Star Health SuperStar Plan Eligibility, Features, Optional Covers & Benefits

Star Health Insurance, known for its affordability and durable health plans, has introduced a revolutionary plan: the Super Star Plan. This plan stands out with flexible features, diverse add-ons, and unique benefits that cater to a wide range of customer needs. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the eligibility, features, and benefits of this plan, providing you with a clear understanding of what makes the Super Star Plan an excellent choice for health insurance.

Also see: Best Health Insurance Plans with BP and Diabetes Cover from day one

Eligibility Conditions for Star Health SuperStar Plan

Star Health SuperStar Plan is designed with flexible and comprehensive eligibility conditions that accommodate a wide range of policyholders. From entry age requirements to policy term lengths and coverage options, the plan offers several attractive features. Below is a detailed explanation of the key eligibility conditions, which include the entry age, family coverage, policy types, terms, discounts, sum insured options, premium payment methods, and mid-term inclusion criteria.

Entry Age

The entry age defines the age range within which an individual or dependent can be included under the policy. For this plan, the entry age is divided into two categories:

• Individual Sum Insured: For adults, the minimum entry age is 18 years, and there is no maximum age limit. This is a notable departure from Star earlier plans, which capped the entry age for adults at 65 to 70 years.

• Floater Sum Insured (for Dependent Children): Dependent children can be included in the plan from 91 days of age until they reach 25 years. Earlier plans had a more restrictive cap at 17 years, but the SuperStar plan extends this age limit to 25, allowing greater flexibility for families.

Family Definition and Maximum Family Size

The Super Star plan offers flexibility in defining who can be included in a family floater policy:

Eligible Family Members:

• Self
• Legally married spouse or living partner
• Dependent children

Maximum Family Size:

• You can include two adults and up to four dependent children in a family floater policy, making it a comprehensive option for larger families.

Types of Policies Available

Star Health provides three distinct policy structures under the Super Star Plan:

• Individual Sum Insured: This is for individuals who want to insure themselves.
• Multi-Individual Sum Insured: In this type, multiple individuals can be insured under the same policy, each with a separate sum insured.
• Family Floater Policy: The sum insured is shared among the family members under this plan.

Policy Term

One of the unique features of the Super Star Plan is its flexible policy term. Unlike most health insurance plans that offer coverage for a maximum of 3 years, this plan allows for a policy term of up to 5 years. This extended policy term comes with added discounts for long-term policyholders.

Discounts:

• For a 2-year policy, a 10% discount is offered on the premium for the second year.
• For a 3-year policy, a 12.5% discount is available on the premium for the third year.
• For a 4-year policy, a 14% discount is given on the fourth year premium.
• For a 5-year policy, a 16% discount is applied on the fifth-year premium.

These discounts make long-term policies more attractive and cost-effective for policyholders.

Sum Insured Options

The Super Star plan provides a wide range of sum insured options, allowing customers to choose coverage based on their needs:

• Options range from ₹5 lakh to ₹1 crore.
• Available increments: ₹5 lakh, ₹7.5 lakh, ₹10 lakh, ₹15 lakh, ₹20 lakh, ₹25 lakh, ₹50 lakh, ₹1 crore, and an option for unlimited coverage.

However, it’s important to note that sum insured options of ₹1 crore and unlimited coverage are only available for individuals up to 65 years of age.

Premium Paying Terms

Star Health Insurance offers multiple payment frequencies, giving policyholders the convenience to pay premiums in a way that suits their financial situation. The available premium payment frequencies include:

• Annually: The most economical option.
• Half-Yearly: Premium is paid twice a year.
• Quarterly: Premium is paid four times a year.
• Monthly: Premium is paid every month, which is generally the most expensive option due to frequent payments.

Zone-Wise Premium

The premium for the SuperStar Plan is determined based on the geographical zone in which the policyholder resides. Star Health has divided the regions into three zones:

• Zone A: The highest premium zone, typically for metro cities where healthcare costs are higher.
• Zone B: The mid-range premium zone for smaller cities.
• Zone C: The lowest premium zone, usually for rural areas.

Zone-wise pricing ensures that premiums are more affordable for people living in areas with lower healthcare costs.

Mandatory Co-Pay

Interestingly, the SuperStar Plan does not have a mandatory co-pay, which is a cost-sharing arrangement where the policyholder pays a part of the claim amount. The absence of co-pay makes this plan highly favorable, especially for senior citizens and families who may want to avoid high out-of-pocket costs.

Mid-Term Inclusion of New Members

One of the standout features of the SuperStar Plan is the option for mid-term inclusion, allowing policyholders to add new family members during the policy period under certain conditions.

