Overview
Health insurance isn't something you choose impulsively. It's a decision you plan around your health, family, and finances.
So, when a single name covers two different products, it can cause a lot of confusion. If you buy Health Shield 360 through ICICI Bank, you get one version, but if you buy it from ICICI Lombard, the insurer, you get another version.
This guide breaks down both variants so you know exactly what you're committing to. We'll walk you through the features, the insurer's claims record, premiums, and the honest drawbacks most buyers miss before signing up.
What Is ICICI Lombard Health Shield 360?
Health Shield 360 comes in two forms, and mixing them up is the most common mistake buyers make.
The group plan, ICICI Lombard Health Shield 360, is sold through ICICI Bank to account holders. It's a group health insurance policy, meaning ICICI Bank is the master policyholder, not you. The bank can change terms or end the tie-up at any time. Premiums are lower, but stability isn't guaranteed.
The retail plan, Health Shield 360 Retail, is an individual policy you purchase from ICICI Lombard. You are the master policyholder, so you control renewals, and the terms cannot be changed mid-term.
Here's how the two compare on basic details:
Key Features of ICICI Lombard Health Shield 360
Health Shield 360 (Group)
- Unlimited Restoration Benefit: Once you use part of your cover, 100% of it is restored, so you can use it again if you're hospitalized more than once in the same year. This is only applicable to different illnesses and works on partial exhaustion of SI.
- Cumulative Bonus: Your sum insured increases by 10% for each claim-free year, up to a maximum of 100%. The bonus reduces at the same rate if you make a claim.
- Annual Health Checkup: A full-body checkup every year is covered by the base plan, unlike the retail version.
- Optional Add-Ons: Maternity and Outpatient Department (OPD) consultations aren't part of the base plan. Both need to be bought separately, with coverage capped at a specified amount based on your sum insured.
Health Shield 360 (Retail)
- Restoration Benefit: Your cover is fully restored once for the same illness and an unlimited number of times for a different one in the same policy year. A 45-day cooling period applies to the same illness for the same insured person. This is applicable even on partial exhaustion.
- Cumulative Bonus: Your sum insured increases by 20% each claim-free year, up to a maximum of 100%. This is more generous than the group plan's bonus, which reduces after a claim.
- Claim Protector: This add-on covers 68 non-medical items, things like gloves, syringes, and administrative charges, that most base plans exclude and that can otherwise increase your out-of-pocket costs.
- Maternity Add-On: Covers childbirth expenses, with a waiting period of 2 to 3 years depending on the sum insured and cover option you choose.
- BeFit (OPD Cover): An optional add-on for outpatient and e-consultations, capped at a limit you choose.
- International Coverage: Covers planned treatment abroad for up to 45 days per trip and 90 days a year, till age 65, with a mandatory 10% co-payment. It is available as an optional cover.
For complete details on Health Shield 360 ICICI Lombard benefits, please refer to the brochures and policy wordings through the Download Center.
ICICI Lombard: Performance Metrics
Notes:
- ICR is based on FY 2023-25, while the other metrics are updated for FY 2024-26.
- This information is sourced from the IRDAI annual reports, Ditto Data Lab, and ICICI Lombard public disclosures.
For a complete picture of the insurer, check out our ICICI Lombard Health Insurance review.
Premium Sample by Age and Sum Insured
Let’s have a look at the premiums for some common profiles across both plans.
Health Shield 360 Retail
Health Shield 360 Group
Note: A stands for adult and C stands for child. These premiums are indicative, based on a ₹10 lakh SI for healthy individuals living in Delhi (110010). Your actual premium may differ depending on age, medical history, underwriting, and location.
For more pricing details, you can refer to the ICICI Lombard Health Shield 360 premium chart.
Limitations of ICICI Lombard Health Shield 360
Who Should Buy and Who Should Avoid ICICI Lombard Health Shield 360
Consider It If You:
- Want a no-restriction plan with no room-rent capping and no disease-wise sub-limits.
- Are an ICICI Bank customer who's comfortable with the group plan's lower premium and bank-linked risk, and don't mind the trade-off in stability.
- Want retail's stronger cumulative bonus, 20% a year even after a claim, over the group plan's 10% bonus that shrinks when you claim.
- Need to cover consumables and non-medical hospital expenses through an add-on.
- Prioritize a low complaint volume. At 15.05 per 10,000 claims, ICICI Lombard performs well below the industry average here.
Avoid It If You:
- Rank the claim settlement ratio as your top priority. At 86.81%, ICICI Lombard trails the industry average of 91.22%, so it's worth comparing against insurers with a stronger track record.
- Want maternity, OPD, or annual health checkups included in the base plan at no extra cost. Health Shield 360 includes most of these as add-ons, and retail doesn't include a free checkup at all.
- Need guaranteed policy stability without a bank as an intermediary. If you're buying through ICICI Bank, remember the bank can alter or end the group tie-up at any time.
- Expect to file repeat claims for the same illness in quick succession. Retail's 45-day cooling period on restoration could leave you without cover right when you need it.
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Conclusion
ICICI Lombard Health Shield 360 delivers solid core benefits, including no room rent capping, no disease-wise sub-limits, and a genuine restoration feature. But the plan only makes sense once you're clear on which variant you're buying. The group plan is tied to ICICI Bank's terms. The retail plan costs more but hands you full control, a stronger bonus, and add-ons like Claim Protector that the group plan simply doesn't offer.
Before you commit, weigh the insurer's claim settlement ratio against what matters most to you. The insurer’s CSR number has improved fairly in 2025-26 to 91.96%, but the average still remains low. At 86.81%, ICICI Lombard trails the industry average, though its low complaint volume and wide hospital network are genuine strengths worth factoring in too.
If a smoother claims experience outweighs everything else for you, it's worth comparing this plan with other comprehensive options. You can refer to our guide on the best health insurance plans in India before finalizing your decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
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