Niva Bupa (erstwhile Max Bupa)
Senior First Platinum
Niva Bupa Senior First Platinum is an exclusive plan built for senior citizens (those above 60 and under 75) and and it's slightly more robust than the Gold variant. The upside is that you may qualify for this plan when you may not qualify anywhere else. The downside is that like most senior citizen plans, they come with restrictions on room rent allocation, and sub-limits on a few surgeries. There's also the fact that Niva Bupa's complaints volume has been a bit of concern for prospective buyers.
What's good here?
You always have full cover irrespective of the disease
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.
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.
Short waiting period for Pre Existing Diseases
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 just 2 years. It’s probably the best deal you can get to be honest.
Unlimited Restoration Benefit
Even after you claim part of the cover on one occasion, you will be allowed to claim the full cover any number of times repeatedly if you are hospitalized in the future. All in the same year by the way!!!
Free Health Checkups every year
If you’re planning on getting a full body checkup every year just to make sure you’re in fine working condition, the insurer will cover the costs.
Covers Alternative Medicine
Think of getting Ayurvedic, Homeopathic or other alternative treatments to cure an illness? Your insurer will cover you fully, up to the sum insured.
Pre & Post hospitalization expenses covered
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.
Day Care treatments covered
If you’re hospitalized for less than 24 hours in lieu of a minor procedure, then the insurer will cover these costs too. Think dialysis, chemotherapy or minor surgeries.
Full coverage even if you are forced to hospitalize at home
The insurer will bear the costs even if you are hospitalized at home due to a condition or the hospital running out of beds. In insurance lingo, they call this a policy with domiciliary cover.
What's bad here?
You will have to pay a portion of the bill
The policy will only cover 50% of the final bill. The rest is on you. They call this a co-payment.
The policy will only cover 50% of the final bill. The rest is on you. They call this a co-payment.
What's okay here?
You can pick a Single Private room but nothing fancy
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.
Special Bonus for being healthy
Your sum insured increases by 10% each year, even if you've claimed in the previous year. But before you get too ahead of yourself, do note that they’ll stop offering you the bonus when your sum insured increases by 100%. But hey, it's still a bonus.
Add-ons
Safeguard
With this add-on, the insurer will increase your cover in line with inflation every year, your bonus amount will not be affected if the claim is less than ₹50,000 in the entire year and you also get extended coverage for generally excluded items like syringes, gloves, PPE kits etc.
Co-payment Modifier
This benefit helps to modify the co-payment from 50% to 0%, 20%, 30% or 40%. But remember, you need to pay extra premiums to reduce the co-payment.
Deductible
Deductible will be 1/5th of the base sum insured chosen. If deductible is opted, then co-payment will NOT apply except for treatment taken in higher than eligible category of room.
Frequently Asked Questions
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