• Newly Wedded Spouse: If you get married during the policy term, your spouse can be added to the policy within 90 days of the marriage.

• Newborn Baby: A newborn child can be included in the policy within 90 days of birth.

• Legally Adopted Child: If you legally adopt a child, they can also be added to the policy within 90 days of the adoption.

These provisions make the Super Star Plan highly flexible for growing families, ensuring that new members are covered without delay.

Features and Benefits of Star Health SuperStar Plan

Let’s delve into the detailed features and benefits of this plan:

In-Patient Hospitalization

The SuperStar Plan offers extensive coverage for in-patient hospitalization expenses. This includes:

• Room rent (any room), boarding, and nursing
• ICU charges
• Fees for surgeon, anaesthetist, and specialists
• Anaesthesia, blood, oxygen, surgical appliances, medicines and drugs, diagnostic materials, dialysis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, pacemaker, stent and similar expenses

One of the key features of this plan is that there is no room rent limit. Regardless of your sum insured, whether it is ₹5 lakhs or more, you can choose any room category without restriction. Additionally, there is no capping on ICU treatment costs, allowing full coverage in case of critical care needs.

Option to reduce room rent

This plan also offers the flexibility to reduce the room rent category, if you wish. This option can be availed through the add-on section, allowing customisation to suit individual needs and reducing costs.

Freeze Your Age Benefit

One of the standout features of the Super Star Plan is the Freeze Your Age option, which allows policyholders to lock their premium at the entry age. This benefit ensures that the premium remains the same until a claim is made under in-patient, day care, or AYUSH treatments.

For example, if you buy the policy at the age of 25, you will continue paying the premium applicable to a 25-year-old until you make a claim. This benefit applies until the age of 55, after which regular premium slabs will apply. If a claim is made, future premiums will be charged according to your actual age at renewal. This feature provides significant savings, particularly for younger policyholders.

Additionally, if a long-term policy is purchased (e.g., a 5-year policy), even after a claim, there will be no impact on the premium during the term, ensuring fixed costs.

Automatic Restoration of Sum Insured

The SuperStar Plan offers an Automatic Restoration feature, which restores the sum insured up to 100% whenever it gets fully or partially used during treatment. This benefit is available unlimited times, meaning that no matter how many claims you make, the sum insured will be replenished after exhaustion, ensuring continued coverage for future treatments.

Cumulative Bonus

The plan rewards policyholders with a Cumulative Bonus for every claim-free year. Your sum insured will increase by 50% for each year without a claim, up to a maximum of 100%. For instance, if you have a ₹10 lakh policy and do not file a claim for two consecutive years, your sum insured will double to ₹20 lakhs.

Special conditions include:

1. The Cumulative bonus will be calculated on the expiring Sum Insured
2. If the insured opts to reduce the Sum Insured at the subsequent renewal, the limit of indemnity by way of such Cumulative bonus will be considered as per the reduced sum insured
3. Cumulative bonus will not be reduced unless the same is utilized in the event of claim
4. During renewal, Cumulative bonus will be reduced only to the extent of utilized portion and the unutilized Cumulative bonus will be carried forward to the next policy year.
5. This benefit is not applicable to policies with Unlimited Sum insured.

Organ Donor Expenses

If we talk about organ donor expenses, then this plan will also cover the expenses of donating organs. The cost of up to all insured screening is not covered, that is, the cost of finding the donor is not covered in this plan. But there are some other special things as well. Once the organ is transplanted, if the donor faces any complication or if any surgery has to be done again, then that too can be covered in this plan. Once the donor is discharged, even for the next 180 days i.e. 6 months, if the donor has to take treatment in ICU, then that too will be covered by the Superstar plan.

Dental Checkup

Policyholders can avail a dental checkup for one insured person per policy year from the second year onwards. This includes examination and scaling (cleaning) of teeth.

Tele-Consultation and AI-Driven Face Scan

The SuperStar Plan offers unlimited tele-consultations with healthcare practitioners via the mobile app. Additionally, policyholders can use an AI-driven face scan to check vital parameters like heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiration rate up to two times per month per insured person.

Home Care Treatment

For select treatments, policyholders can choose to receive home care treatment instead of being admitted to the hospital. Conditions covered include:

List of Conditions covered under Home care treatment:

1. Fever and Infectious diseases which can be managed as In-patient
2. Uncomplicated Urinary tract infections but needing Parenteral Antibiotics
3. Asthma and COPD -Mild Exacerbations needing Home Nebulization
4. Acute Gastritis / Gastroenteritis
5. I.V. Chemotherapy [Where advised by the doctor]
6. Palliative Cancer care requiring medical assistance
7. Acute Vertigo
8. Diabetic foot and Cellulitis
9. IVDP [Cervical and Lumbar disc diseases]
10. Major Surgeries / Arthroplasties needing IV Antibiotics Post Discharge
11. Care for Brain and Spinal Injury Cases Post Discharge
12. Post CVA Care at Home after Discharge

However, you must use one of Star Health listed home care service providers to avail this benefit.

