An ailment can have far reaching effects on the health of a person. At such times, quality medical care is extremely essential to make a full recovery. With quality treatment at health care institutes come hospital bills which may not be within everyone’s financial capacity. At times, the paucity of adequate available finances can be a limiting factor to get sufficient medical care and can also prove fatal. With the increasing cost of health care, it is wiser to buy a health policy in India, so that sudden expenditure during medical exigency does not cause panic and stress.
When looking for a best health insurance policy, it would be beneficial to buy a comprehensive health insurance cover as it offers extensive coverage. Such a health cover cuts out the hassles of arranging for finances during a medical emergency and also ensures optimal treatment for your family. The ICICI Lombard Complete Health Insurance by ICICI Lombard for example may be a good option to consider when buying health policy in India. As there is no age limit, any person is eligible to take this policy. Not only that, persons below 46 years of age desirous of purchasing this policy may not need to undergo any medical tests. For those above 46 years, the policy may be purchased easily by undergoing a medical test at any of the designated test centers recognized by the insurer.
One of the biggest advantages of this compressive health cover is the cashless claims feature. As the insurance company has a tie up with premium health care providers across the country, availing the best possible medical treatment is well within the insured’s reach. All medical expenses during such emergency hospitalisation are handled by the insurance provider. Such a health policy in India eliminates the need to arrange for money on a short notice and allows you to focus better on the well-being of your ailing family member.
With the floater benefit, the health insurance may extends coverage to your entire family, depending on policy terms and conditions. With the payment of a single premium, the benefits of the sum insured can be enjoyed by any insured family member. As you may not need to keep a track of different renewal dates, managing such a health policy is extremely convenient.

Updated on 23 Dec 2025

These days, vegan diets have become popular in India, not only because of environmental and ethical reasons, but also for the health advantages. Vega diets avoid all animal-based food items and focus on plant-based items, such as seeds, nuts, grains, pulses, vegetables, and fruits. Many individuals are picking this specific lifestyle to enhance their overall well-being, lower the chances of chronic diseases, and help manage weight.

Let’s understand this diet in detail from this blog.

What is a vegan diet?

Vegan diets are vegetarian diets that exclude all animal products, which include honey, dairy, eggs, fish and meat. Instead of animal-based items, the diet depends heavily on all the plant-based products.

In India, it’s not that difficult to follow this diet because many of the traditional Indian dishes are naturally vegan, like vegetable pulao, chapati, sabzi, and dal. The main focus here is on the whole foods, such as seeds, leafy green vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes that offer all the crucial nutrients.

What are the health benefits of a vegan diet?

Switching to a vegan diet can provide you with the following advantages:

• Weight Management

Meat, animal fats and proteins contain a lot of calories. But when you follow a vegan diet, there is no intake of these products. Therefore, it becomes easier to stay fit and slim. Moreover, there is also a greater intake of plant-based products that have a higher antioxidant content, leading to better metabolism and eventual weight reduction.

• More Nutritious

Vegan diets usually emphasise eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and unprocessed foods that are closer to their natural state, more than processed foods of any kind. This gives your body access to a lot of the vitamins and minerals that it needs, thereby providing it with more nutrition.

• Increases Energy

Plant-based diets tend to be lower in saturated fats and processed foods, which are often linked with sluggishness. Instead, a vegan diet centres on nutrient-dense foods that can promote sustained energy throughout the day.

• Prevents Heart Disease

Vegan sources of fat come from nuts and other vegetables and are healthier than the fat sources from animal products, since they contain lesser bad cholesterol. Thus, a vegan diet reduces the amount of bad cholesterol in your system, thereby significantly reducing the chances of a heart attack. Moreover, it also reduces blood pressure and the risk of type 2 diabetes.

• Boosts Immunity and Prevents Chances of Cancer

The focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, which is a major part of a vegan diet, helps to add essential vitamins and minerals that boost immunity and keep your system alkaline. The antioxidants that are added to your system through a vegan diet also help fight diseases.

