Last updated on: September 22, 2025
The Reliance Arogya Sanjeevani Plan and Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme Plan are health insurance policies with distinct features. Reliance Arogya Sanjeevani is a standard, affordable health plan mandated by IRDAI, offering sum insured up to ₹5 lakh, coverage for hospitalization, COVID-19, and common treatments, making it ideal for first-time buyers or those seeking basic coverage. In contrast, Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme is a comprehensive plan with higher sum insured options (up to ₹50 lakh), maternity benefits, wellness programs, annual health check-ups, and enhanced features like no-claim bonus and cover for alternative treatments (AYUSH). Lifeline Supreme is better suited for families or individuals seeking broader protection and higher benefits, while Reliance Arogya Sanjeevani is best for those wanting cost-effective, essential health coverage. Choose based on your coverage needs and budget.
India is no exception to this since it has become more necessary than a luxury to choose the right health insurance plan due to the increased medical costs. Some of the best plans that could compete in the year 2025 are Reliance Arogya Sanjeevani Plan and Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme Plan. Both policies are inclusive of typical Indian families, and they provide cover on hospitalisation, critical illnesses, among other healthcare requirements. But their differences in terms of features, premiums and limitations can have a major impact on your decision.
Read this in-depth analysis to get acquainted with the fundamentals of each policy, its best features, comparisons, and find out which of them could be suitable to the healthcare needs of your family in 2025.
Dependence Arogya Sanjeevani Plan is a standard health insurance scheme which is required by IRDAI and provided by Reliance General Insurance. Being a pocket friendly choice, it serves individuals and families who desire a decent financial coverage on the case of common medical emergencies. The scheme is universal and cuts across income brackets, which guarantees universal healthcare.
Experts Insight
Arogya Sanjeevani Plan is a simple initiative that serves as a proper first step in the Indian health insurance process, in particular, to novice shoppers, despite its simple form.
Pros
Cons
Are the elderly benefiting in Arogya Sanjeevani?
Arogya Sanjeevani suits well to mid age, whereas elderly individuals can get superior interests in designated senior citizen health plans.
Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme Plan is a full health insurance plan targeting families who want to have a wide coverage. It offers a better-developed program, such as high sum insured, annual health checkups, maternity benefits and support services on wellness.
Did You Know?
In 2024, Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme has been noted to have fast settlement of digital claims, and thus, it is popular among the tech-savvy families.
Pros
Cons
Is Royal Sundaram inclusive of pre-existing diseases?
Yes, but after a stipulated time of waiting usually 36 months in most cases of pre-existing conditions.
Features | Arogya Sanjeevani | Lifeline Supreme |
---|---|---|
Type of policy | Standard Health Insurance | Comprehensive Health Insurance |
Sum Insured | 50,000 to 10 lakh | 5 lakh to 50 lakh |
Eligibility | 18-65 years | 18-65 years, lifelong renewal |
Hospitalisation Cover | Yes, limited | Yes, comprehensive |
Pre-Hospitalisation | 30 days | 60 days |
Post-Hospitalisation | 60 days | 90 days |
Room Rent Limit | 2 percent of SI per day | No limit (more than 2 lakh SI) |
ICU Rent | 5 percent of SI per day | Unlimited (more than 2 lakh SI) |
Day Care Treatment | All covered | All covered |
Maternity Benefit | None covered | Covered (with waiting period) |
Newborn Baby Cover | Not covered | Covered |
AYUSH Treatment | Yes (up to SI) | Yes (up to SI) |
Ambulance Charges | Maximum of 2000 per hospitalisation | Rs. 5000 per event |
Domiciliary Hospitalisation | No | Yes, covered |
No Claim Bonus | 5 percent (max 50 percent) | 20 percent (max 100 percent) |
Premium (35y, 5 lakh SI) | Approx. 3500 | Approx. 7200 |
Digital Process of Claim | Yes | Yes |
The figure provided is a premium of a family consisting of 2 adults and 1 child, zone 1 cities as of Jan 2025.
Experts Insight
Age, sum insured requirements and future health goals Check before deciding with your family age, sum insured requirements, and future health goals. In other cases, an increased premium plan would avoid a huge out-of-pocket expense in the future.
Reliance Arogya Sanjeevani is inclusive of all basics, hospitalisation, surgeries, partial daycare, pre and post hospitalisation and AYUSH. It has a simpler feature set and however, it operates on sub limits. You pay less but receive a limit on protection which may not be sufficient in cases of severe or costly diseases.
Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme by the way eliminates these numerous such restrictions and adds maternity, mental illness cover with high sum insured of 50 lakh. Supreme Plan is better-suited in case of complex needs, or pre-emption of childcare.
What is excluded in these plans?
They both ruled out cosmetic treatment, self-inflicted injury, and some underlying pre-existing illnesses during the waiting period. Lifeline Supreme has lesser permanent exclusions.
Healthcare needs are increasing among the middle class and upper middle class Indian families residing in Tier 1 or Tier 2 cities. Reliance Arogya sanjeevani is the ideal option when the basic hospital costs are your main priority and you are content with 10 lakh cover. Young kids whose parents take young kids or couples about to have a baby should tend towards Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme due to maternity, and newborn as well as increased reimbursable limits.
Quick scenario:
Did You Know?
IRDAI only requires Arogya Sanjeevani to be renewed up to 65 years, whereas Lifeline Supreme is being renewed lifelong which is a big plus to ageing policy holders.
The standard waiting periods of both plans are:
None will meet any costs that are not covered when it comes to hospitalisation (standalone OPD), cosmetic surgery or treatment outside India.
Is it possible to expand coverage at a later time?
Top up is permitted by most insurers at the time of renewal though this is subject to underwriting and health declaration.
According to the recent IRDAI report, reliance has a network of more than 7300 hospitals and manages digital claims through the web and app with a settlement ratio of over 96 percent.
In 2024, Royal Sundaram has a 97 percent rating, and the customer service is highly regarded, and claims can be tracked by AI, which is one of the reasons why this is popular among people who prefer their experience to be cashless and have claims reimbursed within a short time.
Experts Insight
A large portion of digital claims and paperless hospital processes can significantly impact future cases of emergency. Claims should always be registered within 24 hours so as to be cleared quickly.
Select Reliance Arogya Sanjeevani when:
Use Pick Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme when:
Is it prudent to have the two policies?
Others opt to take Arogya Sanjeevani as a foundation and a super top up or comprehensive cover such as Lifeline Supreme in order to have a wider risk cover.
Is Reliance Arogya Sanjeevani policy cashless?
Yes, it has cashless claims at the insurer network hospitals.
Does Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme include copayment?
Most customers are not required to pay any copay, except old people at entry.
When can I take maternity leave with Royal Sundaram?
Maternity expenses can be claimed upon completion of the maternity waiting period which is normally 3 years.
How old is the upper age limit of renewing these plans?
Arogya Sanjeevani can be renewed up to 65 whereas Lifeline Supreme provides life-long renewal.
Which of them has more hospitals in India?
Both have large networks. Reliance has more than 7300, Royal Sundaram has over 7000.
Am I able to transfer my current policy to these plans?
Yes, the two are both supportive of portability according to IRDAI 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.
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