Care Freedom
Overview
Care Freedom by Care Health Insurance is a plan designed for people with diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity. This plan comes with a mandatory copay. You pay a fixed percentage of each claim out-of-pocket. The plan also includes a few sub-limits on certain treatments which makes it a plan for people with severe health issues.
You can consider Care Freedom if other health insurers already declined your health insurance application due to medical reasons. However, apart from restricted benefits, a high volume of claim-related complaints faced by the insurer is another challenge you need to be aware of. As of now, we need to wait and watch how the company deals with this issue and ensures to provide better claim service to customers in future.
Pros and Cons
- Offers coverage to those who usually do not get cover under other plans due to severe existing medical conditions like diabetes, obesity or cardiovascular problems.
- Provides cover on severe pre-existing conditions after a waiting period of just 2 years.
- Pre and post Hospitalisation expenses covered up to 7.5% and 10% of payable hospital expenses respectively.
- Non-medical items covered under the base plan with a daily fixed limit.
- Free annual health check-up available for all members.
- Low cost plan compared to other regular health insurance options.
- Comes with mandatory copayment of 20% or 30%, depending on your age at entry.
- Coverage restricted to twin sharing room or single private room, depending on the sum insured you choose.
- Sub-limits on common treatments like cataract or knee replacement.
- Sub-limits on treatment of major illnesses like cardiovascular disorders, cancer, renal complications etc.
Plan Benefits
Inpatient hospitalisation expenses covered
The plan covers inpatient hospitalisation expenses up to sum insured. But, there is a mandatory copay of 20% or 30%, depending on your age at entry. You bear this cost out-of-pocket for each claim.
Room rent limit
The plan includes room rent category limit of either twin sharing room or single private room, depending on the cover amount you choose. If you choose a higher category room during hospitalisation, you pay proportionate deductions on associated medical expanses such as doctors’ fee, nursing charges and surgery cost.
Day care treatment covered
Need to undergo surgery or procedure which requires less than 24 hours of hospitalisation? The plan covers the cost. But, it also includes sub-limits on specified procedures. Make sure you read the policy document to understand them.
Pre and post hospitalisation expenses covered
You insurer also covers the related medical expenses before and after the hospitalisation up to 7.5% and 10% of payable hospitalisation expenses respectively.
Alternative medicine covered
Opt for cumulative bonus super to get 100% of base sum insured added every year irrespective of claims, up to a maximum of 500% over 5 years. This coupled with regular cumulative bonus takes your coverage 7X in 6 years.
All daycare procedures covered
The plan covers daycare treatments which require less than 24 hours of hospitalisation, including advanced medical and surgical procedures, without any sub-limits.
Pre and Post-hospitalisation expenses covered
Covers expenses for 60 days before and 180 days after hospitalisation, up to sum insured. This includes diagnostics, medications, doctor consultations, and other necessary medical costs.
Alternative medicine covered
Want to consider alternative line of treatment? Your insurer covers the cost of hospitalisation for AYUSH treatment with applicable copay or sub-limits.
Get one-time restoration benefit upon exhaustion of sum insured
Your insurer restores 100% of your sum insured once in a policy year if you run out of cover due to previous claims in the year.
Cost of consumables covered with a daily upper limit
The plan also covers the cost of non-medical items with a daily upper limit.
Ambulance cover available
Ambulance cover of Rs. 1000/- per hospitalisation is available.
Get companion benefit in case of longer hospitalisation
If your hospitalisation exceeds 10 consecutive days, the insurer provides you a fixed companion benefit of Rs. 10,000 or Rs. 15,000, depending on your policy terms.
Get cover for domiciliary hospitalisation expenses
Are you forced to be hospitalised at home? Imagine this. No beds available in the hospital or the patient’s medical condition does not allow him to be moved to a hospital. This is called domiciliary hospitalisation. Your insurance policy covers the cost of hospitalisation if it happens for at least 3 consecutive days under the supervision of a medical practitioner.
Dialysis cover available
Those requiring dialysis go through regular sessions which require no hospitalisation. The plan covers dialysis expenses with a per sitting cap.
