🚀 Fincover® App is Now Live!
Join 10 Million+ users on web – now available on mobile!
Last updated on: September 19, 2025
The Care Freedom Plan and Care Plus Plan are two popular health insurance options, each catering to different needs. The Care Freedom Plan is ideal for senior citizens, typically offering no pre-policy medical check-ups, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and a lifelong renewability feature, making it suitable for older adults seeking easy access to insurance. In contrast, the Care Plus Plan targets a wider age group, including families and individuals, and provides comprehensive coverage that often includes maternity benefits, annual health check-ups, and coverage for a broader range of illnesses and hospitalization needs. Essentially, choose the Care Freedom Plan if you are a senior citizen prioritizing hassle-free coverage with minimal medical scrutiny, or opt for the Care Plus Plan if you want extensive benefits and family-oriented features for long-term health security.
Author
Read Bio
Reviewed by
Read Bio
The options available in terms of health insurance in India are confusing especially with the emergence of new features annually. The Care Freedom Plan and the Care Plus Plan are also among the most discussed health plans in India in 2025. Each of them has its own merits, yet what one will suit your needs, budget, and expectations? This step-by-step guide will access your queries by comparing all key aspects with each other.
Though you want a cashless treatment network, lifelong renewable, shorter time of waiting or you want to enjoy with wide hospital coverage without medical checkup, the options might sound the same but they can be different in many ways of practice. We examine those differences using up to date examples to enable you make a more intelligent choice of health cover.
Care Freedom Plan is a cheap health insurance product of Care Health Insurance which is specifically targeting individuals who have pre existing diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. It is being positioned as a successful senior friendly policy yet adults of all ages (18 years and above) are able to purchase it.
Pros:
Cons:
Did you know?
According to the recent IRDAI figures of 2025, the number of claims by individuals over 50 years who have policies without a mandatory health checkup upon entry has increased.
Another health insurance scheme that Care Health Insurance has introduced that is quite popular is the Care Plus Plan which is offered to families and individuals seeking broader benefits and larger sum insured. Young working adults, families, and people seeking premium add-ons tend to choose this coverage plan.
Pros:
Cons:
Expert Insight:
As insurance advisors in 2025 say, the Care Plus Plan is frequently suggested to the families that have children or couples who intend to have a baby in the next 2 years because it includes maternity.
The differences will clearly be seen through a side by side comparison to be able to pay attention to what matters to your case.
| Attributes | Care Freedom Plan | Care Plus Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Age | 18 to 75 years | 5 years and above (depending variant) |
| Pre Policy Medical Checkup | Not required | May be required (above 45 years) |
| Pre Existing Disease Cover | After 2 years | After 3 to 4 years |
| Sum Insured Options | 3 lakh to 10 lakh | 3 lakh to 25 lakh |
| Maternity Cover | Not covered | Covered in 2 years (optional) |
| Room Rent Limit | Typically 1% sum insured | There is no limit in increased forms. |
| Daily Hospital Cash | Optional addon | Not included as normal. |
| Modern Treatments | Covered (add on) | Covered both in base and add on. |
| Discounts | None offered | Young/healthy entry discounts. |
| Cashless Hospitals | 21, 000 plus | 21, 000 plus |
| Tax Savings Eligible | Yes | Yes. |
As the hospital prices are set to vary and the medical inflation will increase, the policy purchasers in 2025 will need simplicity, faster settlement of claims, and customisation flexibility.
Main benefits of both plans:
Unique advantages:
People Also Ask: Q: I need to purchase Care Plus Plan, but I already have diabetes. A: Yes, the waiting time on pre existing diabetes is greater, and medical checkup can be recommended.
Premium is determined based on age, place of residence, amount of sum insured, number of dependents and optional covers.
When you include spouse and child in a floater, or opt to buy a higher sum insured, Care Plus Plan can be relatively cheaper than Care freedom when it comes to healthy families.
Premium Care Freedom Plan increases significantly with old age, or in the presence of pre existing illnesses.
The two plans have excellent hospital cashless coverage in 21,000 plus network hospitals, which are all major metro cities and district towns.
It includes coverage of room rent, ICU, medicines, doctor visit, ambulance and pre and post hospitalisation benefits. Nevertheless, Care Plus Plan is more flexible in terms of room category, particularly in the premium versions.
Expert Insight:
Both plans have more claims processed quicker with an acceptable document that is provided within 15 days of discharge according to the IRDAI rules in 2025.
