Health insurance policies are no longer a one-size-fits-all product. “Ultimate Care” by Care Health Insurance Limited is one such example. It offers base features and a buffet of 49 optional covers. In this article I have discussed the policy in detail along with the optional covers you can choose to make your policy more comprehensive in terms of coverage.
Key Strengths of the Policy
1. No Limit on Sum Insured
You can choose any sum insured you want there’s no cap, starting from minimum 5 Lakh to unlimited coverage. Now a days insurance companies are coming up with this option of unlimited covers, like ICICI Elevate, Star Health Superstar policy also offer this unlimited sum insured option. This policy is now a new addition to this category.
2. Unlimited Automatic Recharge
If your entire sum insured exhausted due to claim/s during the policy period, it is automatically reinstated unlimited times. Unlike many policies that restrict the use of reinstated cover to “different illnesses,” here it can be used even for the same illness for which you have claimed in past. That’s a big plus, especially during long or repeated treatments like cancer, dialysis, etc.
3. No Room Rent Limit
A feature that directly impacts your hospital bill. There is no restriction on room category, including ICU. If you’ve ever dealt with a capped room rent policy, you’d know how expensive upgrades and associated charges can get. This feature keeps you free from such billing shocks.
4. Cumulative Bonus (Even after Claim)
You get a 50% bonus every year (irrespective of claims), up to 100% of base sum insured. Means a policy of 10 lakh coverage amount becomes 20 Lakh cover policy in its third year due to accumulations of bonuses.
4. Loyalty Booster
After 7 claim-free years, you get a loyalty boost equal to your base sum insured. Means you get additional coverage amount equal to your first year base sum insured if you don’t make a claim during consecutive 7 years.
This Loyalty Booster + Cumulative Bonus (Even after Claim) combo makes your sum insured 3X in 8th year of policy.
Example: A 10 lakh policy can become a 30 lakh policy by year 8 if you haven’t made any claim along the way. And there’s no waiting period on this extra coverage granted in 8th year of policy in lieu of loyalty bonus.
5. Comprehensive Modern Treatment Coverage
All advanced technologies and modern treatments are covered up to the full sum insured. No sub-limits, no confusion. This makes your claim experience smoother as you won’t be stuck justifying costs for robotic surgery or gene therapy.
6. Policy Tenure up to 5 Years
You can lock your premium for 5 years, insulating yourself from annual hikes due to inflation or age. For long-term financial planning, this is a strong edge.
7. Genuine Premium Discounts
The policy offers multiple discounts:
- Long-term tenure discount
- Early bird discount
- Discount in lieu of agent commission
This can help lower your cost without compromising coverage.
8. Ambulance Cover of Any Kind – Fully Covered
Road, air, or even water ambulance are covered up to the sum insured. Most policies place sub-limits here, but not this one.
9. Highly Customizable – 49 Optional Covers
The policy works like a health insurance a-la-carte menu. You get a basic structure and can build your own package with 49 add-ons. While this gives flexibility, choosing wisely is key (more on this in the next section).
Points of Caution – Read Before You Buy
1. Lack of Clarity on Optional Cover Pricing
The policy doesn’t clearly mention whether some covers are free, discounted, or premium-only. Especially for features like Cover Pause, it’s unclear if you’re saving money or just limiting coverage unnecessarily.
2. Avoid Optional Covers That Only Inflate Sum Insured
Covers like Infinity Bonus, Unlimited Care, or Tenure Multiplier only aim to raise your sum insured something the base policy already does with cumulative bonus and loyalty booster. If your base cover is ₹20 lakh+, you’re likely hitting ₹40L in 3 years anyway. Skip these unless your initial sum insured is low.
Optional Covers – What You Should or Could Consider
Here’s how I’d prioritize optional covers, based on real-life utility:
Top Recommended Covers
1. Claim Shield (Consumables Cover)
Covers non-payable items like gloves, PPE kits, syringes which can form 15-20% of your bill in long hospital stays. Must-have if you’re opting for a lower sum insured or live in metro cities.
2. Spouse Care
Removes the waiting period for newly added spouse. Great for newly married or about-to-be-married individuals. Saves you from coverage gaps when your spouse is newly added.
3. Instant Cover for Pre-existing Conditions
Waives waiting periods for chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, CAD, etc. If you have such conditions and need instant protection, this is a very practical cover.
4. Cancer Care
One of the few policies that covers treated and cured cancer cases. Useful for survivors who usually struggle to get health insurance.
5. PED Wait Period Modification
For those with pre-existing diseases, this helps reduce waiting time or remove it altogether. Great feature, opt only if needed.
6. Named Ailment Wait Period Modification
Useful if you have signs/symptoms of any illness listed in the policy. Can fast-track your coverage.
7. Inflation Shield
If your base sum insured is less than 10-15 lakh, this ensures your coverage increases every year based on inflation. It helps you stay ahead of rising treatment costs.
Covers to Be Careful With or Avoid (Unless Needed)
- Smart Select
Looks tempting due to premium discount but restricts you to a list of hospitals and applies 20% co-pay elsewhere. Also, the list of hospitals can change anytime. Best to avoid.
- Room Rent Modification
Ironically, opting for this means you’re adding limits to a feature that’s unlimited by default. Unless you’re getting a big discount, do not opt.
- Premium Payback / OPD Rewards
These encourage you to avoid claiming just to get some benefit later. This defeats the purpose of insurance. Avoid.
- Be-Fit Plus / Wellness / Concierge
All are subjective. If they cost less than your regular gym/consultation bills, maybe consider. But most are better handled outside insurance.
- Maternity & Newborn Covers
Good for couples planning a child. Otherwise, skip.
- Surrogacy, Oocyte, ART, Women Care
Strictly need-based. Don’t take unless specifically required.
Optional Covers Better Handled Outside This Policy
These don’t justify the cost or come with too many restrictions:
- Annual Health Checkup – Better to do outside policy. Insurance covers only selective tests and hospitals.
- Mental Health Wellbeing – Not clearly defined. Unless clarity on OPD/in-patient is provided, skip.
- Travel Plus – Better to buy standalone travel policy.
- OPD Consultation – Too many caps – including overall cap and per consultation cap. Better to avoid and simply pay from pocket as this offers more flexibility and convenience.
- Smoking & Alcohol Rehab – Contradicts policy exclusions. Avoid.
Final Thoughts – Should You Buy?
“Ultimate Care” is a solid health insurance policy with excellent flexibility, strong base features, and the potential to create a tailored plan. But it’s not a plug-and-play product. You need to carefully choose optional covers to avoid bloated premiums.
Use the base features wisely (they are already very strong), and only pick optional covers if they serve your genuine needs, not because they “look good” or offer gimmicky savings.
