Healthcare in India constitution guarantees free healthcare for all its citizens, but in practice the private healthcare sector is responsible for the majority of healthcare in India. Health insurance in India typically pays for only inpatient hospitalization and for treatment at hospitals in India. Outpatient services were not payable under health policies in India. The first health policies in India were Mediclaim Policies.

Types of policies

Health insurance in India typically pays for only inpatient hospitalization and for treatment at hospitals in India. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA) which is responsible for insurance policies in India can create health circles.

Health insurance plans in India classified into these categories:

• Hospitalization

This plans are indemnity plans that pay cost of hospitalization and medical costs of the insured subject to the sum insured. The sum insured can be applied on a per member basis in case of individual health policies or on a floater basis in case of family floater policies.

• Family Floater Health Insurance:

FFHI plan covers entire family in one health insurance plan. It works under assumption that not all member of a family will suffer from illness in one time.

• Pre-Existing Disease Cover Plans:

It offers covers against disease that policyholder had before buying health policy. Pre-Existing Disease Cover Plans offers cover against pre-existing disease e.g diabetes, kidney failure and many more.

• Senior Citizen Health Insurance:

health insurance plans are for older people in the family. It provide covers and protection from health issues during old age. According to IRDA guideline, Each insurer should provide cover up to age of 65 years.

• Maternity Health Insurance:

Maternity health insurance ensures coverage for maternity and other additional expenses. The maternity insurance provider have wide range of network hospitals and takes care of ambulance expense.

• And Other Plans which are :

1. Hospital daily cash benefit plans
2. Critical illness plans
3. Pro active plans
4. Disease specific special plans