Moreover, since there is no intake of meat – particularly red meat – that has been proven to cause certain types of cancer, a vegan diet comes with a low cancer risk.

How to incorporate a vegan diet?

Shifting to a vegan diet doesn’t need to be overwhelming. You can take the following steps:

• Begin by replacing milk with oat, soy, or almond milk.
• Include a lot more legumes, such as lentils, rajma, and chana, in the meals.
• Consume many fruits and vegetables regularly.
• Try to experiment with vegan recipes, such as chickpea salad, mushroom biriyani, and tofu curry.
• Make sure you get enough protein from whole grains, seeds, nuts and soy.
• If needed, you can also take supplements for vitamin D and vitamin B12, which are not common in plant-based foods.

Conclusion

Vegan diets support better health, lower the chances of lifestyle diseases and also provide plenty of energy. Since India has many plant-based food items, switching to this specific diet will not be that difficult.

Furthermore, if you ever experience any health-related issue while following this diet, having a health insurance policy can help you greatly. It can not just cover all the medical expenses but also prevent financial burdens. You can obtain solutions and advice on individual health insurance plans by just filling out the form on this page. You can certainly get a plan to match your needs.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a certified medical and/or nutrition professional for any questions. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.

With the rise in health-related problems in India, treatment costs have increased sharply. This has led to a higher demand for health insurance plans as they offer financial security during medical emergencies.

In the face of adversity, health insurance plans give access to quality healthcare facilities while reducing the financial burden. Selecting the right insurance plan can be difficult due to the different types of health insurance plans available in India.

Types of Health Insurance Plans in India

We will discuss here three different health insurance and types.

1.    Individual Health Insurance

• Individual health insurance is designed for a single person, providing coverage for medical expenses and illness-related costs.
• This plan, purchased by a single individual, reimburses expenses for hospitalisation, surgery and pre/post-medication until reaching the insured limit.
• Covering hospitalisation, surgical procedures and medication costs, individual health insurance caters to the medical needs of a single person.

2.    Family Health Insurance

• Known as the Family Floater Plan, it provides comprehensive coverage for an entire family.
• All family members, including the spouse, kids and elders, are covered under this health insurance policy.
• Only one family member needs to pay the premium, ensuring the whole family is insured with a single payment.
• The premium calculation considers the age of the eldest family member in the coverage.
• When multiple family members require simultaneous treatment, insurance claims are applicable for everyone until the coverage limit is exhausted.
• To prevent an impact on the premium, it is advisable to exclude family members above 60 years from the coverage.

3.    Critical Illness Insurance

• This insurance plan ensures a lump sum payout for major illnesses.
• During the policy acquisition, the policyholder selects the critical health issues covered.
• The policyholder becomes eligible to claim if they are diagnosed with any of the predetermined conditions.
• Filing a claim does not necessitate hospitalisation in this insurance type.
• Benefits are activated solely by the diagnosis of the critical illness.
• The fixed payout is unaffected by both pre- and post-hospitalisation costs.

Conclusion

With the continuously increasing expenses associated with medical treatments, people now find it imperative to invest in health insurance policies, ensuring coverage for both themselves and their family members. Hence, buyers must spend time and effort to educate themselves about different kinds of health insurance policies.

Updated on 24 Dec 2025

A health insurance policy comes with its own terms and metrics that can sometimes feel confusing to understand. PMPM is one such term. It stands for “per member per month.” PMPM in healthcare is a type of cost that represents the amount paid or received monthly for each individual enrolled in a managed care plan, often called capitation. It is the average cost or revenue generated per individual enrolled in a health plan within a month.

Continue reading this blog for more information on PMPM in the health insurance industry.

What is per member per month (PMPM)?

Per member per month (PMPM) is a healthcare finance metric that measures the average cost of providing health coverage and services for each enrolled individual every month. This cost can include medical claims, insurance premiums, administrative expenses or a combination of these.