Domiciliary Treatment –

If the treatment at home is not your choice but due to compulsion in which the patient is either not in a position to go to the hospital or the hospital does not have a bed available, then you can take the treatment at home. Certain conditions are excluded, which are mentioned below; i.e., their treatment at home will not be covered as home treatment.

“However, this benefit shall not cover Asthma, Bronchitis, Chronic Nephritis and Nephritic Syndrome, Diarrhoea and all types of Dysenteries including Gastro-enteritis, Diabetes Mellitus and Insipidus, Epilepsy, Hypertension, Influenza, Cough and Cold, all Psychiatric or Psychosomatic Disorders, Pyrexia of unknown origin for less than 10 days, Tonsillitis and Upper Respiratory Tract infection including Laryngitis and Pharyngitis, Arthritis, Gout and Rheumatism.”

Pre and Post Hospitalization Expenses

The SuperStar Plan covers medical expenses for up to 90 days before hospitalization and 180 days after discharge, provided that the claim has been approved by the insurer. This extended coverage helps manage medical costs associated with prolonged treatments.

Day Care Treatments

The plan covers day care procedures that do not require 24-hour hospitalization. This includes surgeries and treatments that can be completed within a day, providing flexibility for minor medical procedures.

Modern Treatments

The plan covers advanced and modern treatments with no sub-limits. These include:

• Stem cell therapy for bone marrow transplant
• Uterine artery embolisation, Balloon Sinuplasty, Deep Brain Stimulation
• Oral Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Intravitreal injections
• Robotic surgeries, Stereotactic radiosurgeries, Bronchial Thermoplasty
• Holmium laser treatment, IONM (Intra Operative Neuro Monitoring)

Nowadays, all the treatments will keep getting technologically advanced, so there is no sub-limit for the 12 listed modern treatments that IRDAI has listed, the Superstar plan will cover up to all the insured

AYUSH Treatments

For those interested in alternative therapies, the plan covers AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) treatments, including inpatient hospitalization. Yoga and naturopathy, which were previously excluded in Star Health plans, are now covered with prior approval from the insurer.

Road and Air Ambulance

The SuperStar Plan provides comprehensive coverage for road ambulance services, including transportation to and from the hospital. For emergencies requiring faster transport, policyholders can also avail up to ₹5 lakh for air ambulance services.

Premium Waiver

In the unfortunate event that the policyholder is diagnosed with a critical illness (as per the list in the policy document) or dies in an accident, the next year premium will be waived. This benefit helps families manage during difficult times by relieving them from the financial burden of renewing the policy.

STAR Wellness Program

Policyholders can participate in the STAR Wellness Program via the STAR Health App, earning points for wellness activities. These points can be redeemed for up to a 20% discount on renewal premiums.

Value-Added Services

The plan offers several value-added services, such as discounts on pharmacy, diagnostics, and consultations through the STAR Health App, helping policyholders manage their overall health expenses.

e-Medical Opinion

You can also seek advice from the panel of doctors of Star Health Insurance through email. If any medical condition is diagnosed, then you will have to send all the diagnosis and all the documents related to your diagnosis to the email ID e_medicalopinion@starhealth.in. You can mail all the documents on this email and take whatever advice you want from the panel of doctors.

Optional Covers and Add-ons in Star Health SuperStar Plan

Health insurance plans offer extensive coverage, but sometimes policyholders seek additional benefits tailored to their unique needs. This is where add-ons come into play. Star Health Insurance SuperStar Plan provides a wide range of optional covers that allow policyholders to customize their plan for enhanced protection. These add-ons cover everything from limitless medical expenses to maternity benefits and personal accident coverage.

Limitless Care Add-on

The Limitless Care add-on is a standout feature in the SuperStar Plan, allowing policyholders to convert any one claim during their lifetime into an unlimited sum insured.

• Key Feature: This add-on essentially removes any cap on the sum insured for one claim, meaning that no matter how high the medical expenses rise for a particular claim, the policyholder will be covered.
• Comparison: This feature is similar to the one offered by ICICI Lombard Elevate Plan, which also provides an unlimited sum insured option.
• Benefit: It’s particularly useful for unforeseen medical emergencies where treatment costs can soar beyond the standard sum insured.

