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Last updated on: May 20, 2025
Care Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance are two leading providers in India, both offering a wide range of health insurance plans. Care Health Insurance is known for its comprehensive coverage, high claim settlement ratio, and extensive network of over 21,000 cashless hospitals. Star Health Insurance stands out for its specialized policies, hassle-free claim process, and one of the highest claim settlement ratios in the industry. While Care offers flexible plans suited for families and individuals with unique health needs and global coverage options, Star excels in tailored plans for senior citizens, maternity, and critical illnesses. Premiums and benefits can vary, so comparing specific policy features, network hospitals, and customer reviews is essential. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your healthcare needs, budget, and preferences for service and coverage features.
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Read BioIt is quite easy to get lost in the variety of health insurance options offered in India. Care Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance are two of the most visible health insurers currently. They are used by thousands of families to protect their health costs. In 2025, medical expenses will keep increasing, and it is more important than ever to choose the right policy. In this article, we will compare Care Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance on various parameters to make an informed decision.
Both Care Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance have a broad customer base with individual, family floater, senior citizen, and disease-specific covers. Policy seekers often search them together, particularly in terms of low premiums and large hospital networks. We will talk about their strengths, differences, advantages, and where each company is superior.
You didn’t know? A 2024 report by IRDAI reveals that more than 55 percent of new health insurance customers in India are under 40 years of age, indicating a change in awareness and planning at an earlier age.
Care Health Insurance, formerly Religare Health Insurance, is a leading player that is known to be innovative and customer-friendly in terms of products. Several industry forums have recognised them as the Best Health Insurance Company of the Year 2023 and they have maintained that reputation in 2025.
The main characteristics of Care Health Insurance are:
| Care Health Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Network Hospitals | 23,000 plus |
| Claim Settlement Ratio | 99.2 percent (FY 2024) |
| No Claim Bonus Maximum | 200 percent |
| Pre and Post Hospitalisation | 60/180 days |
| International covers | Available in selected plans |
The company has come up with add-ons such as automatic recharge of sum insured, air ambulance cover, and maternity benefits.
According to financial experts, Care Super Mediclaim series is suggested to families with four or more members with higher sum insured at low premiums.
Health Insurance is a pioneer in standalone health insurance since 2006, and millions of people are attracted by its customized policies to all age groups and health conditions. Star is the most popular among senior citizens and individuals with pre-existing conditions due to its simple claims procedures and disease-specific plans.
| Star Health Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Network Hospitals | 14,000 plus |
| Claim Settlement Ratio | 99.06 percent (FY 2024) |
| Plans with Pre-existing Diseases | Yes, extensive |
| Annual Health Check-up | Limited (varies by plan) |
| Included in certain plans |
You didn’t know? Health coverage became inclusive and accessible as Health pioneered policies on children with cardiac conditions and individuals with type 1 diabetes.
The efficiency of claim settlement and accessibility of hospitals are also important factors when choosing any health insurance company. Here is a comparative table of the latest information.
| Parameter | Care Health Insurance | Star Health Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Cashless Network | 23,000 plus hospitals | 14,000 plus hospitals |
| Claims Settlement Ratio | 99.2 percent | 99.06 percent |
| Settlement TAT | 2 to 4 hours (cashless) | 2 to 4 hours (cashless) |
| 24/7 Customer Support | Yes | Yes |
Both insurance companies are doing best, but Care has a clear advantage in the number of hospitals in its network, whereas both companies have a score of more than 99 percent in claim settlements according to the 2024 IRDAI data.
Which is the health insurance company with The better claim settlement?
Both are good, yet the claim settlement ratio of Care Health Insurance is slightly higher in 2024 data.
Expert tip: Prefer insurers that have more cashless hospital networks in your locality to make hospitalization emergencies easier.
Pros
Cons
Real World Case:
Mr. Sharma, a 42-year-old IT manager in Mumbai, selected Care Super Mediclaim because he was able to get a 10 lakh cover at a low premium and could get cashless hospitalization when he underwent a knee surgery.