Here is how it works:

• Useful for cost analysis by dividing the total cost or spending on healthcare services for a specific group by the number of members.
• Helps in financial budgeting and planning. It helps estimate future costs based on historical data and can assist in financial planning for healthcare services.

It is a performance indicator that evaluates the efficiency of healthcare programmes.

Here is how it is calculated:

The formula for calculating PMPM is straightforward:

PMPM = Total Number of Members / Total Cost of Spending × Time Period

Examples of PMPM in healthcare

In the healthcare industry, PMPM is used in several ways to track and manage costs. Some practical examples include:

Insurance premiums

An organisation can calculate the cost per employee as a PMPM cost.

Let’s understand with an example:

If the company has 500 employees, and the premium is for ₹ 5,00,000 per month, then the PMPM is ₹ 1,000.

Medical claims

Insurance companies use PMPM to calculate the average medical claims per member each month.

For example, the total claim for 2,000 members is ₹ 20,00,000 every month, then PMP is ₹ 1,000.

Capitated payments

Healthcare providers on a capitated model receive a fixed PMPM payment for each patient under their care to encourage efficient and preventive care.

How is PMPM different from other similar terms?

Here is how PMPM differs from other similar terms:

• Per capita cost: It refers to the average cost per person over a certain time period (often monthly, quarterly or annually).
• Per episode: This metric isolates the cost associated with a single medical encounter or “episode”, such as a hospital stay, surgery or outpatient visit.
• Per diem: It refers to the daily rate for a patient’s care in a hospital or facility.

Conclusion

Whether you hold a health insurance policy for a family or an organisation that has insured its employees, understanding PMPM can help manage the overall costs. By offering a clear view of the average monthly cost per member, it helps families, organisations and insurers plan budgets, compare policies and predict healthcare expenses.

While you focus on keeping your family healthy and prepared, let us help you manage the financial side of healthcare. Get personalised advice on health insurance by filling out the form on this page.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a certified medical and/or nutrition professional for any questions. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.

Critical illness insurance can prove to be a saviour when, often without prior warning, we are afflicted by a serious health condition. To tackle such circumstances that test our mental, emotional, and financial preparedness, prior thought and a wise investment in a good policy is the best decision we can make for ourselves and our family. Here are a few tips that will help you choose the correct plan to invest in.

What is a critical illness insurance?

Critical insurance covers pay you a lump-sum amount, free of taxes, in case you are diagnosed with any of the serious health complications within the ambit of your policy. Your policy may cover conditions such as cardiac arrest, stroke, several types of cancer, coma, multiple sclerosis, paralysis and kidney failure, to name a few.
Risk covers vary with the companies offering the policy. It is crucial to carefully consider the list of illnesses not covered in your policy before making the final decision to buy it.

Things to consider before buying a critical illness policy

Before buying critical illness insurance, it’s important to evaluate certain aspects to ensure you get the most suitable coverage. Here are the key things to consider:

1. Know why you are buying your policy. A critical illness plan can be utilised in paying off debts related to medical costs, making modifications to your home, and paying off a mortgage.
2. A policy will help you if you do not have enough savings to cover serious illnesses or if your employment benefit plan is not conducive towards providing you enough relief while you are sick.

Know the process of filing your claim. Learn what renewal benefits you will receive from your insurance company for the period of time when no claim is filed.

1. Read the policy in detail before buying, lest you miss any exclusions or other factors within it. Check what hospital network your insurance company endorses.
2. Consider factors such as costs of treatment, medicine and follow-up plans while deciding your sum insured. You have the choice of opting for either a stand-alone plan or just a rider. Stand-alone plans, although more expensive, will allow you a higher claim amount.
   
3. Careful consideration prior to buying an insurance will ensure that when the time comes, the cover yields optimal benefits to mitigate the situation at hand.

Hence, a health insurance policy is a valuable asset to have. In times of need, it can take care of all the medical expenses at hand, so that focus is kept on treatment rather than worrying about taking care of the bills piling up.

