Overview
HDFC ERGO Optima Secure+ is the upgraded version of Optima Secure, designed to maximise coverage from day one and make it grow meaningfully over time. It retains the strong fundamentals of Optima Secure (no room rent limits, no disease-wise sub-limits, and no co-payment), while strengthening the core coverage structure. The plan starts with a minimum base cover of ₹10 lakh and its core design revolves around three standout features. First, the Secure Benefit, which instantly doubles your base sum insured from day one. Second, the Infinity Benefit, which adds 100% of the base sum insured every year without any upper cap, irrespective of claims. Third, the Automatic Restore Benefit, which refills your cover unlimited times within a policy year. It also covers non-medical expenses through the Protect Benefit, offers 60 days pre and 180 days post-hospitalisation cover, includes AYUSH, domiciliary care, and home healthcare, and is backed by a 13,000+ hospital network and strong operational metrics.
Experts' Review
Written by Nikhil Nair
Senior Writer
Optima Secure+ is built on a simple but powerful idea: your health cover shouldn’t stay static while medical inflation compounds in the background. It takes what worked in Optima Secure and removes its biggest limitation, the cap on how much your coverage can grow.
You start with 2X cover immediately, and then every year your base sum insured keeps stacking on top of itself with no ceiling. Over time, this creates a meaningful gap between Optima Secure+ and traditional plans. A ₹10 lakh base plan that would earlier stabilise around ₹40 lakh can now grow far beyond that without requiring top-ups.
The second big lever is unlimited restoration built-in. Unlike older plans or even Optima Secure where this needed an add-on, your cover here refills as many times as required within a year. This becomes critical in scenarios like multiple hospitalisations or a single large claim exhausting your cover early.
Then there’s the Protect Benefit, which covers consumables and non-payables. This directly reduces out-of-pocket costs, a common pain point during claims.
On flexibility, the plan offers add-ons like Limitless (infinite claim), ABCD chronic care with reduced waiting periods for pre-existing conditions, maternity/IVF cover, and OPD-style wellbeing benefits. The aggregate deductible option also allows buyers to reduce premiums if they’re comfortable sharing initial costs.
One gap to note is that, like Optima Secure, the plan does not yet offer wellness-linked premium discounts, which some competitors have started introducing. That said, it compensates with a couple of meaningful price levers. There’s a Favorable Claims Experience Discount offering up to 21% off for first time buyers and up to 18% on renewals if no claims are made. Additionally, a Lifetime Discount of 5% is available for first-time buyers where all insured members are aged 35 or below at entry.
Premiums are still on the higher side, but the gap becomes easier to justify when you look at how coverage compounds over time.
Ditto’s Verdict: Optima Secure+ is a clear step-up from Optima Secure and addresses its biggest limitation of the capped growth in coverage. With 2X cover from day one, uncapped bonus accumulation, and unlimited restoration, it offers a level of long-term protection that very few plans currently match.
Backed by HDFC ERGO’s solid claims experience, wide hospital network, and consistent operational performance, this is a plan where both product design and insurer strength align. If you’re looking for a plan that can keep up with rising healthcare costs without needing constant upgrades, this is about as close as it gets.
Pros
Offers a wide range of features.
Premiums are relatively well priced.
Insurer has a solid track record with great claim and service metrics.
Offers 2x Secure Benefit, which makes this policy stand out.
You can pick any room you like, a highly valued feature.
Unlimited Restoration Benefit, which adds significant value to the policy.
Cons
Maternity benefits not offered, which is a notable gap. Need to opt add-on for maternity cover.
Doctor consultations are not covered, which could be a drawback for some. Need to opt add-on for doctor consultations.
HDFC Ergo
Key Insights
Founded
2002
HDFC Ergo was established 24 years ago and has built strong credibility over time, backed by its long-standing presence in the market.
Claims Experience
97% CSR, calculated as a 3-year average
HDFC Ergo settles 97% of all claims it receives demonstrating strong credibility.
