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Last updated on: May 20, 2025
When comparing Niva Bupa Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance, both are leading private insurers in India known for comprehensive health plans, but they differ in key areas. Niva Bupa stands out for its extensive hospital network, digital claim process, and innovative benefits like unlimited restoration on some plans. Star Health, however, is renowned for its strong customer service, swift claim settlement, and tailored offerings for senior citizens and families. While both providers offer cashless hospitalization, free health check-ups, and coverage for pre-existing diseases, Star often has a wider range of no-claim bonus options and affordable premium choices. Ultimately, your choice should depend on specific needs such as coverage features, network hospitals in your area, and premium affordability. Reading policy brochures and comparing individual plans is essential for making an informed decision.
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Read BioWhen it comes to choosing a health insurance provider in India, it’s crucial to ensure that you’re making the right decision for your family’s well-being and finances. Niva Bupa Health Insurance and Star Health Insurance are two of the most popular names that you will find at the top of most buyers’ lists. Both have various plans, sophisticated features, and reliable claim services for the year 2025. Yet there are significant differences between these two that can impact your final choice.
We take a close look at them in this guide, comparing their plans, features, premium costs, and claim experiences. Whether you are a first-time buyer or someone considering a switch, you will find expert advice and up-to-date facts to help make an informed decision.
Niva Bupa Health Insurance (formerly Max Bupa) and Star Health Insurance are both IRDAI approved standalone health insurance companies in India. They each offer:
However, Niva Bupa is focusing heavily on in-house claim settlement and fast digital onboarding. Star Health is at the forefront of telemedicine and innovative health coverage for senior citizens and pre-existing diseases.
People also ask: Is Niva Bupa the same as Max Bupa? Yes, Max Bupa rebranded as Niva Bupa Health Insurance in 2021 and the management and the policies remain the same.
| Niva Bupa ReAssure 2.0 | Star Health Family Health Optima |
|---|---|
| Entry Age | 18 to 65 years |
| Sum Insured (Rs) | 3L to 1 crore |
| PED Waiting period (for individuals found to be disabled) | 3 years |
| Network Hospitals | 10,000+ |
| Claim Process | In-house |
| No-Claim Bonus | Up to 100 percent |
| Health Checkup | Free, annual |
| Cashless Approval | As soon as 30 minutes of wait time; Average 2 hours |
| Maternity Cover (Optional Add-on) |
Did you know? Star Health processed more than 10 lakh claims in the year 2024 alone as per IRDAI annual data on the health insurance industry.
Case Study: Meena, 42, Pune, used Niva Bupa to get her claim done online for her tech-savvy family. Her older brother, who was based in a smaller town in Maharashtra, chose Star Health because of its partner hospitals near his location. Both were very satisfied with their respective services, confirming the “horses for courses” theory for health insurance.
Niva Bupa Health Companion:
Star Health Family Health Optima:
So, what are the benefits of Niva Bupa and Star Health?
| Niva Bupa | Star Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Restoration bonus | Yes, unlimited | Yes, 3 times max |
| Pre and post hospitalisation | 60/180 days | 60/90 days |
| COVID-19 coverage | Yes, up to SI | Yes, up to SI |
| Critical illness add-on | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity cover | Yes after 2yr | Yes after 3yr |
How about pre-existing diseases, which plan is better? Star Health: Diabetes Safeguard with shorter PED periods and same day coverage for select conditions, including Cardiac Care. In general, Niva Bupa continues to maintain a 3-year waiting period and does not cover chronic conditions from Day 1.
Niva Bupa and Star Health also have strong in-house claim settlement systems. This means they don’t use Third Party Administrators like insurers do, which allows them to make decisions on claims faster and with greater accountability.
| Insurer | Claims Settled on Time (% ) | Total Claims Settled (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Niva Bupa | 96.2 | 97.8 |
| Star Health | 97.6 | 98.2 |
Both are easy to claim for and get settled within a few days. Cashless hospitalization is the standard, particularly in the metro cities.
Did you know? In fact, more than 70 percent of health insurance purchasers in 2024 reviewed claim reviews online before purchasing.
Premiums are based on age, health, sum insured and city. The premiums from both these insurers usually begin somewhere at Rs 7,000-9,000 for a 30-year-old male with a sum insured of 5 lakh. Of course, family floater plans, senior plans, and higher sum insured will cost more.
| Compare Niva Bupa (Rs) | Star Health (Rs) | |
|---|---|---|
| Single (Age 30, 5L SI) | 8,900 | 8,300 |
| Family (2A+2C, 10L SI) | 18,400 | 17,700 |
| Senior Citizen (65, 5L SI) | 23,600 | 24,800 |
In some cases, Star Health may be a bit more affordable in terms of premiums for the same basic coverage, especially for larger families. With flagship plans, Niva Bupa charges slight premium for its digital and unlimited restoration
People also ask: How much can your health insurance premium go up at renewal? Premiums by both companies are calculated using age slab, inflation and claim history, but generally there is no way they can increase because of a single claim.
The best insurance planners in India suggest, “Compare not only the premium but the whole chain of claims experience, hospital network, and health checkup/bonus packages.” The customer in 2025 also places a high value on insurers with easy-to-use services via apps, in which Niva Bupa scores very highly among young urban families in particular.
With the advent of fintech and open insurance platforms in India, you can now compare health insurance policies head to head. Premium amounts, lists and claims experiences from hundreds of buyers are posted in real time on online marketplaces.
This gives you:
Small business owners also say that through these platforms, they save on time and avoid mistakes in documentation.
Q: What is the better post hospitalization benefits offered by which company?
A: Niva Bupa pays post-hospitalization bills for 180 days, more than Star Health’s standard 90 days
Q: Will I be able to purchase a health insurance plan in 2025 online?
Yes, both Niva Bupa and Star Health allow you to purchase and renew insurance policies entirely online in 2025, including eKYC and instant receipts.
Q: Will both insurers take cashless claims at all hospitals?
Cashless is accepted only in their own chain hospitals, therefore one should always refer to the latest list on their official websites.
Q: What would be a better choice for senior citizens with diabetes?
A: Diabetics who register with Star Health for the Diabetes Safe Plan are provided special terms from Day 1 while Niva Bupa generally puts a waiting period.
Q: How long will I have to claim for maternity with these insurers?
Niva Bupa has a 2-year waiting period for maternity cover claims while Star Health usually has a 3-year waiting period.
Q: Is claim rejection common?
Both insurers have claim settlement ratios over 97 percent (as of 2024) and most are rejected claims due to missing documents or failure to disclose pre-existing conditions.
Q: Am I able to transfer my policy from Niva Bupa to Star Health or vice versa?
A: Yes, there is an IRDAI regulation according to which portability is available with all accrued benefits.
For your family, do you wish to see a comparison between Niva Bupa and Star Health? In this regard, use credible online insurance portals to check the premiums online, hospital network, and customer reviews before buying it.
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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