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.
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.
Dialysis cover available
Those requiring dialysis go through regular sessions which require no hospitalisation. The plan covers dialysis expenses with a per sitting cap.
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.
Add-ons
Health Check-up+
This add-on offers an upgraded health check-up with either a diabetes or cardiac health check-up package included. This add-on is mandatory for insulin-dependent individuals.
Care OPD
With this add-on, each insured member can avail up to 4 in-person consultations with general physicians or specialists per policy year on a reimbursement basis. The reimbursement for each consultation is limited to Rs. 500.
Home Care
This add-on provides Rs. 1000 per day for a maximum of 7 days to cover the expenses of hiring a qualified nurse for care at home. This benefit is available post-discharge from the hospital only if recommended by the treating medical practitioner.
Premium Savers
Aggregate Deductible
If you want to lower your premium commitment, choose a small deductible. However, this is not recommended as the plan already includes a mandatory copay and some disease-specific limits.
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?
Who is eligible to purchase the Care Freedom Plan?
What is the waiting period for pre-existing diseases under this plan?
Does the plan require a copayment?
What are the sum insured options available under the plan?
Are annual health check-ups covered?
Does the plan cover domiciliary treatments?
Are non-medical expenses covered under the plan?
What are the room rent limits under this plan?
- 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.
