10 Smart Ways to Save on Health Insurance in 2025

Health insurance costs can be optimized without compromising coverage. Here’s a practical checklist to help families and HR teams get better value.

• Choose optimum sum insured.
• Use wellness/OPD benefits and network hospitals.
• Opt for voluntary deductible to reduce premium.
• Leverage no-claim bonus and restoration wisely.

What impacts premiums?

Age bands, location, room rent limits, disease loadings, and past claim history. For group policies, employee demographics and benefits grid impact rates.

Always disclose pre-existing illnesses, keep KYC ready, and prefer cashless networks for smooth claims.

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Disclaimer: Information is illustrative. For personalized advice, contact GoCover.

Cashless Health Insurance: Recent Developments Between Hospitals and Insurers

Cashless hospitalization is one of the most important features in health insurance, offering policyholders the convenience of availing treatment without paying upfront. Recently, however, some discussions between insurers and hospitals have brought attention to how these arrangements work in practice.

Star Health and Hospital Association Discussions

On 12th September 2025, Moneycontrol reported that Star Health and Allied Insurance became the fourth insurer to face pushback from the Association of Healthcare Providers, India (AHPI) regarding cashless services.

According to the report, AHPI has raised concerns about tariff rates and claim settlement practices. The association has given Star Health time until 22nd September 2025 to resolve the matter. If not addressed, hospitals may consider restricting cashless services for Star Health policyholders.
(Source: Moneycontrol, Sept 12, 2025)

Other Insurers Also Involved

This is not an isolated case. Over the past few months, similar concerns have been raised with other insurers, including:

• Bajaj Allianz General Insurance
• Care Health Insurance
• Niva Bupa Health Insurance

In some instances, hospitals had temporarily suspended cashless services before reaching an understanding with insurers.
(Source: Moneycontrol, Sept 2025)

What It Means for Policyholders

• Cashless services continue: For now, cashless treatment is still available. Any restriction would depend on how discussions progress.
• Temporary disruptions possible: If hospitals withdraw, policyholders may need to pay upfront and claim reimbursement later.
• Check hospital networks: Before hospitalization, it’s always advisable to confirm whether the hospital is part of your insurer’s active cashless network.

GoCover’s View

At GoCover, we work with all leading insurance companies to provide the best possible service to our clients. Our aim is to keep you informed about industry developments so you can plan better.

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Disclaimer: Information is sourced from Moneycontrol and is for general awareness. For personalized advice, contact GoCover.

Pre-Existing Diseases in Health Insurance: Complete Guide (2025)

Pre-existing diseases (PEDs) are one of the most important underwriting criteria in health insurance. Understanding them helps you choose the right policy and avoid claim issues later.

What is a Pre-Existing Disease?

A PED is any condition diagnosed or treated before buying a health policy. Insurers ask for disclosures and past medical records to assess risk.

How PEDs Affect Your Cover

• Waiting period: 24–48 months, depending on insurer.
• Specific exclusions: Rare, but possible for high-risk diseases.
• Underwriting checks: Tele-medical exams or reports may be required.

Important Tips

• Always disclose truthfully — non-disclosure can void claims.
• Keep old prescriptions & reports handy.
• Track waiting periods to know when full benefits start.

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Disclaimer: Educational only. For personalised recommendations, contact GoCover.

Why Group Health Insurance Is Growing Rapidly in India (2025)

Indian employers are increasingly adopting group health plans. Here’s what drives this trend and what HR teams must know.

Top Growth Drivers

• Better pricing: Group pooling reduces premium per employee.
• Digital onboarding: Faster enrolments via APIs.
• Employee expectations: Health cover is now a hygiene benefit.

2025 Trends HR Should Watch

• City-specific pricing norms
• AI-based claim settlement
• Wellness add-ons becoming standard

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Disclaimer: Trends indicative and may change as insurers revise guidelines.

Top 7 Mistakes People Make While Buying Health Insurance

Avoid these common mistakes to ensure you get the right coverage.

1. Choosing the cheapest plan

Price should not be the only decision factor. Look at coverage, room rent, add-ons and exclusions.

2. Low sum insured

₹3–5 lakh is often insufficient for metro hospitalisation costs.

3. Not checking network hospitals

Cashless benefit only works at network hospitals.

4. Ignoring waiting periods

Always check PED & maternity waiting periods.

5. Hiding medical history

Non-disclosure is the #1 claim rejection reason.

6. Not reviewing renewals

Benefits and premiums can change every year.

7. Not understanding sub-limits

Room rent caps, ICU limits, and procedure sub-limits matter.

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Disclaimer: General information only. Consult GoCover for personalised guidance.

Cashless vs Reimbursement: Which Is Better in 2025?

Both claim methods have advantages depending on the situation. Here’s how to choose wisely.

Cashless

• No upfront payment at network hospitals.
• Faster discharge when pre-auth is smooth.

Reimbursement

• Freedom to choose any hospital.
• Useful when network hospital availability is limited.

What Should You Choose?

Cashless works best for planned and routine hospitalisations. Reimbursement is ideal when seeking specialised care not available in the network.

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Disclaimer: Information is general. For specific policy guidance, reach out to GoCover.