The Rs 5 lakh family floater that seemed adequate in 2015 covers less than half of what it once did. Medical inflation in India runs at 12-15% per year.
Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata
A single cardiac bypass surgery at a tier-1 private hospital costs Rs 4-8 lakh. Cancer diagnosis requiring chemotherapy runs Rs 10-25 lakh. A complicated delivery with NICU stay can reach Rs 5-8 lakh. Minimum recommended: Rs 15-20 lakh individual, Rs 25-50 lakh for a family of 4.
Jaipur, Lucknow, Nagpur, Kochi, Chandigarh and Similar
Hospital costs are 30-50% lower than metros but rising rapidly. A cardiac procedure runs Rs 2.5-5 lakh. Minimum recommended: Rs 10-15 lakh individual, Rs 15-25 lakh for a family of 4.
All Other Cities and Towns
Local hospital costs are lower, but evacuation to a city hospital for serious conditions is common and expensive. Minimum recommended: Rs 7-10 lakh individual, Rs 10-15 lakh for a family of 4.
Base Policy Plus Super Top-Up
Instead of buying a Rs 25 lakh base policy (expensive), buy a Rs 10 lakh base policy plus a Rs 40 lakh super top-up with a Rs 10 lakh deductible. The super top-up activates once your annual medical expenses exceed Rs 10 lakh, providing Rs 40 lakh of additional cover at a fraction of the cost.
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