Top Mistakes to Avoid While Buying Health Insurance

Choosing a Plan Based Only on Low Premiums

One of the biggest traps consumers fall into is selecting the cheapest plan they find. A low price tag may seem appealing, but it often comes with hidden drawbacks like high co-payments, sub-limits on room rent, or limited coverage.

Healthy Tip: Instead of focusing solely on price, compare value. Look at what the policy actually covers, hospitalisation, ICU stays, procedures and post-hospitalisation care.

Underestimating How Much Coverage You Need

Underinsuring yourself to save money can backfire badly. Medical inflation in India has been rising steadily, making even basic hospitalisations expensive. A cover of ₹3–5 lakh may not be enough for major procedures today.

Healthy Tip: Health insurance should be tailored to your age, lifestyle, family size and future healthcare needs, not just your budget.

Ignoring the Fine Print

This might sound obvious, but many people don’t read the policy wording carefully. Exclusions, waiting periods, sub-limits and conditions apply and they’re often buried in long, dry sections of the document.

Healthy Tip: Don’t just skim the covers, understand what’s excluded (e.g., dental care, maternity benefits, certain therapies), and consider whether riders or add-ons are worth it for your situation.

Overlooking Waiting Periods for Pre-Existing Conditions

Many policies impose waiting periods of 2–4 years for pre-existing illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, or joint conditions. If you’re buying health insurance at a later age or after diagnosis, this can delay when you actually get coverage for these conditions.

Healthy Tip: Ensure you check the waiting periods, and if possible, choose policies with shorter waiting periods or options that reduce them.

Not Checking the Network Hospital List

Cashless hospitalisation is one of the biggest conveniences of health insurance. But if your preferred hospital isn’t in the insurer’s network, you could end up paying first and claiming later or worse, not get covered at all during an emergency.

Healthy Tip: Before you buy health insurance, check if your local hospitals or specialists are part of the cashless network.

Not Disclosing Your Full Medical History

Honesty is crucial. Partial or incorrect disclosure of conditions like diabetes, past surgeries or chronic illnesses can lead to claim rejection later.

Healthy Tip: Be upfront about your medical history. A transparent profile helps insurers offer the right cover and avoids claim hassles in the future.

Failing to Consider Long-Term Value & Renewability

Health needs change over time. Some policies may be affordable initially but don’t allow lifetime renewability. Others restrict benefits as you age.

Healthy Tip: Look for policies with lifetime renewability and features like no-claim bonuses or restoration benefits that increase your cover over time.

Not Comparing Multiple Plans Before You Buy

Insurers offer varied benefits even for the same premium range. Missing out on a side-by-side comparison means you might overlook better plans that cover day-care treatments, OPD expenses, maternity, mental health, or wellness perks.

Healthy Tip: Tools that let you compare multiple plans make a huge difference especially when selecting the right one for you and your family.

How Jio Insurance Broking Makes Buying Health Insurance Easier

Buying health insurance doesn’t have to be confusing or overwhelming. That’s where Jio Insurance Broking steps in.

What they help with:

• Comprehensive plan comparison: View and compare policies from multiple leading insurers in one place.
• Tailored recommendations: Get expert guidance based on your specific needs rather than one-size-fits-all options.
• Simplified claims support: Assistance with claims and renewals to make the process smoother.
• Wide variety of covers: From individual and family floater plans to critical illness and senior citizen policies.

Healthy Tip: Buying through a broker like Jio Insurance Broking can give you confidence that you’re choosing a plan that’s not just affordable but genuinely protective.

Health insurance is more than a financial product; it's a safety net for life’s uncertainties. But it only works if you choose it wisely. Avoiding these common mistakes like buying purely for the cheapest premium, skipping the fine print, or hiding health details can be the difference between a smooth claim and a costly heartbreak.

And when you’re ready to buy health insurance, consider leveraging resources and expert guidance from Jio Insurance Broking to make the process simple, transparent and tailored to your needs.