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Last updated on: May 20, 2025
The Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme Plan and the Star Young Star With Surplus Plan are leading health insurance options with distinct features tailored to different customer needs. The Lifeline Supreme offers comprehensive coverage including high sum insured (up to ₹50 lakh), no sub-limits, free annual health check-ups, and worldwide emergency hospitalization, making it ideal for families seeking extensive protection. In contrast, the Star Young Star With Surplus Plan targets young individuals and offers a more affordable premium, unique premium waiver in case of job loss, coverage for modern treatments, and an option to pay only part of the hospital bill (deductible option) to lower premiums. While Royal Sundaram excels with higher benefits and family coverage, Star Young Star With Surplus is suitable for budget-conscious, young policyholders prioritizing affordability and flexibility. Choose based on your age, health needs, and desired benefits.
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Read BioThe selection process of the perfect health insurance cover in India to yourself, or your loved ones can be daunting as options continue to increase in 2025. The Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme Plan as well as Star Young Star Surplus Plan is one of the many policies. This comprehensive guide is full of direct and brief information, professional assessment, user-friendly comparisons, and responses to frequent questions regarding these two highly rated medical insurance plans.
Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme Plan is a family and individual comprehensive health insurance product. It is characterized by extensive cover, increased amount of sum insured, and other value-added provisions. The programme targets every age and provides easy settlement of claims.
Star Young Star Surplus Plan is a new top-up health cover announced in 2024 and revised in 2025 designed primarily to cover young adults, young working couples, and small families. It is defined by its distinguishing feature, i.e., the system of deductibles: the moment a limit of base claims is achieved, it begins to work; that is why it is affordable to those, who demand additional protection but who do not need to pay massive premiums.
Top-Up Health Plans: This is a type of coverage on top of a pre-determined limit known as a deductible.
Comprehensive Plans: includes most of the health requirements in a single plan without initial deductions at the start of the year.
The two plans also have different target audiences. Getting to know their main features will be a perfect match to what you need.
Did you know? In a recent survey (2025, IMRB) over 60 percent of urban Indians now see advanced top-up health covers as a premium option to greater protection, which they attribute to increased medical inflation and growing bills related to hospitalisation.
Sum insured: Between [?]5 lakh and [?]50 lakh.
The age of entry: adults 18 to 65 years; children < 91 days.
No-claim bonus: 20 percent per annum, up to 100 percent, on every year of claim-free service.
Pre and post-hospitalisation: Up to 60 and 180 days respectively.
Maternity cover: Upon completion of 3 policy years, up to [?]2 lakh limit (in case sum insured is above [?]10 lakhs).
Restoration Benefit: Full sum insured will be restored automatically at exhaustion, once a policy year.
Global emergency cover: Sum insured on emergency outside India up to:
None of the sub-limits: Room rent sub-limitless, doctors sub-limitless.
Annual health examinations: All insured persons must have one annually, and at the same time as the policy year.
AYUSH cover: Inpatient care costs in Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.
Pros:
Expansive in nature and is executive-based.
High no-claim bonus reward
All age friendly family.
Strong health wellness gains.
Cons:
Pre-existing illness waiting period is 3 years.
Elderly could have premium high.
Newly married couples are discouraged by maternity waiting period (3 years).
Name Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme by parameters.
| Sum Insured | [?]5 lakh - [?]50 lakh |
|---|---|
| Age at entry | 18 - 65 years (adults); 91 days (kids) |
| Pre/Post-Hospitalisation | 60/180 days |
| Restoration Benefit | Yes, automatic. |
| Annual Health Check-ups | Yes, all insured. |
| Maternity Cover | Yes, after 3 years |
Type: Super Top-Up plan (deductible follows)
Deductible option: [?]1 lakh-[?]25 lakh.
sum insured: [?]5 lakh to [?]1 crore (over deductible)
Eligibility: 18 to 40 years in the case of policyholders (dependents until 25 years)
Day-care and advanced procedures: Please see.
Pre/Post-hospitalisation Up to 60/90 days (above the deductible)
Modern therapy: Also robotic, stem-cell therapy, etc.
Aggregate claim option: Several claims per annum up to total passing deductible.
Long term policy: 3 years or less in one pay.
Pros:
Cheap means of obtaining high cover, particularly to young professionals.
Freedom to have high deductibles at lower premium.
Discusses innovative and state of the art medical practices to keep pace with medical requirements of 2025.
Family/dependent floater options.
Cons:
None until deductible has been exceeded by cumulative claim.
Not the best option when the patient wants no out-of-pocket costs on smaller hospital bills.
Restricted access until the age of 40 (not with older adults except as dependents)
| Parameter | Star Young Star Surplus Plan |
|---|---|
| Sum Insured | [?]5 lakh to [?]1 crore (above deductible) |
| Deductible Range | [?]1 lakh - [?]25 lakh |
| Age of entry | 18 - 40 years (adults); up to 25 (kids) |
| Pre/Post-Hospitalisation | 60/90 days (over threshold) |
| Modern Treatments | Covered |
| Floater Option | Yes |
Experts opinion: Young workers in metro cities are essentially purchasing super top-up schemes such as Star Young Star Surplus with deductibles based on employer insurance coverage as total hospitalisation bills are soaring.
Homes with children/elderly:
Lifeline Supreme is the choice because it has a wide variety of no-claim bonuses, annual health checkups, extensive, first-dollar coverage, and a zero sub-limit clause.
Unmarried young adults:
Star Young Star Surplus allows you to choose a high deductible, combine it with company group insurance, and obtain more cover up to [?]1 crore at a cost-effective price.
Owners of small enterprise/businesses:
The two plans may be combined–a foundation overall plan such as Lifeline Supreme and a top-up such as Star Young Star Surplus.
