Personal Experience – Warning About Star Health Insurance

[Mekala ManojKumar]

I feel compelled to share my experience with Star Health Insurance, because what I went through might save someone else from the same disappointment.

Since September 2022, I’ve been paying ₹73,000 every year for two Star Health policies – one for me and my wife, another for my parents. That’s over ₹2.1 lakh in premiums till now. Like many of you, I believed health insurance would protect me when medical emergencies arise.

But when I actually needed it, the company turned its back on me.

In December 2024, I had to undergo surgery for Varicocele, a painful condition causing swelling. The bill was only ₹25,000 – a very small amount compared to the lakhs I’ve already paid them.

I submitted every document honestly:

My first consultation was in August 2024, after the 2-year waiting period.

The surgery was for pain and swelling, not infertility.

I even attached a doctor’s clarification letter to prove this.


Still, Star Health rejected my claim, simply assuming it was for infertility because the hospital I went to also treats fertility cases. They didn’t care about my documents, my doctor’s letter, or the fact that my issue was completely unrelated to infertility.

When I raised grievances multiple times, I only received copy-paste template replies from Star Health and even from IRDAI, repeating the same line: “decision is final.”

Imagine my situation – after paying lakhs in premiums for years, my genuine claim of just ₹25,000 was denied. At this point, I honestly regret ever trusting Star Health.

👉 My warning to everyone: Don’t blindly trust that your health insurance will help you when you need it. Even if you’re genuine, companies can twist exclusions to deny your claim.

This experience has left me feeling cheated, helpless, and betrayed. Please think twice before choosing an insurance company – learn from my mistake.

What Next? My Questions (and maybe yours too)

Now I’m at a crossroads:

1. Should I port my policy?

If I port to another insurer, my policy continuity (waiting periods, PED coverage) may continue.

But there is a risk: the new insurer might impose restrictions, reduce benefits, or increase premium after underwriting.



2. If I stay with Star Health

I already lost trust. Paying another ₹73k per year feels like a forced risk.

But at least my waiting periods are completed, so future claims should be easier — but honestly, after this rejection, I’m doubtful.



3. Best Porting Options (as per research)

Niva Bupa Health Companion / ReAssure

HDFC Ergo Optima Restore

ICICI Lombard Complete Health

Care Health Insurance (Care Advantage)

Thanks

 

[sunit123]

My sister had similar experience with star health...She complained to IRDAI and IRDAI ordered to pay the claim + Rs 50000 compensation

1. Yes...there is no risk
2. Star health is worse
3. Consider HDFC or ICICI....Niva bupa cover very less hospitals for cashless facility (my personal experience)

 

[cardy]

My sister had similar experience with star health...She complained to IRDAI and IRDAI ordered to pay the claim + Rs 50000 compensation

1. Yes...there is no risk
2. Star health is worse
3. Consider HDFC or ICICI....Niva bupa cover very less hospitals for cashless facility (my personal experience)

So irdai worked in your case.

 

[sunit123]

So irdai worked in your case.

Yes and you should provide counter to reasons for rejection by star in IRDAI complaint i.e. why claim should be passed

 

[sovon]

Avoid care, they are just like star health.

If you're fine with paying a bit more, go for HDFC; otherwise, Niva and ICICI are good options too. I believe ICICI offers some extra discounts for their credit card or account holders, but I'm not sure if that's available to everyone. I received a few calls, and they mentioned some nice discounts.

Make sure to switch as soon as you can, and try at least two insurance companies. If both accept you, just cancel one since every insurance company has a 30-day free cancellation period. Don't waste time because if you miss the renewal date for star health, it could cause you some problems.

Look into other companies as soon as possible and pick the one that offers the best benefits, especially with no permanent exclusions. Even consult with Ditto, Beshak, it's totally free and it's not mandatory to buy from them.

Also Aditya Birla is recently getting popular.

 

[Zacobite]

This star insurance is officially the worst followed closely by niva bupa.. Horrible companies

I feel compelled to share my experience with Star Health Insurance, because what I went through might save someone else from the same disappointment.

Since September 2022, I’ve been paying ₹73,000 every year for two Star Health policies – one for me and my wife, another for my parents. That’s over ₹2.1 lakh in premiums till now. Like many of you, I believed health insurance would protect me when medical emergencies arise.

But when I actually needed it, the company turned its back on me.

In December 2024, I had to undergo surgery for Varicocele, a painful condition causing swelling. The bill was only ₹25,000 – a very small amount compared to the lakhs I’ve already paid them.

I submitted every document honestly:

My first consultation was in August 2024, after the 2-year waiting period.

The surgery was for pain and swelling, not infertility.

I even attached a doctor’s clarification letter to prove this.


