Overview of LifeTime Health
The ManipalCigna Lifetime Health plan is designed to offer lifelong health coverage with a blend of comprehensive benefits. It features coverage from 50L up to ₹3 crore, unlimited restoration of the sum insured for unrelated illnesses. Key benefits include worldwide emergency hospitalization, guaranteed cumulative bonus, and a variety of optional packages to enhance coverage.
Experts' Review of LifeTime Health
Written by Nikhil Nair
Senior Writer
The standout feature of the ManipalCigna Lifetime Health plan is right in the name; it is designed to provide coverage for life. With options to choose a sum insured up to ₹3 crore, you're looking at a plan that's meant to handle significant medical expenses.
The policy’s unlimited restoration ensures you won't run out of coverage, even if you have multiple hospitalizations in a year. Note that this only applies to unrelated illnesses. The guaranteed cumulative bonus takes its value further by adding 15% of your sum insured each year, regardless of claims.
The plan also offers optional packages like Health+, which offers cash benefits during hospitalization, avail assistance like concierges and many more, and Women+ that includes screening programs, medical reimbursement, psychiatric and psychological consultations tailored specifically for women.
In addition, the plan’s guaranteed cumulative bonus keeps accumulating from the 1st year with every passing year with no maximum limit. Plus, from the 4th policy year onwards, you can get a loyalty discount on applicable premium for a lifetime.
Pros
Feature set is satisfactory.
Insurer has a solid track record with great claim and service metrics.
Offers Health 360 Advance, which makes this policy stand out.
You can pick any room so long as it's not a Suite, a highly valued feature.
Free Health Checkups every year, which adds significant value to the policy.
Cons
Premiums are relatively high.
No Bonus for being healthy and not claiming insurance, which is a notable gap.
Maternity benefits not offered, which could be a drawback for some.
Doctor consultations are not covered, which is a key feature. Need to opt add-on for doctor consultations.
Manipal Cigna
Key Insights
Founded
2014
Manipal Cigna was established 12 years ago, making it a relatively new entrant with a developing track record.
Claims Experience
90% CSR, calculated as a 3-year average
Manipal Cigna settles 90% of all claims it receives. This is reasonable performance, though there is room for improvement compared to top insurers.
Network Hospitals
14,000+
Manipal Cigna has a strong network with over 14,000 hospitals, ensuring wide accessibility and convenience for policyholders.
Complaints
18 complaints per 10,000 claims registered
Manipal Cigna experiences a moderate number of complaints, indicating room for improvement in addressing customer concerns.
The aforementioned ratios have been averaged over three years (FY24-FY26)
Features of LifeTime Health
Health 360 Advance
Standout
Extended coverage with no room restriction, unlimited restoration of sum insured even for same illness along with air ambulance coverage.
Co-payment
The insurer will bear the entire cost of treatment (up to the sum insured). You won't have to pay a single penny. Meaning this policy has no co-payment.
Room Rent
Shared rooms are okay. Single private rooms are okay. Most rooms are okay unless it's a suite room — the expensive stuff. Then you'll have to start splitting the bill.
Disease sub-limit
No funny business here. If your insurer hasn't explicitly stated they won't cover a certain illness, you can claim the full amount up to the sum insured, irrespective of the disease you're dealing with. Meaning this policy doesn't impose the dreaded disease wise sub-limits.
Pre existing diseases waiting
If you're already dealing with diabetes, cardiovascular problems or any such illnesses, the insurer will cover all costs arising out of these pre-existing problems after just 2 years. It's probably the best deal you can get to be honest.
Add-ons of LifeTime Health
Health 360 Shield
Recommended
Covers list of 68 non-medical items as per list I upto ₹1,00,000.
Health 360 OPD cover
Get coverage for outpatient and e-consultations i.e. doctor visits along with coverage for prescribed diagnostics and pharmacy based on the option taken.
Critical Illness
Get a lump sum payment in the event you are diagnosed with critical illnesses outlined in the policy document.
