policies with no sub-limits, no room rent capping, no co-pay, and a large hospital network. Pay extra for "restoration benefit" and "no claim bonus" features.
Start young
Premiums in your 20s and early 30s are far cheaper than in your 40s. The earlier you lock in a policy, the earlier the waiting periods for pre-existing conditions start ticking. A 28-year-old buying a ₹25 lakh cover might pay ₹8,000 a year — the same policy at 45 could cost three times that.
Review annually
Healthcare costs in India are rising faster than general inflation — roughly 14% per year. A ₹10 lakh cover today will feel inadequate in 10 years. Plan to step up your coverage every 5–7 years, ideally through the super top-up route to keep premiums manageable.