Still, Star Health rejected my claim, simply assuming it was for infertility because the hospital I went to also treats fertility cases. They didn’t care about my documents, my doctor’s letter, or the fact that my issue was completely unrelated to infertility.

When I raised grievances multiple times, I only received copy-paste template replies from Star Health and even from IRDAI, repeating the same line: “decision is final.”

Imagine my situation – after paying lakhs in premiums for years, my genuine claim of just ₹25,000 was denied. At this point, I honestly regret ever trusting Star Health.

👉 My warning to everyone: Don’t blindly trust that your health insurance will help you when you need it. Even if you’re genuine, companies can twist exclusions to deny your claim.

This experience has left me feeling cheated, helpless, and betrayed. Please think twice before choosing an insurance company – learn from my mistake.

What Next? My Questions (and maybe yours too)

Now I’m at a crossroads:

1. Should I port my policy?

If I port to another insurer, my policy continuity (waiting periods, PED coverage) may continue.

But there is a risk: the new insurer might impose restrictions, reduce benefits, or increase premium after underwriting.



2. If I stay with Star Health

I already lost trust. Paying another ₹73k per year feels like a forced risk.

But at least my waiting periods are completed, so future claims should be easier — but honestly, after this rejection, I’m doubtful.



3. Best Porting Options (as per research)

Niva Bupa Health Companion / ReAssure

HDFC Ergo Optima Restore

ICICI Lombard Complete Health

Care Health Insurance (Care Advantage)

Thanks

 

[AlgoTrader]

health insure from star is like a scam

 

[Nishan11]

Port it to ICICI ELEVATE & disclose every pre existing disease ( if any ) of each family member honestly.

You can try HDFC Ergo too.

Avoid Star health, not worth it.

 

[Mekala ManojKumar]

Thanks for all your responses.

 

[Mekala ManojKumar]

One More Important Point – IVF Coverage

I also want to mention something very personal but important:

I am planning to go for Assisted Reproduction Treatment (IVF) in the near future.

My current Star Health insurance policy covers IVF treatment (with certain conditions).

If I port to ICICI or HDFC (as many suggested), I’m worried I may lose IVF coverage because most insurers exclude infertility/IVF.
👉 Question to the community:

Does anyone know a good health insurance plan that covers IVF/Assisted Reproduction (either directly or as an add-on)?

If I port, will the IVF coverage still continue, or will it be excluded in the new policy?

Which insurer currently has the best IVF-inclusive plan?
⚠️ My Understanding So Far

Most policies treat IVF as elective and exclude it under standard exclusions.

Some insurers offer coverage under special maternity/IVF riders, but with strict conditions (long waiting period, sub-limits, age limits).

If I port, there’s a high chance I’ll lose IVF coverage completely, unless I carefully choose a plan that explicitly mentions it.

🙏 Request for Guidance

Since IVF is a real upcoming expense for me, I don’t want to lose out by switching to ICICI/HDFC without clarity.
Can someone with practical experience or expertise suggest:

1. Should I continue with Star only for IVF coverage (even though I lost trust)?
2. Or is there any better insurer/plan
that covers IVF which I can port to safely?

 

[sovon]

One More Important Point – IVF Coverage

I also want to mention something very personal but important:

I am planning to go for Assisted Reproduction Treatment (IVF) in the near future.

My current Star Health insurance policy covers IVF treatment (with certain conditions).

If I port to ICICI or HDFC (as many suggested), I’m worried I may lose IVF coverage because most insurers exclude infertility/IVF.
👉 Question to the community:

Does anyone know a good health insurance plan that covers IVF/Assisted Reproduction (either directly or as an add-on)?

If I port, will the IVF coverage still continue, or will it be excluded in the new policy?

Which insurer currently has the best IVF-inclusive plan?
⚠️ My Understanding So Far

Most policies treat IVF as elective and exclude it under standard exclusions.

Some insurers offer coverage under special maternity/IVF riders, but with strict conditions (long waiting period, sub-limits, age limits).

If I port, there’s a high chance I’ll lose IVF coverage completely, unless I carefully choose a plan that explicitly mentions it.

🙏 Request for Guidance

Since IVF is a real upcoming expense for me, I don’t want to lose out by switching to ICICI/HDFC without clarity.
Can someone with practical experience or expertise suggest:

1. Should I continue with Star only for IVF coverage (even though I lost trust)?
2. Or is there any better insurer/plan
that covers IVF which I can port to safely?

I think Niva bupa aspire titanium+ will be a good option then with minimum waiting period.
That's why I told you to talk with Ditto and Beshak. Talk with both you will get a vast knowledge

 

[sovon]

@Mekala ManojKumar but There are limit and sublimits.
So go through all the details, I know that the waiting period is only 9 month in niva higher variant. But don't about the restrictions. So talk with experts and do your own research, note down the confusions and then connect with Ditto, beshak, clear all your doubts.