Network Hospitals
13,000+
HDFC Ergo has a strong network with over 13,000 hospitals, ensuring wide accessibility and convenience for policyholders.
Complaints
9 complaints per 10,000 claims registered
HDFC Ergo maintains a low volume of complaints, reflecting strong customer satisfaction and effective service.
Features
All
Great
Good
Infinity benefit
STANDOUT
Your sum insured increases by 100% each year without any upper capping, even if you've claimed in the previous year.
2x Secure Benefit
STANDOUT
You get 2x the cover you pay for: When you buy a policy with a cover of 10 lakhs for instance, you are automatically entitled to a cover of 20 Lakhs starting from day 1.
Co-payment
The insurer will bear the entire cost of treatment (up to the sum insured). You won't have to pay a single penny. Meaning this policy has no co-payment.
Room Rent
Shared room, single room, deluxe room or any room that's available. The insurer won't nitpick on your choice of room since the policy has no restrictions on room rent.
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.
Add-ons
ABCD Chronic Care
Recommended
For Asthma, Hypertension, Cholesterol, Diabetes: Pre existing disease waiting period is reduced from 3 years to 30 days.
Optima Well-being
Recommended
Each insured member can avail of unlimited tele and in-clinic consultations with General Physicians from network-partnered facilities. Additionally, one can avail of free home sample collection and discounts on tests taken from partnered facilities. They can also take unlimited online fitness classes, counselling sessions for mental health, diet and nutrition from partnered facilities.
Aggregate Deductible
Choose deductible between ₹25,000 and ₹5,00,000 and get a discount on premiums.
Parenthood
Maternity expenses covered between ₹50,000 and ₹2,00,000 after a waiting period of 2 years.
Reduction in PED
For any illness: Pre existing disease waiting period is modified/reduced from 3 years to 1 and 2 years.(This add-on is not live yet)
Hospital Cash
Hospital cash benefit paid out if hospitalization is at least 1 day, with a maximum payout of ₹1000 to 2000 for up to 30 days.
Individual Personal Accident
Paid out as a lump sum of 500% of sum insured for Accidental Death, Total Permanent Disability, Permanent Partial Disability up to a limit of ₹10,000,000, applicable only for the proposer.
Critical Illness
Paid out as a lump sum amount for listed Critical illnesses based on the cover chosen.
Room Rent Modifier
Change Any Room to Single Private Room.
Limitless
Unlimited coverage (without any upper cap) for a specified number of claims during the Policy lifetime.
Serious Illness Booster
Provides an additional 100% of your Sum Insured as coverage for 9 specified serious illnesses.
Permanent Exclusions
Conditions or treatments that the policy clearly says it will not cover.
Expenses related to any admission primarily for diagnostics and evaluation purposes are excluded.
Diagnostic expenses not related or incidental to current diagnosis and treatment are excluded.
Expenses for admission primarily for bed rest and not for treatment are excluded.
Custodial care at home or in a facility for help with daily activities is excluded.
Services for terminally ill individuals addressing non-medical needs are 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.
Non-infective arthritis
Pilonidal sinus
Diseases of the gallbladder, including cholecystitis
Calculus diseases of the urogenital system (e.g., kidney stones, urinary bladder stones)
Benign tumors, cysts, nodules, polyps (including breast lumps)
Waiting Period
30 days Initial waiting period
2 years Specific illness waiting period
3 years Pre-existing disease waiting periodCustomisable
Ditto's Take
◦ Excellent ◦
Waiting periods on this policy are excellent. This policy also further allows to reduce the PED waiting period to 1 and 2 years for all diseases and to 30 days for certain diseases.
What's missing in the policy
Maternity benefits not offered. Need to opt add-on for maternity cover.
Doctor consultations are not covered. Need to opt add-on for doctor consultations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Optima Secure+ 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 Optima Secure+ have room rent restrictions?
Does Optima Secure+ offer a restoration benefit?
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