Last updated on: May 20, 2025
When comparing New India Assurance Health Insurance and Reliance Health Insurance, both offer extensive health coverage but cater to different customer needs and preferences. New India Assurance, a government-owned insurer, is known for its reliable claim settlement process, wide hospital network, and decades of industry experience. It typically offers comprehensive policies with fewer exclusions and a strong PAN-India presence. Reliance Health Insurance, on the other hand, stands out for its innovative policy features, faster digital claim processes, and tailored plans, but may have more policy variations and sometimes different benefits depending on the region. While premiums and covered illnesses may differ, New India Assurance is often favored for trust and stability, whereas Reliance is appreciated for flexibility and tech-driven services. Your ideal choice should depend on your service expectations, claim process preference, and specific coverage requirements.
Millions of Indians are caught between trusted public insurers and dynamic private providers when it comes to their health insurance choices. New India Assurance Health Insurance and Reliance Health Insurance are the two most popular names in India. Emerging trends, like the digital processing of claims, increased focus on preventive medicine and more consumer-centric features, are likely to be in place by 2025. With the cost of medical expenses spiraling and changing customer requirements, choosing the appropriate health cover can have a significant impact on financial security and peace of mind.
By diving into a thorough comparison of New India Assurance vs. Reliance Health Insurance, you can make an informed decision about which product (or provider) is best suited to your lifestyle, family needs, and budget. Here we mention their features, their advantages and disadvantages, special deals for 2025 and even how to compare plans on reliable online marketplaces.
New India Assurance Health Insurance is one of the oldest and most reputed general insurance companies in India, with support from the government. Even now, in 2025, it remains a powerhouse in claim settlement and outreach in even the smaller towns.
Reliance Health Insurance from Reliance General Insurance is another example of agility in the private sector with innovative features that are parallel to urban and tech-savvy population. Its digital native approach is now enabling more seamless interactions throughout the policy lifecycle.
Did you know? The individual health segment saw a growth of 37 percent in FY 2023-24, underscoring the popularity of digital-driven private health covers among customers, as noted by Reliance Health Insurance (financialexpress.com).
Feature | New India Assurance | Reliance Health Insurance |
---|---|---|
Age at Entry | 3 months - 65 years | 91 days - 65 years |
Sum Insured Range (2025) | 2 lakh-50 lakh | 2 lakh - 3 crore |
Cashless Network Hospitals (2025) | 6,000+ | 8,300+ |
Claim Settlement Ratio (2025 projection) | 95-97 percent | 94-96 percent |
PED Waiting Period | 24-48 months | 24-36 months |
Restoration/Reload | Available in select plans | Standard in most plans |
Room Rent Restriction | Up to direct private room | No Limit (Health Infinity) |
Maternity Benefits | Available (optional) | Included (add on) |
Pre-existing Illness Coverage | After waiting period | After reduced waiting in select |
Wellness and Rewards | Non-standard | Standard in flagship plans |
Annual Premium Approx. (Family of 4, 5 lakh SI, Age 35) | Rs 13,500 - 19,000 | Rs 15,000 - 22,500 |
Estimates based on insurer disclosure and marketplace prices for 2025
New India Assurance has a strong branch and agent network. In 2025, their digital offerings have been enhanced by a new mobile application that provides the ability to access policies, look up claim status and find hospitals. Still, TPA or branch agents are often used to route claim intimation.
Reliance Health Insurance has made a considerable investment into the digital channels. Customers can manage multiple stages online (policy buy, claim submission, doctor chat). Video-based KYC and e-claim support increase speed and accuracy. Increased Customer Satisfaction in terms of optimizing query resolution time and proactive renew notification.
Expert Insight
“Going digital-first is changing how insurance companies think about customer delight; Reliance General, for example, provides customers with real-time tracking, instant approvals, and proactive wellness,” says Rajeev Nair, Insurance Analyst, Mumbai.
Is Reliance better than New India Assurance for claim settlement?
A comparison of the two is following: New India is a little ahead of United India in claim settlement ratio. The digital side is where reliance wins in ease and speed.
Which insurer has the largest network of hospitals?
