Can You Have Multiple Health Insurance Policies in India?

Yes, you can have multiple health insurance policies in India. Many people combine employer insurance, personal health insurance, and super top-up plans to increase coverage. In cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi, hospitalisation costs can easily exceed employer-provided coverage limits.

If you are wondering, ‘Can I have multiple health insurance policies?’, then, under Indian law, an individual can own multiple health insurance policies simultaneously. However, you must disclose your existing policies to the new insurer when buying a new plan to prevent claim complications. 

Contents

• Is it Legal to Have Multiple Health Insurance Policies in India?
• How Claims Work Across Two Health Insurance Policies
• Which Health Insurance Policy Should You Claim First?
• Two Policies vs Super Top-Up: Which Is Better?
• Can You Claim Section 80D On Two Health Insurance Policies?
• Conclusion

Is it Legal to Have Multiple Health Insurance Policies in India?

Yes. It is perfectly legal to hold more than one health insurance policy in India.

• Hold a personal policy along with employer group insurance

• Buy policies from two different insurers

• Combine a family floater with an individual plan

• Purchase a super top-up health insurance in addition to a base policy

You may also want to read ACKO’s guide on porting health insurance before switching insurers or restructuring coverage.

How Claims Work Across Two Health Insurance Policies

The most common misconception about multiple health policies lies in the contribution clause. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) now allows policyholders to choose which insurer to approach first if the bill amount falls within one policy’s sum insured.

For instance:

• Cover for Policy A: ₹5 lakh

• Cover for Policy B: ₹10 lakh

• Medical bill: ₹7 lakh

You can first claim ₹5 lakh from Policy A and the remaining ₹2 lakh from Policy B.

If the first insurer settles ₹5 lakh cashless and the final hospital bill is ₹7 lakh, you can submit the settlement summary and remaining bills to the second insurer for reimbursement. This answers common queries like:

• Can we claim health insurance from two companies?

• Can I claim multiple health insurance policies?

• What happens if you have two health insurance plans?

Which Health Insurance Policy Should You Claim First?

If you have two health insurance policies, consider the following before choosing the primary policy:

• First, use the employer’s plan since it might be discontinued after switching jobs

• Keep the no-claims bonus intact for your own health insurance plan

• Select the plan with lower sub-limits or copayments

• Pick the plan that provides cashless treatment at the hospital

Learn how cashless health insurance works. 

Two Policies vs Super Top-Up: Which Is Better?

It might not be the most cost-effective solution to purchase two individual plans. In some cases, purchasing a comprehensive base policy along with a top-up health insurance or super top-up plan may offer higher coverage at a comparatively lower premium.

For example:

• Base policy: ₹10 lakh

• Top up health insurance/super top-up plan: ₹40 lakh with a ₹10 lakh deductible

The super top-up health insurance does not begin covering expenses until the deductible limit is reached. In general, such arrangements cost significantly less than two separate comprehensive insurance plans, depending on the insurer and coverage selected.

Can You Claim Section 80D On Two Health Insurance Policies?

Yes. You can claim tax deductions under section 80D of the Income Tax Act despite making premium payments on several health insurance policies.

Tax deductions are capped at:

• ₹25,000 for yourself and your family members who are under 60 years old

• ₹50,000 for senior citizens

An extra tax deduction can be claimed for premiums paid on behalf of parents as follows:

• ₹25,000 if your parents are under 60 years old

• ₹50,000 if your parents are senior citizens

This means the total tax benefit can go up to ₹1 lakh annually, depending on eligibility.

Conclusion

Having more than one health insurance policy provides added security in the event of a health emergency. However, it is important to consider the type of insurance you are opting for, not just the number of policies you have. Before buying multiple policies, carefully compare waiting periods, co-payments, exclusions, and claim settlement processes.

Explore flexible health insurance options provided by ACKO Insurance to build coverage that suits your healthcare and financial needs.

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