SuperStar Bonus Add-on

The SuperStar Bonus is an enticing feature designed to boost the cumulative bonus of the policy.

• Key Feature: With this add-on, the cumulative bonus increases by up to 100% each year, with no maximum limit.
• Benefit: Whether a claim is made or not, the sum insured continues to increase annually. For example, if the base sum insured is ₹20 lakhs, it can keep growing every year without any upper ceiling, giving policyholders a higher sum insured over time.
• Advantage for Long-Term Policyholders: This add-on is ideal for those who plan to keep their insurance for the long term and want to steadily increase their coverage without worrying about medical inflation.

Women Care Add-on

The Women Care add-on is specially designed for pregnant women and new mothers.

• Key Feature: It provides coverage for newborn babies from birth to 90 days of age.
• Eligibility: To avail of this add-on, the expectant mother must submit her 12th and 20th-week pregnancy scan reports to the insurer.
• Coverage: Depending on the sum insured of the policy, coverage of up to ₹2 lakhs or ₹5 lakhs can be granted for the newborn.
• Benefit: This add-on ensures that the newborn is covered right from birth, providing immediate financial protection for any medical complications.
• Ideal for Families: This feature is a boon for families planning for childbirth, as it covers essential medical expenses for the baby during the crucial first 90 days of life.

Future Shield Add-on

The Future Shield add-on is targeted at policyholders who may experience life changes, such as getting married.

• Key Feature: It allows newlyweds to add their spouse to the existing policy without resetting the waiting period.
• Eligibility: The spouse’s age must be under 35, and they must be added within 120 days of marriage.
• Benefit: The spouse’s waiting period is considered complete when added to the policy, making it convenient for new couples to secure immediate health coverage without waiting.
• Why It Matters: This add-on is great for individuals planning to start a family and seeking to merge their health coverage without delay.

Maternity Expenses Add-on

Maternity Expenses are available as an add-on with three customizable options. Below is a table that highlights each option in detail:

• Newborn Cover: In both options, the newborn is covered for up to ₹2 lakhs or ₹5 lakhs depending on the sum insured.
• Benefit: This add-on is ideal for expectant mothers, offering comprehensive protection for both natural and assisted pregnancies. The flexibility of choosing between three different options makes it adaptable to varying needs.

Quick Shield Add-on

The Quick Shield add-on provides immediate coverage for 5 pre-existing medical conditions.

Conditions Covered:

1. Diabetes
2. Hypertension
3. Asthma
4. Hyperlipidemia
5. Certain coronary artery diseases

• Key Feature: With this add-on, policyholders can receive coverage for these conditions starting from the 31st day of the policy, bypassing the standard waiting period.
• Age Limit: Available for policyholders under the age of 65.
• Benefit: This add-on is perfect for individuals with pre-existing conditions who need coverage without waiting. It ensures early access to necessary treatments.

Annual Health Checkup Add-on

The Annual Health Checkup add-on offers routine medical checkups from day one of the policy.

• Key Feature: Policyholders can avail of health checkups up to 1% of the sum insured or a maximum of ₹25,000 annually.
• Conditions: The tests must be conducted in a cashless lab associated with Star Health. The money can also be used for vaccinations.
• Benefit: Regular health checkups can help detect issues early, promoting overall well-being and prevention of major medical problems.

Personal Accident Cover Add-on

The Personal Accident Cover add-on provides two options for accident-related coverage.

• Option 1: Coverage for accidental death.
• Option 2: Coverage for both accidental death and permanent total disability.

Key Feature: The coverage extends worldwide, offering financial protection for any accidental event, no matter where it occurs.

Benefit: This add-on is crucial for individuals who travel frequently or work in environments where accidents are more likely.

Non-Medical Items Add-on

The Non-Medical Items add-on covers consumable items that are usually excluded from standard insurance policies.

• Key Feature: Consumables listed under Annexure I of the policy terms are covered, ensuring that non-medical expenses like surgical items, gloves, or syringes are included.
• Benefit: By covering these items, policyholders can significantly reduce their out-of-pocket expenses during hospitalization.

High-End Diagnostics Add-On

One of the most beneficial add-ons is the High-End Diagnostics cover, which caters to individuals requiring advanced diagnostic tests. Under this add-on, the following tests are payable on an OPD (Outpatient Department) basis if they are part of a treatment plan, up to a limit of ₹25,000 per policy year:

• Brain Perfusion Imaging
• CT Guided Biopsy
• CT Urography
• Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)
• Liver Biopsy
• Magnetic Resonance Cholangiography Scan
• PET CT
• PET MRI
• Renogram

This add-on is especially useful for individuals who require frequent diagnostic tests, such as those with chronic conditions or those undergoing extensive treatment. The add-on comes with an initial 30-day waiting period, after which it can be availed as part of the OPD coverage.