Can critical illness insurance replace health insurance?

While critical illness insurance offers useful financial support when it comes to serious health conditions, it cannot be used to replace your regular health insurance. Health insurance covers several medical expenses, including hospital stays, doctor visits, diagnostic tests and minor illnesses or injuries, which makes it an essential part of your healthcare planning.

Critical illness insurance is not a replacement but an added boost to the regular insurance policy. It covers costs that are sometimes left out by the policies, such as travel, for treatment or home care during prolonged illness. You should consult the insurance provider and come up with a way to use both policies together to ensure that you are secured whether it is a general health issue or a severe illness that requires long-term financial support.

Conclusion

Getting a critical illness insurance policy in addition to your regular health insurance plan is a simple step that proves beneficial in the time of need. It gives you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can cover the medical costs while focusing on recovering. By understanding the scope of coverage, waiting periods, the sum insured and the insurer’s reputation, you can make an informed decision that adds to your existing health insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a certified medical and/or nutrition professional for any questions. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.

The steady rise in the cost of health care facilities can make arrangement of funds difficult if you are not sufficiently prepared. The onus of settling these hospital bills will shift to your family members and may impact their savings. Therefore, there is a need to buy personal health insurance plan which will offer coverage for several hospitalisation costs and other related expenses.

Several important aspects must be carefully considered when purchasing personal health cover as the investment made towards the premium is a considerable sum. A comprehensive insurance is a good choice as it has a wider coverage range and will ultimately reduce your overall expenses during a medical crisis. Key aspects like medical expenses covered, premium payable, maximum sum insured and several other policy details must be looked into. A clear idea about all these essential factors will help you choose a good personal insurance plan to secure your health.

A comprehensive health insurance policy plan like the health booster plan offered by ICICI Lombard offers enhanced coverage. This policy goes beyond the standard hopitalisation costs to cover Out Patient treatment expenses (OPD). Thus coverage for room charges, hospital boarding expenses, nursing expenses, ambulance charges is offered by the plan. Moreover, this personal health insurance policy also covers costs for dental treatment, surgeon and other related medical practitioners. This policy is extremely beneficial for those undergoing treatment which requires dialysis, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. This is because this plan covers costs of medicines and drugs as well as consultancy charges. As reimbursed is offered once the claim is made, the financial burden on the insured is greatly reduced.

This personal insurance for health does not have any sub-limits on room rent, doctor’s fees, hospital charges or any disease. The policy also does not have co-payments for any disease or hospitalisation expenses. Co-payment is the fraction of cost to be borne by the insured when making claims while sub-limit is the restriction on the sum insured for any disease, treatment or service covered by the policy. This policy also offers cashless claims across any of its 4000+ network hospitals and avail of optimal treatment without worrying about the bills. Thus, you do not have to worry about paying for any hospitalisation charges as all additional costs are taken care of by the policy.

It is therefore important to carefully select your insurance cover so that you can secure your health optimally and relieve yourself or your loved ones of any financial stress during an exigency.

