What are the recent changes made by IRDAI to health insurance?

IRDAI has removed age limits for new health insurance policies, reduced waiting periods for pre-existing diseases, allowed multiple claims, and introduced other beneficial changes.

Is there an age limit for purchasing health insurance now?

No, the age limit of 65 years has been removed, allowing people of all ages to buy health insurance policies.

What is the new waiting period for pre-existing diseases?

The waiting period for pre-existing diseases has been reduced from 4 years to 3 years.

Can I file multiple claims if I have insurance policies with different companies?

Yes, policyholders can now file multiple claims with different insurers if they hold more than one policy.

How has the moratorium period been adjusted?

The moratorium period has been reduced from 8 years to 5 years, easing the process for claims related to non-disclosure of pre-existing conditions.

What is the new waiting period for pre-existing diseases?

The waiting period for pre-existing diseases has been reduced from 4 years to 3 years.

Can I file multiple claims if I have insurance policies with different companies?

Yes, policyholders can now file multiple claims with different insurers if they hold more than one policy.

What are 10 things you absolutely need to know about life insurance?

You should know the type of policy, coverage amount, premium, term, riders, claim process, tax benefits, nominee details, exclusions, and renewal terms before buying life insurance.

What do I need to know before buying health insurance?

Check coverage amount, hospital network, waiting periods, pre-existing disease clauses, exclusions, and claim settlement ratio before purchasing a policy.

What are the 5 P's of insurance?

The 5 P’s stand for Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and People, which guide how insurance services are designed and delivered.

What is the 80/20 rule in insurance?

The 80/20 rule means the insurer pays 80% of the medical expenses, while the policyholder covers the remaining 20%, usually after deductibles.

What are the 7 important principles of insurance?

They include Utmost Good Faith, Insurable Interest, Indemnity, Subrogation, Contribution, Proximate Cause, and Loss Minimization.

What is the 10x rule for life insurance?

The 10x rule suggests buying life insurance worth 10 times your annual income to ensure adequate financial protection for your dependents.

Is 20 lakh medical insurance good?

Yes, ₹20 lakh coverage is sufficient for most individuals, but it depends on age, health condition, and city of residence—metro residents may need higher cover.

Which is Indian No. 1 health insurance?

As of recent rankings, Star Health and HDFC ERGO are among India’s top health insurers for wide coverage and high claim settlement ratios.

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10 Changes You Should Be Aware Of Before Buying Health Insurance

Pragya Pathak

Author

Updated: 21-10-2025 at 5:30 PM

Health insurance is an essential aspect of one’s future as well as health planning. It is utterly beneficial in times of unanticipated sickness or accident, as it covers certain aspects related to the treatment of both. Furthermore, insurance provides tax benefits that make it a crucial aspect of one’s tax and financial planning.

Read the article to learn more about the new changes in health insurance like Star Health Insurance, and also answers to popular questions like ‘what to check before buying health insurance?’.

Overview

The table below summarises some key details about the new changes in health insurance.

Changes introduced in	Health insurance provided by various institutions, like Care Health Insurance or HDFC ERGO Health Insurance
Made by	IRDAI
Changes concerning	Age, multiple claims, waiting period of pre-existing diseases, customised plans, etc.
Things to check before buying health insurance in India	Type of policy, coverage amount, waiting period, claim settlement, etc.

What Are The Changes IRDAI Introduced Related To Health Insurance?

Recently, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India introduced changes in the existing rules and regulations related to health insurance, which all health insurance providers like Care Health Insurance or HDFC ERGO Health Insurance are supposed to follow. Let us have a look at them!

No Age Bar

Previously, there existed an age bar for new entrants or new buyers of health insurance policies. The age bar of 65 years has now been removed by IRDAI and the regulator has asked insurance companies to provide health insurance schemes for people of all age groups.

This is extremely beneficial for senior citizens who can now save money and access senior citizen healthcare insurance benefits without any age limit.

Waiting Period Of Pre- Existing Diseases

The waiting period of 4 years to seek mediclaim benefits as well as healthcare under health insurance has been ejected and the waiting period has been reduced to 3 years. This will facilitate access to treatment facilities for the elderly.

Most importantly, the reduction in the waiting period will prevent and prohibit insurance companies from refusing to pay PED claims after the 3 years waiting period.

Option To File Multiple Claims

The regulator has now allowed policyholders to file multiple claims with different insurers in case they hold multiple insurance policies. This would entitle the beneficiaries to choose from multiple options and seek the best option in case of diagnosis.

Indemnity Policies Done Away With

IRDAI has directed insurance companies to stop issuing indemnity-based policies and pay a fixed sum in events of covered disease diagnosis. The regulator has asked the companies to issue only ‘benefit’ based health insurance policies to its policyholders.

Moratorium Period

The Insurance regulator has reduced the moratorium period from 8 years to 5 years. This comes as a huge sigh of relief for policyholders since insurance providers will not be able to reject claims in case of non-disclosure of a pre-existing disease when there has been continuous coverage for 5 years.

However, an exception has been imposed in cases where claims constitute fraud.

Grievance Redressal Mechanism

The IRDAI has asked insurance companies to create proper mechanisms of claims and grievance redressal for the elderly. This is aimed at facilitating the process of making insurance claims and settling such grievances timely.

Customised Plans

The insurers have been directed by the regulator to formulate customised policies for children, maternity, undergoing subjects and the elderly. This way, the customers can choose from a variety of options and select the best health insurance policy for themselves.

No Sub-Limits On AYUSH Treatment

The sub-limits that were previously imposed on seeking AYUSH treatments have been lifted by IRDAI. Now, the policyholders will be able to extract claims up to the insured sum for seeking treatment under any AYUSH healthcare treatment.

Inclusivity By Issuing Policies To Severely Diseased

People with severe or extreme medical conditions will now be able to buy insurance plans for themselves with ease since IRDAI has now prohibited from refusing medical insurance policies to people with severe health conditions. This promotes inclusivity and equity amongst the masses.

Waiting Period For Specific Diseases

The waiting period for specific diseases has been reduced from 4 years to 3 years. Specific health conditions, such as those requiring orthopaedic treatment, will now be subject to claims after a waiting period of 3 years.

What To Check Before Buying Health Insurance?

Every individual should think of some questions to ask before buying health insurance. Those questions should be regarding the following points:

Firstly, understand the various types of policies available and choose one based on your comfort.
Ensure that the coverage amount under the health insurance policy is sufficient for you and your family.
Verify the waiting period of pre-existing conditions, which has been reduced from 4 to 3 years by IRDAI.
Please go through the inclusion and exclusion criteria carefully.

Conclusion

Health is a top priority for everyone. By introducing these changes in the health insurance sector, IRDAI has made the policies more pro-customers and inclusive in approach. These changes are expected to bring a positive change in the way both the stakeholder approach helps insurance, hence, be aware of these before buying health insurance.

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