Why This Add-On is Valuable:

• Coverage of up to ₹25,000 annually ensures that policyholders don’t need to bear the high costs of advanced diagnostics.
• It significantly reduces the financial burden for individuals undergoing frequent tests.

Durable Medical Equipment Cover

This add-on is essential for patients requiring medical equipment during their treatment. The Durable Medical Equipment cover offers a lifetime limit of ₹5 lakhs for the following items:

1. CPAP Machine
2. Ventilator
3. Wheelchair
4. Prosthetic Devices
5. Suction Machine
6. Commode Chairs
7. Infusion Pump
8. Continuous Passive Motion Devices (used in knee replacement)
9. Oxygen Concentrator

Once the ₹5 lakh limit is exhausted, the coverage ceases, and the policyholder will have to bear further expenses for such equipment.

Why This Add-On is Essential:

• It supports individuals requiring long-term or rehabilitation care.
• The lifetime limit ensures that policyholders have extended coverage for expensive medical equipment.

Hospital Cash Add-On

The Hospital Cash add-on offers a daily cash benefit for the number of days a policyholder is hospitalized. The daily benefit ranges from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, and policyholders can select coverage from 30 days to 180 days. This flexibility allows individuals to choose a cash benefit that aligns with their anticipated needs and hospital stay durations.

Key Features:

• Flexible daily benefit options from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000.
• Coverage options range from 30 days to 180 days, providing flexibility in premium payments.

Why Opt for Hospital Cash:

• It provides financial relief for non-medical expenses, such as travel, food, and other daily needs.
• It acts as a buffer for lost income due to hospitalization.

NRI Advantage Add-On

The NRI Advantage add-on offers a 10% discount on applicable premiums for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens. This add-on caters to the needs of expatriates and frequent travelers, allowing them to maintain affordable health coverage while residing abroad.

Benefits of NRI Advantage:

• Significant cost savings on premiums for NRIs.
• Tailored benefits for individuals living abroad but seeking insurance coverage in India.

E-International Second Opinion Add-On

This add-on allows policyholders to get a second medical opinion from an international panel of experts once per policy year for each insured person. The opinion is based solely on medical records, and no physical examination is required.

Importance of E-International Second Opinion:

• Provides access to global medical expertise, especially for critical or complex health conditions.
• It ensures peace of mind by validating or providing alternative treatment options.

Compassionate Visit Add-On

The Compassionate Visit add-on is designed for emergencies where an immediate family member needs to travel due to the hospitalization of a loved one. If a policyholder or a covered family member is admitted due to a life-threatening emergency while away from home, an immediate family member can get travel expenses covered up to ₹10,000 per policy year.

Why Choose This Add-On:

• It offers financial assistance during critical times, helping families stay together during emergencies.
• Particularly useful for those whose family members often travel or live far from each other.

Smart Network Add-On

The Smart Network add-on offers full claim coverage when a policyholder seeks treatment at hospitals listed in Star Health Insurance Smart Network. However, if treated outside the network, the policyholder must pay a 15% co-payment. In exchange for this copayment, policyholders receive a 15% discount on their premium.

Key Points:

• The Smart Network add-on is not applicable in Zone C cities.
• It ensures full claim benefits at selected network hospitals, while still offering premium discounts.

Benefits:

• Helps in reducing premium costs.
• Encourages treatment within a trusted hospital network for full coverage.

Room Rent Modification Add-On

Under the SuperStar Plan, there is no predefined limit for room rent. However, if policyholders want to set a limit and reduce their premium, they can opt for the Room Rent Modification add-on. The following options are available:

1. Single Private AC Room
2. Shared Room
3. General Ward

Why Choose This Add-On:

• Reduces premium costs by selecting room options aligned with the policyholder budget and preferences.
• Offers flexibility without compromising the quality of care.

Voluntary Co-Payment Add-On

With the Voluntary Co-Payment add-on, policyholders can choose to contribute a portion of the claim amount. This, in turn, reduces the premium. Policyholders can select flexible co-payment options ranging from 10% to 50%.

Advantages of Voluntary Co-Payment:

• Lower premiums based on the chosen co-payment percentage.
• Flexibility in choosing the amount policyholders are comfortable paying out of pocket.

Voluntary Deductible Add-On

The Voluntary Deductible add-on allows policyholders to pay a fixed amount before the insurance coverage kicks in. Deductible options range from ₹10,000 to ₹10 lakhs. This option is beneficial for those who prefer a lower premium and are willing to bear a fixed cost upfront for claims.