Policy Conditions
| Sum Insured Range | Rs. 3 Lakh, Rs. 5 Lakh, Rs. 7 Lakh and Rs. 10 Lakh |
| Entry Age | 90 Days – 24 Years for dependent children, 18 Years onwards for adults |
| Policy Tenure Options | 1, 2 or 3 Years |
| Coverage Types | Individual and Family Floater |
| Family Coverage | Up to 6 members |
| Premium Payment | Annual |
Exclusions
Waiting Periods
- Initial Waiting Period: 30 days (except accidents)
- Specific Illness Waiting Period: 24 months.
- Waiting Period on Pre-Existing Diseases: 24 months.
Medical Exclusions
- Congenital external defects or anomalies
- Cosmetic surgeries (unless due to accident, cancer, etc.)
- Unproven treatments
- OPD treatments
- Dental treatments
- Expenses related to maternity, sterility or infertility
- Refractive error correction for less than 7.5 diopters
Non-Medical Exclusions
- Investigation and evaluation
- Self-injury or attempt to suicide
- Alcoholism, drug or substance abuse
- Treatment necessitated by committing breach of law with criminal intent
- Treatment taken by a medical practitioner outside his discipline
- War, terrorism, nuclear events
- Injuries from hazardous sports
About the Insurer
Care Health Insurance, formerly known as Religare Health Insurance, is a stand-alone health insurer in India, which was founded in 2012. It is a subsidiary of Religare Group and is backed by a strong investor base including Kedaara Capital and Union Bank of India.
Care Health Insurance is a prominent player in the retail health insurance segment in India and focuses exclusively on health, wellness, and travel insurance. The insurer offers specialised health policies including immediate cover for lifestyle illnesses, senior citizen plans, and special plans for patients with major illnesses such as heart ailments, stroke etc.
Performance Highlights (FY24)
Turnover – Rs. 7,022 Crore
Claim Settlement Ratio – 92.61%
Incurred Claim Ratio – 58%
Volume of Claim Complaints – 39 / 10,000 claim
Network Hospitals – 11,400+
Get In Touch
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Care Freedom Health Insurance Plan?
Care Freedom is a specialised health insurance policy designed for individuals living with health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and high Body Mass Index (BMI). It offers coverage for hospitalisation expenses with cover on pre-existing conditions after a waiting period of 2 years.
Who is eligible to purchase the Care Freedom Plan?
Any individual aged 18 years and above can purchase the plan. There is no maximum entry age, and the policy offers lifelong renewability.
What is the waiting period for pre-existing diseases under this plan?
Care Freedom comes with a waiting period of 24 months before it starts covering pre-existing conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and high BMI.
Does the plan require a copayment?
Yes, the plan includes a mandatory copayment clause where you are required to bear either 20% or 30% of each claim amount, depending on age at entry.
What are the sum insured options available under the plan?
Care Freedom offers sum insured options ranging from Rs. 3 Lakh to Rs. 10 Lakh, depending on the age of the insured person and other factors.
Are annual health check-ups covered?
Yes, the plan includes coverage for annual health check-ups, which includes basic tests such as blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Does the plan cover domiciliary treatments?
Yes, Care Freedom covers domiciliary hospitalisation expenses, i.e., treatments taken at home, up to 10% of the sum insured, provided that hospitalisation continues for 3 consecutive days or more.
Are non-medical expenses covered under the plan?
Yes, the plan extends its coverage to consumables or non-medical items, including items like masks and gloves, subject to a daily upper limit.
What are the room rent limits under this plan?
The room rent limits vary based on the sum insured:
- Rs. 3 Lakh: twin sharing room, maximum up to 1% of the sum insured per day.
- Rs. 5 Lakh: twin sharing room.
- Rs. 7 Lakh or Rs. 10 Lakh: single private room.
Does the plan cover alternative treatments like Ayurveda or Homeopathy?
Yes, Care Freedom covers hospitalisation expenses under alternative methods such as Ayurveda, Homeopathy, and other AYUSH treatments, up to the sum insured.
Is cashless treatment available under this plan?
Yes, the plan offers cashless treatment across a vast network of over 11,400+ hospitals across India.
What is the free-look period for this policy?
Care Freedom offers a 15 day free-look period during which you can review the terms and conditions and cancel the policy if not satisfied.
Are there any disease-specific sub-limits in Care Freedom?
Yes, the plan has disease-specific sub-limits for certain conditions like cataract, knee replacement, hernia, hysterectomy, benign prostate hypertrophy, renal stones, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders.
What is the claim settlement ratio of Care Health Insurance?
In the financial year 2023-24, Care Health Insurance had a claim settlement ratio of 92.61%.
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