Health 360 Advance
Get extended coverage with no room restriction, unlimited restoration of sum insured even for same illness along with air ambulance coverage.
Health+
Get coverage Air Ambulance Upto ₹10, Medical Devices and Non-Medical Items upto ₹2L once in 3 years, Domestic Second Opinion for major illnesses, Bariatric Surgery Cover upto ₹5L, Lump sum payout benefit of ₹50k per hospitalization of at least 10 consecutive days in terms of convalescence benefit. Daily hospital cash benefit of ₹2.5k/day if treatment is taken for major illnesses. Fixed Payout of ₹2.5k/sitting of Chemotherapy / Radiotherapy, conducted in a Day Care Treatment. Accidental Hospital Cash benefit of ₹2.5k/day if treatment taken for an Injury due to an Accident. Domestic Concierge Services offered to insured members once a year. Tele -Consultations available through tele/chat mode from network facilities.
Woman+
Get coverage if you are a female aged 12 years or more for various services including screening for Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Cervical Cancer Vaccination, Ovarian Cancer, Osteoporosis, 15 Gynaecological outpatient consultations and 5 Psychiatric & Psychological Consultations.
Exclusions in LifeTime Health
Conditions or treatments that the policy clearly says it will not cover.
Expenses related to any admission primarily for diagnostics and evaluation purposes are excluded.
Diagnostic expenses not related or incidental to current diagnosis and treatment are excluded.
Expenses for admission primarily for bed rest and not for treatment are excluded.
Custodial care at home or in a facility for help with daily activities is excluded.
Services for terminally ill individuals addressing non-medical needs are excluded.
Disclaimer: For illustration purposes only - exact terms are in the policy wording.
Specific Illness
The following illnesses are not covered under the policy for 2 years.
Cataract
Hysterectomy for menorrhagia, fibromyoma, or prolapse of uterus (unless due to malignancy)
Myomectomy for fibroids
Non-infective arthritis
Gout
Waiting Period
30 days Initial waiting period
2 years Specific illness waiting period
2 years Pre-existing disease waiting period
Ditto's Take
◦ Excellent ◦
After a close look at the waiting periods, we can say that the waiting periods on this policy are excellent. Especially the PED waiting period which is better than usual.
What's missing in LifeTime Health
No Bonus for being healthy and not claiming insurance.
Maternity benefits not offered.
Doctor consultations are not covered. Need to opt add-on for doctor consultations.
Reviews for LifeTime Health
A
Aniket Phatak
Starts at 50 lakh and runs to 3 crore, no co-payment anywhere, and any room except a suite. At the 3 crore cover the suite is included too. If you want a genuinely large cover without conditions attached this is the shape it should take.
T
Tasneem Jetpurwala
The loyalty discount is the sleeper feature 5% off renewals from the fourth policy year and 10% from the eighth. Nobody sells you on it and it compounds.
R
Rajarshi Duttagupta
Pre-existing wait is 2 years, not the 3 or 4 you see elsewhere at this cover size. 60 days pre and 180 post. Claim for my wife's spinal surgery was settled cashless in under 36 hours.
S
Shruti Kaul
Bought the Women+ package for the cervical and ovarian screening and the gynaecological consultations. 15 consults a year plus 5 psychological ones. It's the only package on any plan I looked at that treats women's health as more than a maternity line item.
M
Mahim Chettri
Health 360 Advance upgrades restoration so it works for the same illness too. Without it the base restoration only triggers for an unrelated condition, which is the usual catch. Budget for the add-on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does LifeTime Health have waiting periods?
- 30-Day Waiting Period: Hospitalizations won’t be covered for the first 30 days of the policy unless it’s an accident.
- Specific Illness Waiting Period: There’s a 2-year waiting period for a list of diseases which is a mandate before you can start claiming.
- Pre-Existing Disease Waiting Period: There's a 2-year waiting period for any pre-existing disease you may have while buying the policy.
Does LifeTime Health have room rent restrictions?
Does LifeTime Health offer a restoration benefit?
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