Claim Shield in Care Health Insurance: A 2025 Review

Let’s face it—add-ons rarely get the attention they deserve. We focus on big-ticket features like room rent or OPD cover and skip the fine print. But add-ons—optional benefits you can buy with your base policy—often cover what your main plan doesn’t.

One of the best? Claim Shield in Care Supreme. It’s a small upgrade that can save you thousands on non-payable items that most people overlook. Let’s break it down.

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Overview of Claim Shield in Care Health Insurance

Health Insurance Add-On: The What and the Why?

1) What is an Add-on/Rider in Health Insurance?

Add-ons (or riders) are optional benefits that you can integrate into your base health insurance policy for a small additional cost. While your core plan takes care of the major expenses, like hospital stays, surgeries, and pre- and post-hospitalization, there are still a few grey areas it doesn’t fully cover. That’s where add-ons come in.

They’re designed to fill these gaps. Whether they cover non-payable items like syringes and gloves, remove room rent & disease-wise limits, or offer additional protection against specific illnesses or accidents, add-ons give your policy that extra edge.

2) Why Should You Opt for Health Insurance Add-Ons?

Health insurance add-ons may seem optional, but they often deliver more value than they cost. Here’s why opting for the right add-ons can significantly improve both your coverage and peace of mind:

1. Customise Your Policy to Fit Your Life
   Everyone’s healthcare needs are different. Add-ons let you tailor your policy based on what matters most to you. For instance, if you’re planning a family, a maternity add-on makes sense. If you’re worried about restrictions during hospital stays, you can opt for a room rent upgrade or hospital cash benefit. This flexibility ensures you're not paying for benefits you don’t need, or missing out on ones you do.
2. Reduce Out-of-Pocket Expenses
   Most add-ons are surprisingly affordable, especially when compared to the expenses they cover. Take consumables, for example. Items like gloves, syringes, or PPE kits are often excluded from base coverage, but they can add up to 5–15% of your total hospital bill. A Claim Shield add-on, which covers these items, costs much less than what you'd otherwise pay from your own pocket.
3. Bridge Critical Gaps in Your Base Policy
   Even the most comprehensive plans come with limitations. Add-ons can help fill those gaps—whether it’s waiving co-payments, getting more coverage, or ensuring you aren’t stuck with a shared hospital room due to room rent limits.
4. Enhanced Coverage Without Upgrading to a Higher Plan
   Instead of jumping to a higher-tier plan (often with a hefty premium), you can add only the needed features. This keeps your policy cost-effective while still boosting your protection.
5. Better Preparedness for Life Events
   Whether it’s childbirth, ageing parents, or a chronic illness diagnosis, life evolves. Add-ons give you the ability to prepare for these events without having to overhaul your entire insurance setup.
6. Tax Benefits Remain Intact
   The premium you pay for add-ons is usually counted under Section 80D, just like your base health insurance. So you're strengthening your coverage and maximizing your tax savings.

3) What are Some Common Add-ons in Health Insurance?

Add-ons allow you to enhance your policy without opting for a more expensive base plan. Here are some of the most commonly opted-for health insurance add-ons in India—and what they offer:

1. Consumables Coverage
   This add-on covers non-payable items like gloves, syringes, PPE kits, and surgical tape—costs that are often excluded from base policies but can add up to thousands during hospitalization. (Example: Care Supreme - Claim Shield)
2. PED Waiting Period Reduction
   Most health insurance plans come with a 2–3 year waiting period for pre-existing diseases (PEDs). This add-on allows you to reduce that period, so you can start claiming for treatments sooner. It is especially helpful for chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
3. Annual Health Check-Up
   While some policies include a free check-up after a claim-free year, some offer this via an add-on, which ensures you get annual preventive check-ups covered, helping catch potential health issues early, without extra cost.
4. Wellness Benefits
   This add-on rewards you for maintaining a healthy lifestyle through steps tracked, gym memberships, or preventive screenings, offering discounts on renewal premiums or additional cover.
5. OPD Cover
   Covers expenses related to outpatient consultations, diagnostic tests, and prescribed medicines, without requiring hospitalization. A good pick for people with frequent doctor visits or chronic conditions.
6. Hospital Daily Cash
   Provides a fixed daily allowance during hospitalization—useful for covering incidental expenses like meals, travel, or lost income during your hospital stay.
7. Individual Personal Accident Cover
   Offers financial protection in case of accidental death or disability. The payout is over and above your health insurance and can help support your family or fund long-term recovery needs.
8. Unlimited Restoration
   Restores your sum insured unlimited times in a policy year after it gets exhausted, ensuring that you're never short on coverage, even after multiple claims in the same year.

Claim Shield in Care Health Insurance

Care Health Insurance does one thing well: health insurance. Formerly known as Religare, Care has been all-in on health since 2012, which means their policies aren’t cluttered with fluff—just solid, focused coverage. With a massive cashless hospital network and a knack for designing customer-friendly plans (like no room rent limits and loyalty bonuses), Care brings both experience and innovation to the table. It's health-first, no-nonsense, and quietly dependable—exactly what you'd want in an insurer.

And if you’re someone who hates those pesky deductions on your hospital bill, Care’s optional Claim Shield add-on might be worth a look. It helps cover common non-payable items like gloves, syringes, and other consumables that usually slip through the cracks during claim settlement, making your claim process smoother and your out-of-pocket costs lighter.