Key Features:

• Allows significant premium reductions by setting a deductible amount.
• Offers flexibility in choosing a comfortable deductible limit.

Important Note:

Policyholders cannot choose both Voluntary Co-Payment and Voluntary Deductible in the same plan.

Reduction of Specific Disease/Procedure Waiting Period Add-On

This add-on allows policyholders to reduce the waiting period for specified diseases or procedures from 2 years to 1 year. It is an essential add-on for those requiring early access to treatment for pre-existing conditions or planned surgeries.

Benefits:

• Shortens the waiting time for treatments, ensuring quicker access to coverage.
• Ideal for individuals expecting treatment for conditions with long waiting periods.

Reduction of PED (Pre-Existing Disease) Waiting Period Add-On

For policyholders looking to reduce the waiting period for Pre-Existing Diseases, this add-on offers options to shorten the waiting time from 36 months to 24 or even 12 months.

Why It’s Important:

• Provides faster access to coverage for pre-existing conditions.
• Offers flexibility in managing health care timelines and costs.

Now these were about 21 addons that I just told you about, very important questions related to these that must be coming to your mind at this time are which addon should we choose and when, can we choose them at the time of renewal, if we want to remove them later then we can do so, for how many years will we have to pay for which addon, you will get all this information in the prospectus document of Superstar Plan on page number 4, 5 and 6 and I am giving you the link of this document below, along with this I will also share with you the link of the brochure and policy of this plan, there is no need to go or search anywhere, keep in mind that these important terms and conditions related to the addons are written on page number 4, 5 and 6 of the prospectus itself, read them once.

Discounts Offered by the Star Health Insurance SuperStar Plan

The Star Health Insurance SuperStar Plan offers a range of discounts to policyholders, ensuring that individuals not only receive health coverage but also benefit from cost savings. These discounts are designed to reward policyholders for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, making responsible financial decisions, and early renewals. Below are the five key discounts available under the SuperStar Plan, along with details on how to avail them.

1. Questionnaire-Based Discount

The first discount that policyholders can benefit from is based on answering a series of questions related to their health and lifestyle. Upon purchasing the policy, Star Health Insurance may ask you questions regarding your health habits, fitness routines, and overall lifestyle. Based on your responses, which must be favorable, you can receive a 5% discount on the premium for the first year. If you continue the policy and renew it, you can receive an additional 5% discount. This brings the total potential discount to 10%. This system is a way to encourage policyholders to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which in turn can reduce the likelihood of requiring medical intervention.

2. CIBIL Score Discount

Star Health Insurance also rewards policyholders for having a strong financial track record. The CIBIL score, which reflects your credit history, plays a role in determining how much of a discount you can receive on your policy premium. If your financial health is strong, with a high CIBIL score indicating responsible credit management, you can earn a discount of up to 15%. Factors such as the number of credit cards you own, your repayment history, and your overall credit behavior are evaluated to calculate this discount. The better your CIBIL score, the higher the discount you can receive, making financial responsibility directly beneficial to reducing your insurance costs.

3. Co-Terminus Discount

The Co-Terminus Discount is ideal for individuals who plan to extend health coverage to their family members. If you buy the SuperStar Plan for yourself and then within a month, you purchase the same plan for your parents or parents-in-law, you can avail this discount. If the policy is bought for a single parent, the discount is 2.5%. However, if policies are purchased for more than one parent, a higher discount of 7.5% is offered. This discount encourages family health insurance coverage and provides savings for those who opt to insure their loved ones soon after insuring themselves.

4. Early Renewal Discount

Planning ahead and renewing your policy early can also lead to savings. Star Health Insurance provides a 2.5% discount if you renew your SuperStar Plan 30 days before the renewal date. This Early Renewal Discount not only benefits policyholders financially but also ensures that there is no gap in coverage, keeping you consistently protected against medical emergencies. The discount incentivizes timely renewals, which is a win-win for both the insurer and the insured.

5. Wellness Discount

The final discount is perhaps the most motivating for those who maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. Star Health Insurance offers a Wellness Discount that can be tracked through their mobile app. By engaging in a healthy lifestyle and regularly tracking your activities through the app, you can qualify for a discount of up to 20% on renewals. The more active and health-conscious you are, the greater the discount you can earn. This is a great way for policyholders to save money while staying fit, as their efforts directly impact their renewal premiums.

Waiting Period of Star Health Insurance SuperStar Plan

When opting for a health insurance policy like the Star Health Insurance SuperStar Plan, it’s crucial to understand the concept of the waiting period. A waiting period refers to the time frame during which certain medical conditions or treatments will not be covered by the insurance provider. In the case of the Star Health SuperStar Plan, there are various types of waiting periods that apply to different conditions and procedures. Let’s explore these in detail.