New India has better networks in tier-two towns, but Reliance Health Insurance has more members by 2025.
Both insurers have good floater policies. New India Assurance has always been a favourite for multiyear discounts and high sum insured at low rates. Dubai based companies: Reliance is known for its flexible covers, wellness facilities, and access to top-tier hospitals, making it ideal for urban families.
New India Assurance has two separate senior citizen Mediclaim policies for 2025 with lighter documentation and lifetime renewability. Insurance covers up to age 65, and some plans have complete coverage with more stringent medical screening after age 60.
Real World Illustration:
Meekesh Jain, a 38-year-old from Indore, compared both providers using a widely used online aggregator of insurers. He found it on the Reliance app and the hospital network would help him better in the urban environment, and his parents, who lived in Ujjain, wanted to have New India for hospital branches.
Did you know? According to a livemint.com report, more than 60 percent of new family floater buyers in 2024-25 used online marketplaces to compare policy features and premiums, which led to savings ranging up to 18 percent on premiums.
Is it possible to port my health insurance from New India to Reliance or vice versa?
Yes, IRDAI regulations provide portability between any two health insurers in India at renewal and you will be able to carry forward waiting period credits.
Which insurer is the best for maternity in 2025?
Reliance offers maternity as a built-in cover in select plans while New India offers the cover as an add-on subject to a longer waiting period.
Channel Method | New India Assurance | Reliance Health Insurance |
---|---|---|
Phone, TPA portal, branch, App, website, 24X7 chat | Yes | Yes |
Cashless Approval | 24-48 hours | <2 hours |
Reimbursement Time | 3-7 days | 10-14 days |
Paperless Experience | Partial | Fully digital |
Expert Insight
“Add-ons like OPD and mental health are a good reflection of modern needs, particularly those of younger policyholders who expect more from their health cover,” says Dr. Sheetal Rajput, Health Policy Expert, Delhi.
Does New India Assurance do all types of treatment in 2025?
It pays allopathy, AYUSH (select plans), hospitalisation and day care, but there are limitations on new age or alternative treatment.
How much amount I will receive under Reliance OPD rider in 2025?
OPD riders generally pay one to three percent of sum insured up to certain maximum limits per year.
Case 1:
Priya, a marketing executive aged 28, living in Mumbai, was browsing through the various insurance options for health on a popular online insurance marketplace when she stumbled upon Reliance Health Infinity. Her focus was on cashless OPD, maternity and mental health cover. Convenient app-based claim and fitness rewards were part of her decision.
Case 2:
Suresh Kumar, who is 62 years old, from Lucknow, had to get hassle-free cover for pre-existing diabetes. After getting quotes from multiple agents, he went with New India Assurance’s senior citizen Mediclaim plan for assured renewability, trust, and network reach in his tier-two city.
For the year 2025, Reliance Health Insurance is the go-to choice for younger, urban, tech-savvy buyers who are looking for comprehensive covers and quick, digital-first claims. New India Assurance: Traditional families and elders prefer companies that have offline support. Leverage reputable online health insurance marketplaces to compare policy costs and benefits side by side - ensuring you find a plan that meets your needs and budget.
Can I purchase both New India Assurance and Reliance Health Insurance in one go?
Yes, you can have more than one health policy. For bigger claims, you can claim proportionately from both of them according to IRDAI rules.
How are claim settlement ratios relevant to my ability to collect money?
High ratios above 95 percent are a good indicator of a company’s track record for honorable claim processing, but it is always important to look at exclusions and claim processes.
Does both insurers cover existing diseases in 2025?
Yes, but only after waiting period is over, which is plan and insurer specific.
What’s the cheapest family floater in 2025?
Premiums vary with family members, sum insured and location – always compare in an online marketplace for live quotes.
Does cashless treatment apply outside India?
New India provides worldwide emergency benefits in restricted policies and Reliance provides worldwide emergency cover in selected policies only.
What if I wish to port from Reliance to New India next year?
IRDAI has given permission for portability of health insurance from one insurer to another at the time of renewal, while accrued benefits are carried forward.
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).