As ailments and medical contingencies arise without prior warning, the least you can do is to remain sufficiently prepared. This is because given the increasing costs of healthcare in India; it does not take long for a medical emergency to turn into a financial one. The burden of arranging for finances can leave you stressed and hassled. To prevent such an unfortunate situation from materialising during a medical emergency, it is best to secure a health insurance cover.
In order to get maximum benefits, it is important to purchase an insurance policy which has comprehensive coverage. A policy with comprehensive coverage takes care of basic medical coverage, hospitalisation expenses as well as several small yet significant expenses like pre and post hospitalisation costs, doctor’s expenses, surgeon’s fees, room rent, etc. Such extensive covers will further lighten your financial burden. The ICICI Lombard complete health insurance may one such cover you may choose, which is comprehensive in its design.
With the floater benefit of this insurance cover, you may secure your entire family (subject to policy terms) with a single insurance premium amount. Not only that, with this comprehensive insurance you get lifetime policy health renewal. Thus, you can enjoy the benefits of your health insurance cover without any interruptions. The premium amount for this health plan can be easily customised to match your requirement. You may also have the option of selecting the 1 or 2 year (automatic policy health insurance renewal) policy period as per plans offered.
The cashless claims facility offered by this health insurance plan is most beneficial. With this, the insured can avail of treatment from any of the 4000+ network premium health care providers without having to worry about the costs of treatment.
In case of no claims made in the previous policy term, the insured can get a cumulative bonus as an additional sum insured (as per insurance plan chosen) with policy health renewal. This will help to keep your health insurance cover abreast with the times and will adequately meet the rising cost of medicines due to inflation. Thus, you not only enjoy uninterrupted coverage but can also avail of the benefit of a larger sum insured.
This insurance policy can be purchased without undergoing any medical tests if you are below 46 years of age. As the policy is available online, you simply have to fill in the essential details, the premium amount will be generated by the online calculator and you can make instant payment using several options available. This online feature is also extended to policy health insurance renewal which further saves time and effort.

With the count in cases of deadly diseases such as dengue and cancer on the rise, the popularity for disease-specific insurance plans is increasing in the city of ‘Nizams’. The health insurance firms have started floating disease-specific plans for their customers. In addition to the health insurance policy that encompasses a myriad of diseases, these disease-specific plans come with protection from deadly diseases, which are otherwise excluded in general healthcare plans.

The experts say that, apart from increasing cases of these diseases, the popularity of these plans are also high, due to the high treatment costs that is involved with it. According to rough estimates, the healthcare expenses for dengue can easily touch ₹1 lakh and more depending on the severity. Whereas treatment for cancer and other such severe diseases cost no less than ₹3-5 lakh.

Industry insiders noted, while these trend of disease-specific policies were introduced about 3 years ago, it has picked up pace in Hyderabad only now. Apart from cancer and dengue related policies, diabetic and cardiac insurance plans are also being purchased in substantial numbers in the city. Firms are also seen rolling out special policies for HIV/AIDS, kidney diseases, neuro disorders etc.

In what is sure to be good news for parents of new-born babies admitted to neonatal ICUs, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has termed the definition of a newborn as a “baby born during the policy period and aged up to 90 days” in the realm of health insurance.

This definition has also been conveyed to the Newborn Medical Insurance Committee of the National Neonatology Forum (NNF), a body that has been fighting relentlessly for providing health insurance coverage to newborns.

Prior to this communication by IRDAI, insurance benefits for newborns were limited to vaccination in the first 90 days of the baby’s birth, that too in family health insurance policies having newborn coverage. By defining the term ‘newborn’, IRDAI has ensured that a newborn can avail the health insurance benefits from the time of birth itself.

The move comes at a time when the medical fraternity is worried over the rising cases of neonatal complications, and the dismal health insurance coverage provided to newborns. Treatment for the little ones is expensive and can range from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000/day.

A rise in dengue cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) has led to insurance companies offering single disease-specific covers. These covers will not only cover dengue but also other critical illnesses including cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.

Most health insurance policies launched after 2014-2015 cover dengue under the umbrella. However, policies launched prior to 2014-2015 are offering add-ons against diseases like dengue.

ICICI Lombard General Insurance is offering add-on covers for dengue and chikungunya for all health insurance policies launched and issued prior to 2014-2015. Quoting Sanjay Datta, Chief of Underwriting and Claims, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, “For our newer policies, like Complete Health Insurance and Health Booster we have inpatient coverage for all vector-borne diseases including dengue and chikungunya. Besides allopathic treatment, the insured has the choice to undergo inpatient AYUSH treatment.”