Pre-existing Diseases (PED)

The first and most common type of waiting period is for pre-existing diseases (PED). Pre-existing diseases refer to any medical condition that has been diagnosed prior to the purchase of the insurance policy. For this waiting period to apply, two conditions must be met:

• The medical condition must be diagnosed before taking the policy.
• The condition must be declared to the insurance company.

If both conditions are fulfilled and the insurance company accepts your policy with these conditions in mind, then the waiting period for these pre-existing diseases will be 36 months. However, the Star Health SuperStar Plan allows policyholders the flexibility to reduce this waiting period by paying an extra premium. You can opt to shorten the waiting period from 36 months to either 24 months or 12 months, depending on your preference and willingness to pay the additional premium.

Specific Diseases Waiting Period

Apart from pre-existing diseases, the Star Health SuperStar Plan also has a waiting period for specific diseases. This waiting period is set at 24 months for a list of conditions that are generally not covered within the first two years of the policy. However, much like with the PED waiting period, policyholders have the option to reduce this specific disease waiting period from 24 months to 12 months by paying an additional premium.

The specific diseases that fall under this category include:

1. Subcutaneous Benign Lumps, Sebaceous cyst, Dermoid cyst, Mucous cyst lip / cheek, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trigger Finger, Lipoma, Neurofibroma, Fibroadenoma, Ganglion and similar pathology
2. All treatments (Conservative, Operative treatment) and all types of intervention for Diseases related to Tendon, Ligament, Fascia, Bones and Joint Including Arthroscopy and Arthroplasty / Joint Replacement [other than caused by accident].
3. All types of treatment for Degenerative disc and Vertebral diseases including Replacement of bones and joints and Degenerative diseases of the Musculo-skeletal system, Prolapse of Intervertebral Disc (other than caused by accident)
4. All treatments (conservative, interventional, laparoscopic and open) related to Hepato-pancreato-biliary diseases including Gall bladder and Pancreatic calculi. All types of management for Kidney calculi and Genitourinary tract calculi.
5. All types of Hernia.
6. Desmoid Tumor, Umbilical Granuloma, Umbilical Sinus, Umbilical Fistula.
7. All treatments (conservative, interventional, laparoscopic and open) related to all Diseases of Cervix, Uterus, Fallopian tubes, Ovaries, Uterine Bleeding, Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases
8. All Diseases of Prostate, Stricture Urethra, all Obstructive Uropathies
9. Benign Tumours of Epididymis, Spermatocele, Varicocele, Hydrocele
10. Fistula, Fissure in Ano, Hemorrhoids, Pilonidal Sinus and Fistula, Rectal Prolapse, Stress Incontinence
11. Varicose veins and Varicose ulcers
12. All types of transplant and related surgeries.
13. Congenital Internal disease / defect (except for New Born Cover – Section (III) (5) (Option A and Option B)

This waiting period ensures that treatments for the above conditions are not covered within the first 24 months unless the policyholder opts for an add-on to reduce the waiting period.

Initial Waiting Period

In addition to the PED and specific disease waiting periods, the Star Health SuperStar Plan also has an initial waiting period of 30 days. This is a standard feature across most health insurance plans. During this time, no treatments will be covered except for those related to accidental injuries. Any illness or sickness that arises within the first 30 days of purchasing the policy will not be eligible for a claim. However, accidents are exempt from this waiting period, and treatments required as a result of accidents are covered from day one.

Portability and Migration Impact on Waiting Period

For those who already have an existing health insurance policy and are looking to switch to the Star Health SuperStar Plan, the concept of portability and migration comes into play. If you are porting or migrating your policy from another insurer, the waiting periods in the new policy may be reduced based on the continuous renewal period of your previous policy. This means that if you had already completed part of the waiting period under your old policy, the remaining waiting period under the new policy will be proportionally reduced.

Pricing – How affordable is the plan?

The affordability of the Superstar Plan is structured based on three distinct geographical zones:

Zone wise premium – Applicable

• Zone A: Delhi, New Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Shahdara, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Mewat, Alwar, Baghpat, Bhiwani, Bulandshahar, Fatehabad, Hisar, jhajjar, Jind, Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Mahendragarh, Meerut, Muzaffar nagar, Palwal, Panchsheel Nagar, Panipat, Rewari, Rohtak, Saharanpur, Sirsa, Sonipat, Mumbai (Including suburban), Rest of Gujarat, Thane, Palghar and Raigad

• Zone B: Chennai, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Nashik, Pune, Tiruvallur, Hyderabad, Kollam, Wayanad, Indore, K V Ranga Reddy, Medchal Malkajgiri, Ahmed Nagar and Gwalior

• Zone C: Rest of India

For example: a standard family size of two adults (aged 38 and 35 years) and two children (aged 12 and 9 years) living in Zone A, with no pre-existing diseases (PED), and a sum insured of ₹20 lakhs, the premiums for three different coverage options are as follows:

• Standard policy without any add-ons: ₹29,632 per year.

