How much critical illness cover do I need?

Considering India's skyrocketing price of medical treatment costs, you should opt for the critical illness policy with the maximum possible cover. While calculating the critical illness cover amount, consider the factors such as inflation, number of dependent family members, debt obligations, and rising medical expenditures.

What are the documents required for critical illness cover?

If you want to buy critical illness insurance, you need to furnish some basic documents such as proofs of your identity, address and age, etc. In some cases, you may need a medical test report.

Can I get critical illness cover after cancer?

You must disclose your complete medical history at the time of purchase. Your proposal acceptance will be subject to medical underwriting guidelines

Do all insurance providers in India cover the same critical illness?

The list of critical illnesses covered under critical illness insurance differs from one insurance provider to another. Therefore, before applying for a critical illness insurance policy, read the policy wording mentioned on the insurer website. At ICICI Lombard, we offer critical illness for 9 diseases, including cancer, open-chest CABG, and end-stage kidney disease.

What are the tax benefits under a critical illness insurance?

The premium you pay towards critical illness insurance is subject to tax deduction under section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961. In addition, the money you receive as a payout of a critical illness claim settlement is also tax-free.

How to select an ideal critical illness cover?

While choosing the ideal critical illness insurance cover, consider illnesses covered, waiting periods, compare premiums from various insurance providers, and then decide.

What are the factors to keep in mind while opting for critical illness insurance?

Before buying critical illness insurance, you should consider a few important aspects. Some of the important factors to keep in mind are the number of illnesses covered, exclusions in the policy, amount of premiums, survival period, claim settlement ratio of the insurer, and sub limitations, among other things.

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Health Insurance Renewal

Enjoy continued coverage

Preserve waiting periods

Add or update members

What is health insurance renewal?

Health insurance renewal is a process of paying for your health insurance policy on or before it’s expiry date. A health insurance policy usually has a validity of one year unless you opt for a multi-year policy tenure. When your policy tenure is near it’s expiry, you need to pay the applicable premium to keep the health insurance active and continue enjoying its coverage/benefits. The process of renewing your health insurance policy is simple and can be done online.

Health insurance renewal benefits before expiry

There are multiple health insurance renewal benefits. These include:

No break in coverage

Renewing health insurance before expiry ensures continuous coverage. This means you are not left vulnerable to high medical expenses at any point.

Get discount on premium

Some insurers offer discount on policy renewal, which can help to keep your premiums low. If your policy expires and there’s a discontinuation, you might have to pay higher premiums.

Waiting period preservation

Renewing your health insurance before expiry helps to preserve the waiting period that you’ve already completed. On the other hand, renewal delays or policy lapse can reset it.

Peace of mind

Health insurance renewal before expiry gives you peace of mind as you know you and your loved ones are covered against medical emergencies.

How to renew health insurance online with ICICI Lombard?

If you have health insurance from ICICI Lombard, you can renew it easily online. To renew health insurance online:

Visit our website here and click on ‘Health Policy’ under ‘Renewals’.
Select the way you wish to renew - policy number or phone number and click on ‘Proceed’
Check your policy details and/or opt for available add-ons, if needed
Pay the applicable premium

Grace period benefits during health insurance renewal

Your health policy doesn’t immediately lapse at the end of the policy period. Once the policy period expires, you get a grace period during which you can renew your policy. The benefits include:

Keeps policy active

If there's a gap between policy expiry and renewal, it could be treated as a new policy. This means you'll lose all the benefits you earned over the years. Renewing during the grace period helps to avoid this.

No fresh medical tests

Renewing within the grace period helps you continue with your existing policy. Therefore, there’s no need for fresh medical screening and tests.

Preserves no claim bonus

If you renew within the grace period, your no claims bonus/cumulative bonus benefits remain intact. If you delay beyond the grace period, you may lose the bonus.

No fresh purchase hassle

If your policy lapses, you might need to go through the full process of buying a fresh policy. Health insurance renewal during the grace period helps you avoid these hassles.

Documents required for health insurance renewal

Generally, you don’t need to provide any documents to renew health insurance. However, it’s better to check with your insurer if you need to provide any documents to do so. You might need to provide documents related to your age and identity for renewal if required.

Things to remember when renewing your health insurance

There are certain things you need to remember when you renew health insurance. These include:

Check current coverage

Look at your current coverage and determine whether it’s adequate. If not, opt for a higher sum insured during renewal.

Need for add-ons

Evaluate whether you need any add-ons or extra cover. If yes, opt for the add-on during renewal. Add-ons help you with enhanced coverage.

Avoid last-minute renewal

Don't wait until the last day. Start checking your policy at least 2-3 weeks before it expires. This gives you time to compare options and avoid any last-minute stress.

What is the authorisation process for health insurance?

Current health needs

Think about your health and your family’s health. Have there been any new illnesses, hospital visits or medical needs in the past year? If yes, you may need more coverage now.
Change in policy terms

Your renewed policy could have new terms and conditions. Read them carefully. Check for new limits, added conditions or changes in hospitals covered.
Hospital network

See if your preferred hospitals are still on the insurer’s list. This makes cashless claims easier and faster. Also, check the hospitals not recognised by the insurer.
Adding new members

Need to add any new member to your existing policy? Check the provisions to do so. Keeping all members covered is always a wise decision.

Mistakes to avoid while renewing health insurance

Health insurance renewal is a vital task. Doing it in a hurry can lead to mistakes. Here are some mistakes you need to avoid when you renew health insurance:

Non-review of policy

Don’t just renew without checking the details. Your needs may have changed and you need a policy that aligns with them.

Hiding pre-existing diseases

If your health condition has changed, tell your insurer. Hiding it can cause trouble later when you file a claim. It could lead to a claim rejection.

Non-comparison of options

Compare various health plans across insurers. Choose a policy that best suits your needs in the long run.

Not updating personal details

If your phone number, email or address has changed, update it. Wrong details can delay important communication with your insurer.

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Individual vs Family Floater Health Insurance: Key Differences

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08 Aug 2025

When should I renew my health insurance policy?

You should renew your policy before the expiry date. It’s best to start the process 2–3 weeks in advance to avoid any last-minute issues.

What happens if I forget to renew my policy on time?

If you miss the deadline, your policy may lapse. Insurers do give a grace period for renewal, but you won’t be covered during that time.

Can I change my insurance company at the time of renewal?

Yes, you can switch to another insurer at renewal through portability. If you port properly, you can keep benefits like waiting periods already completed for pre-existing diseases.

Can I increase my sum insured during renewal?

Yes, you can request a higher sum insured. The insurer may review your health and claims history before approving it.

Will my premium increase during renewal?

Premiums may go up due to age, plan upgrades or changes in insurer pricing. Check with your insurer about these changes.

Can I add new family members during renewal?

Yes, you can add family members like a new born, spouse or parents at the time of renewal.

Can I do health insurance renewal online?

Yes, most insurers allow easy online renewal through their website or mobile app. You can pay using net banking or UPI to renew.

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