Policybazaar rolls out elder care program
As India's elderly population grows, so does the need for thoughtful, accessible and reliable healthcare support systems. Recognising this, Policybazaar, through its insurer partners, has launched Saarthi, a first-of-its-kind elder care concierge service designed specifically for senior citizens. From choosing the right insurance plan to getting hands-on claims assistance and personalised follow-ups, Saarthi offers a seamless experience tailored to the unique needs of older adults.
Similar to how NRIs can insure their parents in India, customers here too can now buy health insurance for parents living in another city and ensure on-ground support for them during an emergency. The data indicates that the elderly population in India is projected to reach approximately 319 million, constituting about 20 per cent of the total population by 2050. This demographic shift calls for enhanced healthcare and support services to cater to this segment.
Amit Chhabra, CBO- General Insurance, Policybazaar.com, said, 'Saarthi is our way of letting India's senior citizens know that we are here when they need us the most. We understand that with the growing number of nuclear families and empty nests, India needs a mechanism to address the needs of the elderly. Saarthi fills this gap and brings convenience, dignity and hands-on help to the doorstep of our seniors. We want to make sure that in their time of need, our elders are never alone.'
The Saarthi programme is designed as a high-touch, human-led solution to help senior citizens navigate the often complex insurance journey, with features including: Specialised sales & service advisors: A specialised team trained to understand the unique needs of seniors, offering clear, jargon-free advice tailored to their health and life coverage.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
12 hours ago
- Hans India
Policybazaar rolls out elder care program
As India's elderly population grows, so does the need for thoughtful, accessible and reliable healthcare support systems. Recognising this, Policybazaar, through its insurer partners, has launched Saarthi, a first-of-its-kind elder care concierge service designed specifically for senior citizens. From choosing the right insurance plan to getting hands-on claims assistance and personalised follow-ups, Saarthi offers a seamless experience tailored to the unique needs of older adults. Similar to how NRIs can insure their parents in India, customers here too can now buy health insurance for parents living in another city and ensure on-ground support for them during an emergency. The data indicates that the elderly population in India is projected to reach approximately 319 million, constituting about 20 per cent of the total population by 2050. This demographic shift calls for enhanced healthcare and support services to cater to this segment. Amit Chhabra, CBO- General Insurance, said, 'Saarthi is our way of letting India's senior citizens know that we are here when they need us the most. We understand that with the growing number of nuclear families and empty nests, India needs a mechanism to address the needs of the elderly. Saarthi fills this gap and brings convenience, dignity and hands-on help to the doorstep of our seniors. We want to make sure that in their time of need, our elders are never alone.' The Saarthi programme is designed as a high-touch, human-led solution to help senior citizens navigate the often complex insurance journey, with features including: Specialised sales & service advisors: A specialised team trained to understand the unique needs of seniors, offering clear, jargon-free advice tailored to their health and life coverage.
News18
31-05-2025
- News18
Do You Smoke? It Might Be Making Your Term & Health Insurance More Expensive
Last Updated: Insurers usually classify someone as a smoker if they've consumed any form of tobacco—including cigarettes, cigars, beedis, or chewing tobacco—within the past 12 months. World No Tobacco Day: World No Tobacco Day is celebrated every year on May 31, as a stark reminder of the dire consequences of consuming tobacco not only in our health but also on our wallets too. According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016-17, 28.6 per of adults aged 15 and above use tobacco in any form. The survey states that every tenth adult smokes tobacco in India. Little did we know that smoking also directly affects our wallets, especially when it comes to buying insurance policies. Be it term or health insurance, smokers often end up paying significantly higher premiums than non-smokers. Term Insurance: Twice the Price For Smokers According to Varun Agarwal, Head of Term Insurance at Policybazaar, smokers may pay 80% to 100% higher premiums on their term insurance policies. The reason is simple—tobacco use greatly increases the risk of fatal diseases like cancer, heart conditions, and chronic respiratory issues. These health risks make smokers a high-risk group for insurers, translating into higher premiums. Smokers normally pay between 20% and 50% more in premiums than non-smokers, depending on the company and the overall health profile of the company and the overall health profile of the person, explained Chetan Vasudeva, Senior Vice President – Business Development at How Is Being Smoker Classified? advetisement Varun Agarwal explains that insurers usually classify someone as a smoker if they've consumed any form of tobacco—including cigarettes, cigars, beedis, or chewing tobacco—within the past 12 months. 'This classification is based on both self-declaration and medical evaluation," he adds. 'Non-disclosure or misrepresentation may result in rejection of claims or even cancellation of the policy," Vasudeva warned. What If You Quit Smoking Later Part Of Life After Buying Term Insurance? Unfortunately, it doesn't change much. 'Once your term life insurance policy is issued with a 'smoker' classification, the premium is locked in for the entire term," Agarwal said. In other words, quitting after purchase won't reduce your premium. The good news is there is no waiting period for tobacco-related illnesses in term insurance once the policy is active. Health Insurance: Higher Costs And Waiting Periods There's a bit more flexibility in health insurance. If a smoker stays tobacco-free for 12 to 24 months and can provide medical proof, some insurers may reclassify them as a non-smoker during renewal, potentially lowering the premium. But this isn't guaranteed and depends on the insurer's policies, explains Chetan Vasudeva. However, a waiting period of 2 to 4 years is usually applied for tobacco-related illnesses such as lung cancer or COPD, especially if the condition existed before policy issuance. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. About the Author Varun Yadav First Published: May 31, 2025, 12:57 IST
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
22-05-2025
- Business Standard
Mental health insurance in India seems fine, until you read the fine print
India will have 60-70 million people living with mental illness over the years — a number comparable to France's population, said Ashish Singhal, group chief executive officer of PeepalCo, a canopy housing a collection of brands serving India with tailored wealth-tech products. Online searches for mental health insurance increased 41 per cent last year as reported by but actual coverage leaves much to be desired. Singhal outlined typical insurance terms for mental health: Mental illness coverage is now mandatory for all insurers Every health insurance policy 'includes' mental health However, he says the ground reality is different: Coverage only if a person is hospitalised In Singhal's words, 'the system is designed to fail.' Unlike physical health issues, where hospitalisation, medicines, and consultations are all covered, mental health treatment is only supported in extreme cases. Most policies require the patient to be hospitalised before any meaningful coverage kicks in, a condition that doesn't reflect mental health care in real life. Singhal says that less than 1 per cent of all health insurance claims in India are for mental health treatment. 'Someone needs to work on preventive-first insurance claims rather than emergency-first ones.' A call for real change While states like Karnataka are showing the highest interest in mental health insurance (based on Google search trends), Singhal believes this is a beginning. His message is clear: if we truly want to make mental health a priority, the insurance ecosystem needs to catch up, not just with intent, but with real, accessible coverage.