Pros
Cons
You didn’t know? In FY 2024, the number of claims settled by Health resolved nearly 11 lakh claims with an average approval TAT of less than 4 hours on cashless claims.
Premium rates can vary widely depending on age, health, sum insured, and city. Here is an illustration for a family floater plan (2 adults, 2 children) opting for Rs. 10 lakh sum insured.
| Insurer | Approx. Annual Premium (INR) | No Claim Bonus | Free Health Checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care Health Insurance | 16,500 | Up to 150% | Yes, yearly |
| Health Insurance | 17,400 | Up to 100% | Select plans |
Care has a slightly lower premium and a higher No Claim Bonus, but Star is strong in unique plans on chronic conditions.
Is premium payment flexible in both companies?
Both have monthly, quarterly and annual premium payment options as per IRDAI guidelines.
Expert opinion: Compare features beyond premium with credible online health insurance marketplaces to get the best out of your budget.
Pre-existing disease (PED) coverage is critical for policy buyers in their 30s and above. Claims of diabetes, hypertension, and some chronic conditions may be delayed by waiting periods.
You didn’t know? A study on medical trends in 2025 shows that more than 37 percent of health insurance claims in metropolitan cities are due to lifestyle diseases.
Both insurance companies have helpful riders and add-on covers. These can be:
Make sure that these riders are necessary to your family before adding them, as they can add to the total premium.
Which is the health insurer that best covers maternity?
Maternity is provided in more plans by Care Health Insurance as an add-on, whereas Star has it in certain plans but with a longer waiting period.
Both companies have invested a lot in digital tools and customer experience. Care Health Insurance has a mobile application that allows tracking claims, managing plans, and providing virtual health consultations. The app of the company, Health, allows you to find hospitals, make claims, and manage e-cards. Both have 24 by 7 support helplines.
Expert opinion: Digital experience minimizes paperwork and streamlines the claim process- read user reviews of apps to know the reality on the ground.
| Care Health Insurance | Star Health Insurance |
|---|---|
| Max Age Entry | 99 years |
| No Pre-policy Medical | Only up to 50 years |
| Pre Existing Cover | 2 to 4 years waiting |
| Annual Check-up | Yes |
Which insurance company is superior to senior citizens with pre-existing conditions?
Red Carpet by Health is a product aimed at seniors with little to no waiting periods and no health check, whereas Care might provide higher sum insured to younger seniors.
Comparing the features, premiums, and customer ratings of online health insurance marketplaces side by side is possible when using credible online health insurance marketplaces. This assists in selecting plans that best fit your city, medical requirements, and age bracket- without having to rush to one branch to another.
Case Study
Mrs. Gupta in Pune used an online portal to compare five of the best policies on the basis of her diabetic history and selected Star Health Diabetes Safe which provided her diabetic cover on day one at a lower premium.
Customers mention convenience of transition, customer support, and transparency of claims.
Are there fines on late renewal?
In both insurers, there is a grace period of 30 days, and coverage is restored upon payment, although claims during lapse periods are not accepted.
Which is the most suitable health insurance to a family of four; Care or Star?
Both are trustworthy Care has a larger hospital network and better No Claim Bonus. Chronic diseases are covered quickly by Aetna.
Is it possible to transfer Star Health Insurance to Care Health Insurance?
Yes, you can transfer your policy at the time of renewal without forfeiting the accrued benefits as per the rules of IRDAI.
What are the documents needed to cashless hospitalization?
At the hospital desk, you should have your health card, photo identification, and doctor prescription. Both companies handle cashless claims online
Which offers better OPD and daycare treatment coverage?
Care has a wider scope of daycare procedures and provides OPD as a supplementary one, though, the specifics of the policy should be checked.
Is it easy to Q to switch my health insurance provider?
Both Care and Star permit the transfer of cumulative benefits in the event of portability, but with guidelines.
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).
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