1) Care Insurance as a Health Insurer

Care Health Insurance has quietly grown into one of the more progressive and reliable players in the market. With a three-year average Claim Settlement Ratio (CSR) of 90% and an Incurred Claim Ratio (ICR) of 59%, it strikes a solid balance between paying claims and staying financially healthy. Sure, its complaint volume (36 per 10,000 claims) is higher than the industry average, hinting at some service hiccups—but what really stands out is its industry-first move to remove loading charges for most profiles. So, whether you have a pre-existing disease or enjoy the occasional smoke, your premium stays unaffected. Backed by Religare Enterprises and focused solely on health, Care combines thoughtful policy design, a wide cashless network (11,400+ hospitals), and consistent performance, making it a name worth shortlisting if you're serious about health coverage.

2) What is Claim Shield in Care Health Insurance?

Claim Shield in Care Health Insurance is an optional add-on that helps you dodge those annoying out-of-pocket costs during hospitalisation, especially for non-payable items like gloves, syringes, PPE kits, laundry charges, spacer, and other consumables that most policies typically exclude. While these may seem minor, they can quietly add up to 5% to 15% of your total bill. The Claim Shield in Care Health Insurance covers consumables up to the sum insured.

For example, let’s say your hospital bill is ₹2,00,000. Without Claim Shield, you might have to pay ₹10,000–₹30,000 from your own pocket just for consumables. With this add-on, those costs are taken care of, giving you more complete coverage when it matters most. So if you’ve ever wondered what Claim Shield is in Care Health Insurance, here’s your answer: it’s a smart little upgrade that saves you from surprise expenses and ensures your policy works harder for you. Let’s go through the following table for a visual representation of the Claim Shield’s cost-effectiveness when it comes to the Care Supreme plan:

Note: Prices include a 5% digital discount for first-time purchases. These are premiums for a 30-year-old person, living in a tier 1 city for a 10L sum insured plan. Premiums are for illustrative purposes only and are subject to revision.

As you can see, the Claim shield add-on hardly costs around 5-6% of the base plan, which is quite cost-effective relative to the benefit it offers.

3) Which Health Insurance Plans from Care have the Claim Shield Add-on?

Care Supreme

• Value-for-money plan with premium features at a reasonable price.
• No room rent limits, zero co-payment, and no disease sub-limits.
• Unlimited restoration: Reclaim full sum insured for repeated hospitalizations.
• Covers pre- and post-hospitalization (60 & 180 days), daycare, domiciliary, and AYUSH treatments.
• 3-year waiting period for pre-existing diseases (can be reduced to 30 days with add-on).
• Cumulative Super Bonus add-on can boost coverage up to 5X over time.
• Free health check-ups not included by default (available as add-on).
• Great option for those who want extensive benefits without breaking the bank.

Care Ultimate

• Premium plan offering top-tier coverage with no compromises.
• Unlimited restoration, no room rent limits, no disease-wise sub-limits, no sub-limits, and zero co-payment.
• 50% annual bonus even after claims; doubles sum insured over time.
• Add-ons like:
  • Infinity Bonus: 100% bonus with no cap.
  • Premium Payback: Refund of premiums after 5 claim-free years.
  • Instant Cover: PED waiting period cut to 30 days for select conditions.
• Option to reduce PED waiting period with rider.
• Wellness-linked benefits and multi-year discounts.
• Free annual health check-ups not included by default (available as rider).
• Ideal for those seeking long-term, worry-free coverage with premium perks.

Care Advantage

• High sum insured at a very affordable premium.
• No room rent limits, no co-payment, and no disease sub-limits.
• Covers pre- and post-hospitalization (60 & 180 days), daycare, and AYUSH treatments.
• Includes restoration benefit.
• 3-year waiting period for pre-existing conditions (can be reduced via add-on).
• Does NOT cover domiciliary treatment—home treatment costs won’t be reimbursed.
• Free health check-ups not included by default (available as an add-on).
• Best suited for those wanting high coverage at a low premium.

Should You Buy the Claim Shield in Care Health Insurance?

If you're aiming for truly comprehensive health coverage, Ditto definitely recommends opting for the Claim Shield in Care Health Insurance. It’s a small upgrade that can make a big difference—especially during hospitalisation, when unexpected costs start piling up.

Since non-payable items like gloves, syringes, and PPE kits aren't covered under most base policies, they often get billed separately and can add up to 5-15% of your typical bill on a typical hospital bill. Claim Shield takes care of these expenses, ensuring that your health insurance does exactly what it’s supposed to—protect your finances.

The add-on is especially useful if you’re buying a mid to high sum insured policy or want to avoid surprises at discharge. For a marginal increase in premium, you get peace of mind knowing your out-of-pocket costs will be minimal. In our view, it's a no-brainer for anyone looking to plug the common gaps in health insurance coverage.

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Conclusion

Claim Shield in Care Health Insurance may not be the flashiest feature, but it’s easily one of the smartest. For a small bump in your premium, it shields you from out-of-pocket surprises, especially non-payable items like gloves and PPE kits. If you're buying Care Supreme or any qualifying Care plan, this add-on ensures your policy delivers truly comprehensive coverage. In short, Claim Shield in Care Health Insurance is a small upgrade with a big impact.