 

[DS_CoolGuy]

I have gone through the same experience with Star but I am stuck now because my father had got angioplasty done and I can’t port out the policy. Though I got my own policy port out to Care health in May month. Star is no doubt worst among all the insurance companies.

 

[Zacobite]

I think Niva bupa aspire titanium+ will be a good option then with minimum waiting period.
That's why I told you to talk with Ditto and Beshak. Talk with both you will get a vast knowledge

Niva Bupa is a v v bad option.. Their products are world class.. But they don't service / pay properly.. Cheat a lot.. So best product design and bad ethics after.. Personal experience.. Legal proper expectations.. No special requests... Error prone as well.. Let me. Give you an example.. They put a 45% loading on my child (15 yr old) saying obese.. After 13 years of policy randomly.. With no information.. No one knows how they got my childs weight when i didn't share... Btw.. He is tall and lanky and thinnnn... LOL.. It took them. 6 months with IRDA intervention to apologize.. Just one example.. Porting is risky after so many years hence bought another policy.. Will discontinue this after a few yrs.

 

[sovon]

Niva Bupa is a v v bad option.. Their products are world class.. But they don't service / pay properly.. Cheat a lot.. So best product design and bad ethics after.. Personal experience.. Legal proper expectations.. No special requests... Error prone as well.. Let me. Give you an example.. They put a 45% loading on my child (15 yr old) saying obese.. After 13 years of policy randomly.. With no information.. No one knows how they got my childs weight when i didn't share... Btw.. He is tall and lanky and thinnnn... LOL.. It took them. 6 months with IRDA intervention to apologize.. Just one example.. Porting is risky after so many years hence bought another policy.. Will discontinue this after a few yrs.

Absolutely.

ICICI is pretty strict too. When I was trying to get insurance for my brother in January, they asked for a discharge certificate for a procedure that didn’t even happen. I also checked with Niva, HDFC, Aditya Birla, and ICICI.

All the other companies accepted our proposal with a standard 3-year waiting period, but ICICI turned us down 🥹 for a kidney stone that’s under 1 mm. It’s in the early stages, and after 6 months of medication, my brother is totally fine now but now we are cautious about our lifestyle. We even did a USG and X-ray last week no stone is diagnosed.

ICICI insisted that we either provide operation and discharge documents or wait until all test results come back normal.

In the end, we went with HDFC because my brother is a bit of a nerd and shy, which is the complete opposite of me. He doesn’t want any hassle in his life.

HDFC is good, but the premium is a bit on the higher side.

 

[HumorSimpson]

Yes and you should provide counter to reasons for rejection by star in IRDAI complaint i.e. why claim should be passed

Could you please tell the procedure to complaint to IRDAI ?

 

[OptiCard]

Star Health is worst health insurance company. Their customer support also feels that they're the boss and always talk on harsh tone.

Recently I went through my parents policy and found:

1. He's paying 45K for just 5L insured amount
2. The NCB used to increase with just 50K every year & if claims then it will be back to 5L
3. Ambulance coverage to 5K
4. Room rent max as Private AC Room
5. No Restoration
6. Worst Part --> 20% coinsurance from the age of 61 years
7. No day care treatment
8. No Hospitalization cover for home
9. Free Health checkup only upto ₹1500 (including all insured)
10. Consumables excluded

I ported to Aditya Birla Active One Max (this month starting only). Why ?

1. Though paying ₹53k but getting 10L coverage
2. The NCB will be increased 100% of the coverage & doesn't matter if claimed or not
   Example:
   Let say the policy insured amount is 10L then next year it will be 20L and then 30L --> irrespective of claims (means no reduction)
3. Unlimited restoration
4. No room cap (can take ultra deluxe, rocket, cloud & bla bla type of room upto insured amount)
5. Day care treatment covered
6. No coinsurance
7. Covers hospitalization at home
8. Consumables included (based on annexure, not everything)
9. Air & Road ambulance covers till insured amount
10. Some discount based on health tracker app --> not sure if it's gimmick or really works (I won't care much)
11. Free health checkup to all member (need to explore still like per member what is the test package. I am expecting better than Star Health which gives only ₹1500 over all the members)

Note:
These are the things I know but the things can be known better when someone claims (ground reality).
But from my understanding, never choose coinsurance, room caps & Ambulance limitations. In addition, if taking policy in groups or for elders then restoration should be there.

 

[akshayhs]

In our friends and family circle, we call them as Fraud Health Insurance

 

[OptiCard]

I would like to thanks @kuchbhi for suggesting me this policy (Aditya Birla One Max).

 

[HumorSimpson]

I would like to thanks @kuchbhi for suggesting me this policy (Aditya Birla One Max).

Rephrase to
I would like to thanks @kuchbhi for suggesting me Aditya Birla One Max.