Q. Can a basic and a top-up plan be combined?
A. Yes, combining provides you with total everyday coverage and substantial financial support of big bills.
Q. Would I be able to purchase Star Young Surplus at age 45?
A. Direct entry until the age of 40, though adult dependents are permitted to be covered by family floaters until the age of 65.
Royal Sundaram:
App-based and fast initiation of claims.
There are more than 6000 network cashless hospitals.
Special hospitalisation support case managers.
Star Health:
Pre-authorization in 15000 plus partner facilities all over India.
90 percent cashless claim settling in less than 2 hours (2025 internal data)
Special mobile claims app
Case Study:
Lifeline Supreme was taken by Priya, a 32-year-old who was working in Pune. Her request towards child dengue care treatment was cashless reimbursed in less than 2 hours and a subsequent checkup was reimbursed in less than five days.
Raj, 27, on the other hand, was insured under Star Young Star Surplus as a floater in addition to his company group cover. Star was saved the financial stress when he had to pay [?]7 lakh (less by deductible [?]2 lakh) after a big accident but the balance was promptly paid by Star because the hospital had already crossed the threshold.
| Function | Lifeline Supreme | Young Star Surplus. |
|---|---|---|
| Type of policy | Comprehensive | Super Top-Up. |
| Age Eligibility | Up to 65 (entry) | 18-40 years |
| Deductible | None | [?]1 lakh-[?]25 lakh |
| Maternity Cover | Yes after 3 years | No. |
| Mental Wellness | Covers, but after deductible. | |
| International Emergency | Included | Not covered |
| Premium | Moderate- high to low-moderate. | |
| Coverage Start | Immediate (post-waiting) | Post-deductible |
According to recent IRDAI surveys (2025 provisional data), both of the insurance brands have a customer happiness rating greater than 80 percent, though Star Health has expanded its cashless hospital network. Royal Sundaram gains more points when it comes to families who require one point of contact.
Comparison marketplaces are online sites which enable users to compare real-time premium rates, benefit variations, claim ratios, and network hospital coverage of Royal Sundaram, Star Health and other insurers. With age, family, and amount of sum insured, you can easily make a quick, side-by-side decision that suits you in 2025. This will aid in making an unbiased decision and assist you in grabbing extraordinary deals on the internet.
Did you know? IRDAI currently requires all insurers to publish timelines on claim settlements and network expansion on an annual basis to minimize user confusion and drive improved standards of service.
Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme Plan
Pros:
End-to-end coverage: outpatient, inpatient, day-care, etc.
No sub-limit on room rent, ICU.
Restoration of sum insured: very useful in back-to-back illnesses.
Family-friendly, aging parent and children friendly.
Cons:
Big families or high sum insured bands can be subject to premiums only.
Early policy years on maternity and disease exclusions.
Star Young Star Surplus Plan
Pros:
Best addition to already existing base or corporate insurance in young adults.
Flexible deductible and sum insured combination to best price.
Bigger modern treatment coverage at low price.
Goes up to [?]1 crore: infrequent retail health top-up
Cons:
Zero deductible payout.
First-time buyers are limited after 40 years of age (age ceiling).
Q. Will you be able to upgrade Young Surplus into a full plan in the future?
A. Yes, you can cross-migrate by purchasing a family floater or super top up with Star Health or any other insurer when needed.
Q. I Have Surplus Plan: Do preventive health check-ups come with it?
A. It will only reimburse after a claim has been subjected past the deductible limit according to policy terms.
Single Bengaluru professional purchasing Young Star Surplus (deductible [?]3 lakh, sum insured [?]10 lakh) pays a premium of about [?]2100 in 2025–far less than a family floater plan of similar cover.
A 37 year old couple in Mumbai with a toddler and a dependent parent chooses Lifeline Supreme with [?]20 lakh coverage. They are paying an annual premium of about [?] 23,500 but are fully covered to almost all hospital costs with no extra outlay.
Fact:
Super top-ups are increasingly being sold to industry clients as an addition to their base employer sponsored health plans with medical claim exhaustion rates out of control, increasing by a quarter since 2022 (FICCI Health Survey, 2025).
Royal Sundaram Lifeline Supreme: Full-spectrum, plug-and-go health cover applicable to families and individuals, zero deductible, can be obtained at any age, maternity and wellness inclusive.
Stars Young Star Surplus: Super top-up by young policyholders, best when used in excess of a deductible (current employer or base policy), covers modern procedures, low annual premium.
Select Lifeline Supreme (family use), or aging parent; select Young Star Surplus (low price, additional protection when you have an underlying base cover).
Online portals can assist in comparing and purchasing in a short time span across various insurers in 2025.
Q. Is a super top-up health policy purchase worth it to an individual in India?
A. Yes, particularly when you are covered by the employer. A super top-up will add an extra level of cover in case of a major illness or accident.
Q. Is Lifeline Supreme mental health and alternative therapies covered?
A. Yes, there is policy-based mental health and AYUSH treatment.
Q. Are grown-ups who are over 25 years old eligible under Star Young Star Surplus Plan?
A. No, the age limit on dependent children is 25; although adult dependents may be insured individually.
Q. Do Royal Sundaram and Star Health differ in terms of networks?
A. Star now has more cashless hospitals in network, but Royal Sundaram is still growing aggressively.
Q. When can I claim after I purchase a new health insurance policy in 2025?
A. In both plans, the waiting period is 30 days (except in case of accidents) and 2-4 years (in case of specific diseases).
Q. What to look at when comparing these plans online?
A. Overview: sum insured, deductible, coverage of wellness benefits, covered hospitals, premium and claim settlement history.
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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