Overview
The Care Joy Today plan is a maternity-focused health insurance policy designed to provide financial security for expectant mothers and newborns. It offers a sum insured of up to ₹5 lakhs, with maternity coverage up to 50K. The plan includes coverage for pre- and post-hospitalization expenses (30-60 days respectively), daycare treatments (up to SI), ambulance charges up to ₹1,000 per claim, and newborn baby expenses up to 50K depending on the sum insured. With a reduced waiting period of 9 months for maternity benefits, it aims to address the rising costs of childbirth.
Experts Review
Written by Nikhil Nair
Senior Writer
The Care Joy Today plan is a niche offering tailored for maternity-related expenses, but it falls short in terms of overall health insurance coverage. Its key advantage is the reduced waiting period of 9 months for maternity benefits, which is significantly shorter than most competing plans. The inclusion of newborn baby coverage and pre- and post-hospitalization expenses adds value for families planning parenthood. Additionally, Care Health Insurance’s extensive network of over 11,400 hospitals ensures convenient access to cashless treatment.
That said, the plan has notable limitations. It imposes room rent restrictions (single private AC room), which may reduce flexibility during hospitalization. The absence of restoration benefits means that once the sum insured is exhausted, it cannot be reinstated during the policy year. Furthermore, no domiciliary hospitalization limits healthcare options for policyholders. The premium structure is expensive due to the mandatory 3-year payment requirement for availing maternity benefits with reduced waiting periods. Additionally, the optional No-Claim Bonus is modest compared to more comprehensive plans in the market.
Pros
Insurer has a solid track record with great claim and service metrics.
Cons
Not very feature-rich.
Premiums are relatively high.
No Restoration Benefit, which is a notable gap.
No Bonus for being healthy and not claiming insurance, which could be a drawback for some.
Your insurer doesn’t provide free health check-ups, 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
Co-payment
If you bought this policy after you turned 61, you have to pay 20% of the bill every time you make a claim. Otherwise, you are good to go. The insurer will pay all costs up to the sum insured.
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.
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 - 30 days before you are hospitalized and 60 days after discharge. This includes the cost of medication by the way.
Permanent Exclusions
Conditions or treatments that the policy clearly says it will not cover.
Organ Donor
STD other than HIV
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
No Restoration Benefit.
No Bonus for being healthy and not claiming insurance.
Your insurer doesn ’t provide free health check-ups.
No coverage if you are forced to hospitalize at home.
Doctor consultations are not covered.
Customer Reviews
K
Karishma T.
Reduced waiting period of 9 months for maternity is the main reason I chose this. Perfect for expecting mothers!
M
Manisha V.
Pre- and post-hospitalization expenses covered, which is standard but good.
P
Palak Y.
Specifically for maternity, this plan is focused and helpful.
S
Shreya B.
No restoration benefits. If SI is exhausted, you're stuck for the year.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Joy Today 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.
- Maternity and Newborn Waiting Period: There’s a 9 months waiting period before you can make claims related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Does Joy Today have room rent restrictions?
Does Joy Today offer a restoration benefit?
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