Overview
The Star Health Young Star plan is a health insurance policy targeting individuals aged 18 to 40. It provides flexible sum insured options from Rs. 3 lakhs to Rs. 1 crore, with no pre-medical screening required. The plan includes wellness benefits, health check-ups, and discounts for early renewal, making it suitable for young adults seeking comprehensive yet affordable health coverage.
Experts Review
Written by Nikhil Nair
Senior Writer
The Star Health Young Star plan is a competitive option for young adults, offering extensive coverage with sum insured options up to Rs. 1 crore. Its key USP is the inclusion of modern treatments such as robotic surgeries, oral chemotherapy, and intravitreal injections, which are often excluded or limited in similar plans. Also, Young Star offers a no-claim bonus; every year you go without making a claim, the sum insured grows by 20% up to a maximum of 100% of the original base cover.
However, there are notable concerns. Star Health’s average claim settlement ratio across 2021 to 2024 is 83%, and the insurer has the highest claim rejection and complaint volumes among stand-alone health insurers, indicating operational and claim processing challenges. Additionally, its room rent is capped to a single private room and limited network hospitals are worth considering before making a final decision.
Pros
Feature set is satisfactory.
Insurer has a solid track record with great claim and service metrics.
Cons
No coverage if you are forced to hospitalize at home, which is a notable gap.
Doctor consultations are not covered, which could be a drawback for some.
Star Health
Key Insights
Founded
2006
Star Health was established 19 years ago and has built strong credibility over time, backed by its long-standing presence in the market.
Claims Experience
85% claims settled in 30 Days
Star Health settles only 85% of claims it receives, which is relatively low and may raise concerns about reliability during claim payouts.
Network Hospitals
14,000+
Star Health has a strong network with over 14,000 hospitals, ensuring wide accessibility and convenience for policyholders.
Complaints
52 complaints per 10,000 claims registered
Star Health 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
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
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
Your insurance cover won’t be fully available in case you are treated for modern treatments and a few other diseases. Meaning the insurance company has a cap on the total amount they’ll pay out if you are treated for these specific illnesses.
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 just 1 year. It’s probably the best deal you can get to be honest.
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 90 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.
Expenses incurred on Enhanced External Counter Pulsation Therapy and related therapies, Chelation therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Rotational Field Quantum Magnetic Resonance Therapy, VAX-D, Low level laser therapy, Photodynamic therapy & other similar therapies
Autologous-derived Stromal vascular fraction, Chondrocyte Implantation, Procedures using Platelet Rich plasma and Intra-articular injection therapy
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.
Disclaimer: For illustration purposes only - exact terms are in the policy wording.
Specific Illness
The following illnesses are not covered under the policy for 1 years.
Diseases of ENT
Thyroid disorders
Hydrocele
Hernia (all types)
Varicocele
Waiting Period
30 days Initial waiting period
1 years Specific illness waiting period
1 years Pre-existing disease waiting period
Ditto's Take
◦ Excellent ◦
Waiting periods on this policy are excellent. The specific illness waiting period and PED waiting period is better than usual.
What's missing in the policy
No coverage if you are forced to hospitalize at home.
Doctor consultations are not covered.
Customer Reviews
S
Suresh M.
Targets individuals aged 18-40, so benefits are geared towards young adults.
S
Sushma I (new)
Flexible sum insured options from Rs. 3 lakhs to Rs. 1 crore.
S
Swati M.
No pre-medical screening required, which is convenient for young people.
V
Vijay C (new)
Need to weigh the plan's benefits against the insurer's poor service track record.
U
Usha D (new)
Star Health’s average claim settlement ratio (83%) and highest claim rejection/complaint volumes are major red flags.
U
Uma J (new)
Discounts for early renewal are a nice incentive.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Young Star 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 1-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 1-year waiting period for any pre-existing disease you may have while buying the policy.
- Maternity and Newborn Waiting Period: There’s a 3-year waiting period before you can make claims related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Does Young Star have room rent restrictions?
Does Young Star offer a restoration benefit?
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