Indian citizens above 18 years of age and less than 65 years can avail critical insurance health policies. Applicants more than 45 years may have to go through pre-policy medical checkup. As a rule, plans under the health insurance segment should be bought when you are young and healthy, as this directly affects the premium asked by the insurer.

Family members can also be covered under a single plan as per policy documents. If more than one person is covered under a single critical illness policy, each member stands to receive cover once during the policy tenure.

Critical illness health insurance plans are meant for the specific purpose of providing a safety net against serious illnesses such as heart attack, paralysis, cancer, organ transplant, bypass surgery, kidney failure, coma, stroke etc. Typically, critical illness cover ranges between Rs.1 lakhs to Rs.10 lakhs, with higher coverage available on satisfying criteria set by individual insurers. Key features of health insurance for critical illness are:

• Usually a 30 day grace period will be applicable after diagnosis (depending on insurer), with compensation being paid out on survival during this period.
• Sum assured will be paid out as lump sum post-hospitalization.
• Pre-medical check-ups required for people over a certain age limit (generally 45 years).
• Day care procedures can also be covered, wherein treatment such as dialysis that can be done within a few hours will be covered.
• Pre-existing diseases are not covered under this health insurance plan, though most insurers allow cover for pre-existing diseases on completion of a certain period of uninterrupted premium payment (usually 4 years or more).
• Most insurers will have a list of cashless network hospitals where treatment can be availed without payment of cash

1. Domiciliary hospitalization
2. Ambulance charges
3. Air ambulance
4. Ayurveda Treatment
5. OPD treatment
6. Donor expense, case of organ transplant

Age, Medical requirements of family, cost of medical treatment on your city, Medical history.

Critical insurance policies come with certain exclusions such as:

• No coverage for 60 days (30 in some cases) after the policy is purchased. However, policy renewals are exempt from this exclusion.
• Pre-existing diseases as specified by the insurer.
• Overseas treatments (depending on the provider).
• Treatments such as dental treatment, birth control, sex change, hernia, cataract, gastric etc. are exempted from coverage