• With the consumables add-on: ₹31,855 per year. This add-on is considered basic and necessary as it covers consumable items during hospitalization that aren’t usually covered.

• With both consumables and the SuperStar Bonus add-on: ₹37,041 per year. The SuperStar Bonus add-on allows unlimited cumulative bonus accumulation up to 100% of the sum insured.

It is noted that the premium is relatively higher for Zone A cities, and would be lower for families living in Zone B or Zone C. The purpose of this zone-wise premium is to adjust the pricing based on the cost of medical services in different regions.

Where can I buy this plan

One of the significant points highlighted in the plan is that it is exclusively available online. Customers can purchase it either through the Star Health website or via Policy Bazaar. There is no option to buy this plan through agents, which limits offline accessibility. This is an important consideration, as some customers might prefer agent assistance for guidance and trust, but in this case, they must opt for an entirely online purchase process.

Features of the Superstar Plan

The Superstar Plan comes packed with features designed to make health insurance more flexible and comprehensive:

No Limit on Room Rent:

Unlike traditional plans, this plan doesn’t impose a limit on room rent for policyholders with a sum insured of ₹5 lakhs or more. This is a significant advantage, especially for customers in big cities where the cost of a single private room in hospitals is quite high. In previous plans from Star, room rent limits often caused issues for customers, but this plan resolves those shortcomings.

Flexibility with Add-ons:

Another key feature of the Super star Plan is the availability of 20 different add-ons. Earlier, Star Health only offered limited options like the Star Extra Protect add-on. Now, customers can tailor their policies with various add-ons according to their needs, making the plan customizable for a wide range of policyholders. This move is seen as keeping up with industry trends where more flexibility is being introduced in insurance products.

Freeze Your Age Feature:

This unique feature allows policyholders to lock in their premiums based on their age at the time of purchase, until they make a claim. For example, if a person buys the plan at 35 years of age and doesn’t file a claim, their premium will remain the same as when they were 35, regardless of how old they get. This is a novel feature in the insurance industry, designed to offer long-term savings for policyholders.

Super Star Bonus:

This add-on allows policyholders to accumulate a cumulative bonus up to 100% of the sum insured. For instance, if a family opts for ₹20 lakhs coverage and doesn’t make any claims, they can keep adding to their cumulative bonus year after year, making this a great benefit for long-term policyholders.

Shortcomings of the Super star Plan

Despite the comprehensive coverage, there are a few notable shortcomings in the plan:

Limited Availability to Online Channels:

One of the major downsides of the plan is that it is only available online. Star Health Insurance agents are not authorized to sell this plan, which could be a drawback for customers who prefer working with agents for personalized guidance. Many customers, especially those who have built strong relationships with their agents, may feel restricted by this online-only model.

Claim Service Uncertainty:

Although the plan offers a range of features, a concern that still lingers is about the claim service. The policyholder’s experience with the claim process plays a crucial role in the overall satisfaction with any insurance product. While Star Health has improved its product offerings, there is no guarantee that the claim service has improved to the same degree. Only time will tell how the company handles claims for this new plan, and whether they provide the same level of service as they do in their traditional plans.

Expectations and Future Service Improvements

Health insurance buyers typically expect two things from their policies: comprehensive coverage and efficient claim service. While the Super star Plan addresses coverage comprehensively, the true test of any insurance product is during the claims process. Star Health Insurance future success will depend on how well it manages claims for the Super star Plan. Customers hope that the company not only improves its products but also enhances its claim servicing, which can make or break the user experience.

Conclusion

The Star Health Insurance Super Star Plan stands apart due to its flexibility and the sheer number of add-ons available. These optional coverages offer extensive customization, allowing policyholders to tailor their insurance to their unique needs. Whether you are seeking to cover high-cost treatments, reduce your waiting periods, or provide extensive coverage for your family, the Super Star Plan offers something for everyone. While the add-ons add to the cost, they also provide peace of mind and financial security in times of need, making the Super Star Plan one of the most comprehensive health insurance options available today.

FAQs

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Policy features, benefits, and terms may vary and are subject to the insurance provider terms and conditions. Always consult the official policy documents or speak to an authorised insurance agent for accurate and up-to-date information before making any decisions.