Do you have personal health insurance?
No, not the one your company gives you, a plan that's truly yours.
It’s totally understandable if you haven’t thought about it yet. You’re most likely juggling a corporate job, side hustles, and trying to decode SIPs and skincare routines, all at once.
There’s no doubt about the fact that women today are saving, investing, and earning at par with men. But what’s still missing from the conversation is the risk protection. One unexpected medical emergency can wipe out your years of savings.
Think of health insurance not as an expense, but as an investment, one that protects your freedom, fuels your hustle and protects your long-term dreams.
If you haven’t bought one yet, don’t worry. This is your cue to act. Trust me, buying an independent medical insurance plan, especially as a woman, will be a strategic move.
And before you sign on the dotted line, there are a few non-negotiables you should be looking out for in your policy document. Here’s what to know.
Reproductive health is your financial decision
In India, maternity is still often considered as “inevitable.” Insurance companies, too, bake that assumption into their policies, with long waiting periods and restrictive maternity add-ons.
But today’s women are choosing if, when, and how they want to start families. A recent report titled Women’s Health Insurance Trends FY'23 vs FY'24 shows a 43% spike in the number of women opting for standalone health coverage for themselves. Now, that’s a pretty solid shift in mindset.
Without the right insurance, you're left vulnerable to paying out-of-pocket for maternity expenses that can easily spiral from ₹1 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh in metros like Delhi or Mumbai. And if you’re considering IVF, egg-freezing, or other fertility treatments, most base plans won’t cover those costs unless you buy specific add-ons.
Having control over your reproductive health, financially and medically, should be your decision completely.
Mental health is health
Thanks to the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and the IRDAI directive in 2018, all health insurance providers in India are now required to offer mental health coverage in their offerings.
But when you dig a little deeper, you'll discover that most policies only cover in-patient psychiatric hospitalization, not outpatient therapy, counselling.
And that’s a problem. Because therapy is often the first step towards healing, not the last. Without OPD coverage, a single session can cost anywhere between ₹1,500–₹3,000 in cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, or Delhi.
What’s worse is that many policyholders don’t know whether they’re covered or not and later face hurdles in accessing those benefits. The fine print, confusing clauses, and lack of mental health literacy among insurers often make it harder than it should be.
Urban life isn’t easy. The State of Emotional Well-being Report 2024 found that nearly 90% of Indians, especially corporate employees under 25, showed signs of anxiety. And yet, mental healthcare continues to be sidelined.
Look for insurance plans that cover both OPD consultations and in-patient hospitalization for mental health. You deserve support that doesn’t stop at the hospital gate.
No cap
Most 20-somethings don't need a big-ticket hospitalization, but they do need everyday support. For instance, dermatology consults, diagnostic scans, hormonal therapy consultations, dental procedures, and sports injuries fall into this category. That's where OPD cover and daycare procedures matter.
Also, remember- room rent limits. In India, many insurers cap the type of hospital room you can choose. If you opt for a private room in a metro hospital without checking your policy details, you could end up paying a significant portion of the entire hospital bill, not just the difference in room rent.
A smarter move would be to pick plans with no room rent capping, daycare coverage (minimum 4000 procedures), and solid OPD benefits.
Waiting periods: The hidden trap
A lot of people might not know this, but most insurance plans have a 2 to 4-year maternity waiting period. That means if you buy a policy at 28 and plan a child at 30, you might still end up paying everything out-of-pocket if you didn’t plan ahead. This waiting period applies to many pre-existing conditions and chronic illnesses, too.
If there’s one thing health insurance teaches you, it's that being proactive beats being reactive every single time. Buy early. Serve the waiting period while you’re busy conquering the world.
Here’s a checklist you can refer to:
Maternity and newborn cover: Shortest waiting period possible
Room rent flexibility: No limit policies
Cashless hospital network: Minimum 5000+ hospitals
Free preventive health checkups: Once a year minimum
Critical illness coverage: For diseases like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, PCOS, endometriosis
Don't wait for a health scare to wake up
“I’m healthy right now, so I don’t need insurance” is the biggest myth.
The truth is- you buy health insurance not because you're sick today, but because you might not be tomorrow. And because, as women, the system isn't always designed to cushion us when life happens. We need to build that cushion ourselves.
So next time you’re building your vision board, put "Solid Health Insurance" right on top.
Your future self will thank you.