Overview
The Care Supreme Value for Money plan by Care Health Insurance is an affordable health insurance option offering sum insured choices between ₹10 lakhs and ₹15 lakhs. The plan includes emergency road ambulance services but comes with notable restrictions like room rent capped at most Economical Single Private AC room available in the hospital and mandatory 20% co-payment outside its selected network hospitals. It aims to provide basic health coverage at a competitive premium.
Experts Review
Written by Nikhil Nair
Senior Writer
The Care Supreme Value for Money plan lives up to its name by offering an affordable health insurance solution, but it falls short in delivering comprehensive benefits. Its primary USP is the competitive premium for coverage up to ₹15 lakhs, making it accessible for budget-conscious buyers. It also offers outpatient consultation coverage, and consumables coverage, which add value at this price point.
However, the plan imposes a room rent restriction limited to a single private room, which can lead to significant out-of-pocket expenses if a higher room category is chosen. A mandatory 20% co-payment applies when treatment is availed outside the Care Supreme Value for Money network hospitals, increasing the financial burden. Additionally, availability is restricted to select locations and to select profiles only, which limits access for some buyers.
Pros
Feature set is satisfactory.
Premiums are relatively well priced.
Insurer has a solid track record with great claim and service metrics.
Cons
Your insurer doesn’t provide free health check-ups, which is a notable gap.
Maternity benefits not offered, which could be a drawback for some.
Doctor consultations are not covered, which is a key feature.
Care
Key Insights
Founded
2012
Care was established 13 years ago and has built strong credibility over time, backed by its long-standing presence in the market.
Claims Experience
90% claims settled in 30 Days
Care settles 90% of all claims it receives. This is reasonable performance, though there is room for improvement compared to top insurers.
Network Hospitals
11,400+
Care has a strong network with over 11,400 hospitals, ensuring wide accessibility and convenience for policyholders.
Complaints
36 complaints per 10,000 claims registered
Care has a relatively high volume of complaints, which may point to ongoing issues in customer service or claim handling.
Features
All
Great
Good
Bad
Co-payment
The policy will only cover 80% of the final bill. The rest is on you. They call this a co-payment.
Customisable
Get 15% discount on premiums with 20% Co-payment for the insured members if treatment is taken in Non-Smart Select Network Hospitals.
Room Rent
You can share a room or you could have a single room for yourself. But if you are looking for anything slightly fancy, be ready to foot a part of the bill.
Customisable
Change Any room to Single Private room.
Disease sub-limit
No funny business here. If your insurer hasn’t explicitly stated they won’t cover a certain illness, you can claim the full amount up to the sum insured, irrespective of the disease you’re dealing with. Meaning this policy doesn't impose the dreaded disease wise sub-limits.
Pre existing diseases waiting
If you’re already dealing with diabetes, cardiovascular problems or any such illnesses, the insurer will cover all costs arising out of these pre-existing problems after you wait for 3 years.
Pre/Post hospitalization
No worries if the doctor had to run a host of diagnostic tests before or after hospitalizing you. The insurer has your back. They will cover this amount in full for a pretty reasonable duration - 60 days before you are hospitalized and 180 days after discharge. This includes the cost of medication by the way.
Add-ons
Smart Select
Mandatory
Get 15% discount on premiums with 20% Co-payment for the insured members if treatment is taken in Non-Smart Select Network Hospitals.
Room Modifier
Mandatory
Change Any room to Single Private room.
Wellness Benefit
Up to a 30% discount on renewal premiums for maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Permanent Exclusions
Conditions or treatments that the policy clearly says it will not cover.
Impairment of an Insured Person's intellectual faculties by abuse of stimulants or depressants unless prescribed by a medical practitioner.
Hormone replacement therapy
Mental retardness
Expenses related to any kind of RMO charges, Service charge, Surcharge, night charges levied by the hospital under whatever head.
Remicade, Avastin or similar injectable treatment which is undergone other than as a part of In-Patient Care Hospitalisation or Day Care Hospitalisation is excluded.
Disclaimer: For illustration purposes only - exact terms are in the policy wording.
Specific Illness
The following illnesses are not covered under the policy for 2 years.
Arthritis (if non-infective), including:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
Gout
Rheumatism
Waiting Period
30 days Initial waiting period
2 years Specific illness waiting period
3 years Pre-existing disease waiting period
Ditto's Take
◦ Standard ◦
After a close look at the waiting periods, it’s safe to say they are fairly standard.
What's missing in the policy
Your insurer doesn’t provide free health check-ups.
Maternity benefits not offered.
Doctor consultations are not covered.
Customer Reviews
A
Ajay Kumar
The premium is quite competitive for a sum insured up to ₹15 lakhs. Truly value for money.
S
Sneha Sharma
Outpatient consultation coverage is a good inclusion at this price point.
R
Rajesh Singh
Emergency ambulance services are covered, which is an essential benefit.
R
Ritu Verma
No paid add-ons like cumulative bonus super or air ambulance. Very basic in features.
M
Meena Suresh
Room rent capped at a single private room is a major restriction. Can lead to out-of-pocket costs.
D
Divya Nair
It's a good entry-level plan from Care, especially for younger individuals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Care Supreme - Value for Money have waiting periods?
- 30-Day Waiting Period: Hospitalizations won’t be covered for the first 30 days of the policy unless it’s an accident.
- Specific Illness Waiting Period: There’s a 2-year waiting period for a list of diseases which is a mandate before you can start claiming.
- Pre-Existing Disease Waiting Period: There's a 3-year waiting period for any pre-existing disease you may have while buying the policy.
Does Care Supreme - Value for Money have room rent restrictions?
Does Care Supreme - Value for Money offer a restoration benefit?
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