ICICI Lombard Health Insurance Cashless Network Hospital List in Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Explore ICICI Lombard’s health insurance plans :

• Family Health Insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance 
• Top Up Health Insurance
• Arogya Sanjeevani Policy
• Corona Kavach Policy
• Senior Citizen Health Insurance
• Parents Health Insurance
• Children Health Insurance

which offers people much needed financial backup during any medical emergencies.

ICICI Lombard Health Insurance Cashless Network Hospital List in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh

Explore ICICI Lombard’s health insurance plans :

• Family Health Insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance 
• Top Up Health Insurance
• Arogya Sanjeevani Policy
• Corona Kavach Policy
• Senior Citizen Health Insurance
• Parents Health Insurance
• Children Health Insurance

which offers people much needed financial backup during any medical emergencies.

ICICI Lombard Health Insurance Cashless Network Hospital List in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Explore ICICI Lombard’s health insurance plans :

• Family Health Insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance 
• Top Up Health Insurance
• Arogya Sanjeevani Policy
• Corona Kavach Policy
• Senior Citizen Health Insurance
• Parents Health Insurance
• Children Health Insurance

which offers people much needed financial backup during any medical emergencies.

ICICI Lombard Health Insurance Cashless Network Hospital List in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh

Explore ICICI Lombard’s health insurance policies :

• Family Health Insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance 
• Top Up Health Insurance
• Arogya Sanjeevani Policy
• Corona Kavach Policy
• Senior Citizen Health Insurance
• Parents Health Insurance
• Children Health Insurance

which offers people much needed financial backup during any medical emergencies.

ICICI Lombard Health Insurance Cashless Network Hospital List in Korba, Chhattisgarh

Explore ICICI Lombard’s health insurance plans :

• Family Health Insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance 
• Top Up Health Insurance
• Arogya Sanjeevani Policy
• Corona Kavach Policy
• Senior Citizen Health Insurance
• Parents Health Insurance
• Children Health Insurance

which offers people much needed financial backup during any medical emergencies.

ICICI Lombard Health Insurance Cashless Network Hospital List in Durg, Chhattisgarh

Explore ICICI Lombard’s health insurance plans :

• Family Health Insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance 
• Top Up Health Insurance
• Arogya Sanjeevani Policy
• Corona Kavach Policy
• Senior Citizen Health Insurance
• Parents Health Insurance
• Children Health Insurance

which offers people much needed financial backup during any medical emergencies.

ICICI Lombard Health Insurance Cashless Network Hospital List in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh

Explore ICICI Lombard’s health insurance plans :

• Family Health Insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance 
• Top Up Health Insurance
• Arogya Sanjeevani Policy
• Corona Kavach Policy
• Senior Citizen Health Insurance
• Parents Health Insurance
• Children Health Insurance

which offers people much needed financial backup during any medical emergencies.

ICICI Lombard Health Insurance Cashless Network Hospital List in Champa, Chhattisgarh

Explore ICICI Lombard’s health insurance plans :

• Family Health Insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance 
• Top Up Health Insurance
• Arogya Sanjeevani Policy
• Corona Kavach Policy
• Senior Citizen Health Insurance
• Parents Health Insurance
• Children Health Insurance

which offers people much needed financial backup during any medical emergencies.

ICICI Lombard Health Insurance Cashless Network Hospital List in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh

Explore ICICI Lombard’s health insurance plans :

• Family Health Insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance 
• Top Up Health Insurance
• Arogya Sanjeevani Policy
• Corona Kavach Policy
• Senior Citizen Health Insurance
• Parents Health Insurance
• Children Health Insurance

which offers people much needed financial backup during any medical emergencies.

ICICI Lombard Health Insurance Cashless Network Hospital List in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh

Explore ICICI Lombard’s health insurance plans :

• Family Health Insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance 
• Top Up Health Insurance
• Arogya Sanjeevani Policy
• Corona Kavach Policy
• Senior Citizen Health Insurance
• Parents Health Insurance
• Children Health Insurance

which offers people much needed financial backup during any medical emergencies.