This is one of the main aspects that buyers to whom medical history is considered have to take into consideration before making a purchase.
People Also Ask:
Question: Are there any methods to shorten the waiting time by paying extra?
A: It is not possible to delete the waiting period in most retail health plans but possible in group plans purchased by employers.
Did you know?
India has a large number of policyholders who have been deducted the total claim because they chose a plan that has restrictions on room rent in contrast to the current cost of single rooms privately located in metros in 2025.
Quick Hack: It is always advisable to look through the list of exclusions because some of the more advanced treatments (e.g. robotic knee replacement) are not included in the base plan.
People Also Ask:
Q: May I upgrade your Care Freedom Plan to Care Plus Plan in the future?
A: You can not directly convert one policy to the other but you can take a new Care Plus Plan at the next renewal as long as you satisfy the entry requirements.
| Plan Name | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Care Freedom | - No medical test required- Sum Insured is 10 lakh. Good for diabetics, hypertension -Waiting period of diseases. No entry age to 75 years Easy, fast to enforce Chronic illnesses covers, modern treatment, add on is necessary. | - Higher premium at 75 years. Room rent restrictions. |
| Care Plus | - Sum insured greater than 25 lakh Can cover family, kids, parents Maternity and advanced treatments top var- Premium higher with add ons to top var, restoration and no room rent cap. Annual health checkup (free) | - Medical examination in case of over 45 years or large SI. Pre existing cover after 3/4years. It has some additional features at a premium. co pay in case of elderly in the family floater. |
Expert Insight:
Insurers have also enhanced the health insurance renewal rates as up to 85 percent of buyers of Care Plus Plan have managed to renew on time through SMS reminders and online renewal features.
People Also Ask:
Q: Does either of the plans provide coverage of critical illnesses such as cancer?
A: They both have add on options though inclusion or exclusion limits should be clearly explained in the brochure.
In case you already have some health concerns or you are a senior citizen, Care Freedom Plan offers prompt acceptance and minimum cover.
In case you are young, healthy, and require family or high sum insured, Care Plus Plan provides additional flexibility, state-of-the-art, and maternity add on.
Compare waiting periods, rule of medical checkups, maximum sum insured and optional benefits prior to purchase.
In either of the two cases, verify whether your preferred hospitals are in-network and learn how to proceed with claim.
Q1: Does both Care Freedom and Care Plus Plans have cashless hospitalisation?
A: Yes, the two plans offer the coverage of a broad network of cashless hospitals in the entire of India.
Q2: Is it possible to include critical illness cover in these plans?
A: The two plans include critical illnesses covers or riders although you must check about any specifics and waiting periods.
Q3: How do the two health insurance plans differ?
A: Care Freedom fits elderly people and those with underlying conditions who do not want to have a medical checkup; Care Plus is the perfect match to families, increased sum insured or those desiring additional facilities.
Q4: Does it treat any alternative therapies such as AYUSH in both plans?
A: Yes, AYUSH treatment is broadly covered in the plans in network hospitals subject to some limit, according to IRDAI guidelines 2025.
Q5: What do I need to do to renew these policies in 2025?
A: Both Care Freedom and Care Plus plan can be renewed online or through the mobile app of the insurer, and the payment of the premiums can be done instantly.
Q6: Does it have accidental hospitalisation on day one?
A: Yes, the two plans usually provide an accident hospitalization cover within the very first day of the policy.
Q7: What are the documents required when settling claims?
A: A smooth claim would require hospital bills, discharge summary, test reports, ID proof, and policy documents.
How could we improve this article?
Written by Prem Anand, a content writer with over 10+ years of experience in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance sectors.
Prem Anand is a seasoned content writer with over 10+ years of experience in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance sectors. He has a strong command of industry-specific language and compliance regulations. He specializes in writing insightful blog posts, detailed articles, and content that educates and engages the Indian audience.
The content is prepared by thoroughly researching multiple trustworthy sources such as official websites, financial portals, customer reviews, policy documents and IRDAI guidelines. The goal is to bring accurate and reader-friendly insights.
This content is created to help readers make informed decisions. It aims to simplify complex insurance and finance topics so that you can understand your options clearly and take the right steps with confidence. Every article is written keeping transparency, clarity, and trust in mind.
Based on Google's Helpful Content System, this article emphasizes user value, transparency, and accuracy. It incorporates principles of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).
Loved by 1M+ users (web). Start your financial journey today!
