Why should you get health insurance when young?
It is important to have health insurance to protect your savings and investments against unforeseen medical expenses.
Medical expenses in India have been rising year-on-year, which far exceeds the amount of regular salary increments or general inflation.
Having a comprehensive health insurance plan and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are ways in which we can counter this problem.
Health‑insurance premiums are based largely on age and medical history. Younger adults typically pay far less than someone who waits until their forties or fifties because they are considered lower risk. As the ManipalCigna blog points out, a policy bought in your twenties will cost less and often comes with higher coverage. In practical terms, buying a ₹5‑lakh policy at 25 can cost significantly less than the same cover at 35.
When you apply while you’re young and healthy, insurers are more willing to offer a higher sum insured because the risk of claims is lower. This means you can choose a comprehensive plan with generous limits that protect you well into old age. Early buyers also benefit from no‑claim bonuses that increase the sum insured each claim‑free year.
Lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and diabetes often develop as you age. Applying for health insurance before these conditions arise means your proposal is likely to be accepted without extra loading or exclusions. It also allows you to complete the mandatory waiting periods for pre‑existing conditions before you actually need cover.
Premiums paid for health insurance qualify for deductions under Section 80D of the Income‑tax Act. You can claim up to ₹25,000 a year for your own cover and an additional ₹25,000 for your parents; the limit increases to ₹50,000 for senior‑citizen parents. Many policies also include complimentary health check‑ups and no‑claim bonuses that increase your sum insured without raising your premium.
Switching jobs or starting your own business can leave you without the group cover provided by employers. Buying your own individual policy ensures continuous protection regardless of your employment status. Group plans often have low sums insured, which may not be enough to cover major treatments.
Accidents can happen at any age. A personal health plan offers cover from day one for accident‑related hospitalisation. Knowing that an emergency won’t wipe out your savings gives you peace of mind and lets you focus on recovery rather than costs.
Comprehensive policies allow you to add family members, giving everyone access to quality care under one plan. Over the years the same policy continues to protect you against medical inflation and age‑related conditions, ensuring that your hard‑earned assets are not eroded by sudden medical bills.
Experts recommend buying cover as soon as you start earning. A young applicant enjoys lower premiums and can ride out waiting periods of 30 days to four years for specific ailments without worrying about immediate claims. India has a youthful population—over 65% are under 35—and medical inflation often outpaces salary growth. Securing a policy early locks in affordable rates for the long term.
Cardiovascular problems, type 2 diabetes and other lifestyle‑related conditions are no longer limited to older adults. Reports show these diseases are increasingly being diagnosed in Indians in their 20s and 30s. Because insurers treat such illnesses as pre‑existing conditions, waiting to buy a policy could mean longer exclusions or higher premiums. Buying cover before these issues arise ensures your treatment is covered without delay.
When you’re picking a health insurance plan, start with the basics: what exactly does it cover? A strong policy should take care of hospitalisation—both planned and emergency—along with pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses. That includes tests, doctor visits and medicines before admission, and recovery-related costs after discharge. Make sure daycare procedures are included; many modern treatments don’t require 24-hour admission anymore, and you shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for them. Check for ambulance coverage because emergencies rarely give you time to think about transport costs. Comprehensive plans often include things like domiciliary treatment (home-based care when hospitalisation isn’t possible) and yearly health check-ups, which help you catch issues early. Lifelong renewability is non-negotiable—you don’t want coverage suddenly ending when you need it most. And with medical inflation rising every year, aim for a higher sum insured so future expenses don’t overwhelm your savings.
A wide hospital network matters more than people realise. Cashless treatment at reputable hospitals saves you from arranging funds during emergencies, which is exactly why insurance exists. Browse the insurer’s list of partner hospitals in your city and nearby areas; availability during an emergency is everything.
Spend a few minutes checking the claim-settlement ratio—it shows how reliably the insurer pays claims. Good ratios usually mean smoother experiences. Also look at customer reviews to understand the real-world response time and support quality. Before buying, get clarity on documents required during claims so you aren’t surprised later. A simple, transparent claim process saves you stress during already difficult situations.
Base policies are good, but add-ons (riders) make them stronger. Critical illness riders offer a lump-sum payout if a major illness is diagnosed, giving you financial breathing room beyond hospital bills. Personal accident cover helps if an injury leads to disability or income loss.
If you’re planning a family, maternity riders can be helpful—but buy them early because most come with waiting periods. Room-rent waivers are another useful option; they ensure you aren’t forced into lower room categories due to caps, which can indirectly affect other charges.
Choose add-ons based on your lifestyle, age, family medical history and long-term needs. A thoughtfully chosen rider can prevent big financial shocks later.
The earlier you buy, the better. Taking a policy in your early 20s or 30s ensures low premiums, higher coverage and cleared waiting periods before you’re likely to need the insurance. It also locks in protection before any lifestyle diseases develop.
Yes. Most policies have waiting periods ranging from 30 days to four years for pre‑existing conditions. Buying early allows these periods to lapse while you’re healthy, so you’re fully covered when you need treatment.
Absolutely. Because insurers view younger applicants as low risk, they offer higher sum insured options at affordable rates. Early buyers also benefit from no‑claim bonuses that increase their coverage over time.
