A single hospitalisation in a private hospital can cost ₹2–10 lakhs. Without health insurance, that bill comes from your savings — or worse, from your investment portfolio which you may have spent years building. Health insurance is not an option. It is a necessity.
Common mistakes Indians make
- Relying entirely on employer group insurance — it ends the day you leave the job
- Getting a ₹2–3 lakh policy when hospitalisation costs ₹5–8 lakhs in metro cities
- Waiting until they are sick to buy — pre-existing conditions then get excluded
- Not reading the fine print on room rent limits and co-payment clauses
How much cover do you need?
For a single person in a metro city: minimum ₹10 lakhs. For a family of 4 in a tier-1 city: ₹15–20 lakhs on a floater policy. With a super top-up plan, you can cost-effectively extend this to ₹50 lakhs+ for under ₹500/month additional premium.
Individual vs group vs top-up: which to buy
- Individual/family floater: base of ₹10–15 lakhs — always buy this first
- Super top-up: ₹25–50 lakh additional cover at low premium — very cost efficient
- Employer plan: keep it as a backup, not your primary cover
Protect your income next: term insurance guide. Then start building wealth: start investing with ₹500/month.