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5 Key Health Insurance Changes after Marriage in India

Team AckoNov 20, 2025

Marriage is directly associated with change. Once married, a lot of things change within and around a person. Perception changes, responsibilities change, life changes. And as managing finances is also a component of life, marriage also has an impact on it. Health insurance/medical insurance is a crucial aspect of one’s financial portfolio.

Just as a lot of weightage is given to mutual funds, shares, fixed deposits, etc. one should also make an effort to buy health insurance after marriage in India to avoid financial losses in case of health-related issues. Read on to know more.

Key

Contents

Key Changes in Health Insurance Plan after Marriage
5 Reasons Why Newly-wed Couples Should Consider Family Health Insurance
Conclusion
Frequently asked Questions

Key Changes in Health Insurance Plan after Marriage

Here are the key changes that you must make in your health insurance plan after marriage.

1. Choosing the Right Type of Health Insurance Cover After Marriage

First and foremost, you have to look at your current health insurance coverage. Do you have an individual health policy or are you solely relying on your employer’s group insurance policy? Once you have an idea about what you have, you can decide whether to increase or decrease the coverage. While doing so, it is better to perform the same exercise for your spouse as well and then buy the plan or plans.

Example: Say you have a health insurance plan from the employer and you add your spouse to the policy. Since these plans often have a lower sum insured, it might cover basic medical treatments.

However, when you plan to start a family, you might need more features like maternity and newborn coverage, pre-existing conditions, etc. In this situation you would need a separate health plan that will offer additional backup.

2. Analyzing Health Requirements

Some people get married at an early age and some marry late. Chances are your current health insurance plan might have been purchased when your health was in a different shape.

The same cover can’t possibly cover you comprehensively if you have undergone lifestyle changes in the recent past. Getting married is a major lifestyle change and this is the right time to analyze your health and purchase a more suitable health insurance plan.

Quick tip: Consider adding preventive health check-up coverage if lifestyle has changed.

3. Family health insurance

Here’s what you can do:

You have the option of buying your own family health insurance plan after marriage. You can include your spouse and immediate relatives in it.
If senior citizens in your family do not have a dedicated health insurance policy, you can include them in the family health insurance plan.

Family health insurance in India extend coverage to the members (included in the policy) at a single premium. This means, you just have to pay a single amount to cover all members.

Health insurance plans for family are beneficial from an operational standpoint wherein you don’t have to buy/renew policies individually for the family members. An additional benefit with this type of policy is that it offers tax benefits as per the conditions mentioned in Section 80D deduction of the Income Tax Act.

4. Maternity cover

Married couples should consider taking maternity health insurance early, as it usually comes with a waiting period. Here are the Key points:

Waiting period: Usually ranges from 0 to 3 years, depending on the insurer.
Cover activation: The maternity cover becomes active only after the waiting period is completed.
Claim rule: If you raise a claim during the waiting period, it won’t be approved by the insurance company.

Learn more about "What is waiting period in health insurance?"

5. Switch or Port to a better insurer Health Insurer After Marriage

It is not necessary to continue with your current health insurer if you are not satisfied with the cover, service, etc. There are several new-age insurers that offer health insurance policies at a low price without reducing the coverage. Some even have better service-related features.

You can port your health plan upon renewal around 45 days before your current policy expires. Once you decide on the plan, you need to inform your current and new insurance company about the switch and then follow the process of porting the plan.

Check your options now

5 Reasons Why Newly-wed Couples Should Consider Family Health Insurance

Medical inflation in India is rising at an alarming rate. Currently it stands at 14%. This increases the need for buying a reliable health insurance plan. If you are newly-wed or planning to get married soon, here are five reasons why you should consider going for a family health insurance plan in India.

1. Affordable Premium for Couples

Suppose there are five members in a family, a newly-married couple, parents, and a sibling. The earning member can choose to do the following:

Buy five individual policies of ₹5 lakhs sum insured each. This will lead to a much higher premium.
Buy one family floater family health insurance plan with a high sum insured of ₹25 lakhs. This one policy might still cost less as compared to 5 separate plans.

All members will be covered in one single family health insurance policy without paying a higher premium.

2. Newly married couples can easily manage one plan

Managing several individual plans is more tedious than managing one family floater plan for the entire family. The restrictions are also more lenient as compared to purchasing an individual health insurance plan. You just have to pay a specific premium amount and you along with your family members will enjoy a health insurance cover.

3. Back-up Health Cover for Couples

It is likely that the earning member of the family might have the following coverages:

A separate (individual) health insurance plan
An employee health insurance policy

Thus, health insurance plans for a family should be looked as an additional cover. Employee health insurance is generic in nature. But a Mediclaim policy for family (family floater) can be customized to an extent making it a good additional cover along with the individual plan.

4. Tax Benefits

Based on the exact nature of the policy chosen, one can avail tax benefits while purchasing health insurance plans for family. Such tax deductions can be availed as per Income Tax Act, Section 80(D). Therefore, with Mediclaim policy for family, you can save money as well as ensure wide-ranging health insurance cover.

5. Better Health Portfolio When Starting a Family

Those who have family members who are prone to specific kind of diseases they can opt for specific critical illness plans for enhanced coverage. For example, one can opt for a heart-specific insurance policy. Thus, with a basic Mediclaim policy for family in place, one can think of purchasing specific additional policies (if required) for a better health portfolio.

Conclusion

One can speak to friends and relatives to narrow down on a few insurers and health plans. Nowadays a lot of information is available on the internet. You can educate yourself about benefits and features of a policy simply by reading about them on the insurance company’s website. However, if you feel that there is something that you do not understand, it is suggested to get in touch with the insurance company via call or email and get your doubts cleared. One should make an informed choice in regard to health insurance.

Frequently asked Questions

Here are some common queries related to health insurance for couples.

Which health insurance is best for couples?

The best health insurance for couples is a family floater plan that covers both partners under one sum insured. Ensure that features like ashless hospitalisation, no waiting period for key conditions, and maternity or fertility benefits are added to the plan. ACKO Platinum Health Plan is a good option with no co-pay and zero hidden costs.

What health insurance coverages should newly married couples look for?

Newly married couples should choose a health plan that includes coverage like hospitalisation expenses, day-care procedures, maternity cover, newborn cover, and preventive health check-ups.

What documents are required to update a health insurance policy post-marriage?

To add your spouse to your health plan, you may need the following documents.

Marriage certificate
Photo ID proof (like Aadhaar or PAN)
Recent passport-size photo of your spouse

What tax benefits do married couples get under health insurance (e.g., under Section 80D)?

Married couples can claim tax deductions up to ₹25,000 on health insurance premiums under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.

What is the ideal time to add a spouse to a health plan for married couples?

The ideal time to add your spouse is immediately after marriage or at policy renewal.

What is the ideal sum insured for a newly married couple?

A newly married couple should opt for a minimum sum insured of ₹10–15 lakh. If you live in a metro city or plan for maternity coverage, consider ₹20 lakh or higher to stay protected from rising medical costs.

How much does premium increase when a spouse is added to a health insurance plan?

The premium increase for adding a spouse to a health insurance plan is usually 25% to 30% depending on age, health condition, and the plan type.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change. Refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.