When selecting a suitable mediclaim policy, comparing two of India’s leading public sector insurers—United India and New India Assurance—can help you make a more informed decision. Both insurers offer comprehensive health insurance policy options that cater to individual needs and family requirements. However, there are notable differences in coverage, features, benefits, and premiums.
This article compares United India Mediclaim and New India Mediclaim on various parameters to help you determine which health insurance policy might be more suitable for your specific healthcare and financial needs.
Overview of United India mediclaim policy
United India Insurance Company offers health insurance policies under its “Family Medicare” and “Individual Health Insurance” product lines. The company focuses on providing accessible health coverage with simple claim processes and standard benefits.
Key features of United India Mediclaim include:
- Sum insured: Options range from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh.
- Coverage: Inpatient hospitalisation, room rent, ICU charges, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, day care treatments, AYUSH coverage, and domiciliary hospitalisation.
- Entry age: 18 years to 65 years for adults; 91 days to 18 years for children.
- Renewability: Lifetime renewability.
- Pre-existing diseases: Covered after 4 years of continuous policy renewal.
- Network hospitals: Access to over 7,000 hospitals across India.
United India also offers top-up plans for enhanced protection and optional add-ons such as critical illness cover and personal accident riders.
Overview of New India mediclaim policy
New India Assurance is another well-established public sector health insurer known for its “Mediclaim 2012” and “Health Insurance – Floater” policies. It caters to individuals and families with various sum insured options and a focus on affordable premiums.
Key features of New India Mediclaim include:
- Sum insured: Available from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh.
- Coverage: Hospitalisation expenses, ICU charges, surgeon fees, day care procedures, ambulance charges, AYUSH treatment, and organ donor expenses.
- Entry age: 18 years to 65 years for adults; 3 months to 25 years for dependent children.
- Renewability: Lifetime renewability.
- Pre-existing diseases: Covered after 4 years of continuous coverage.
- Network hospitals: More than 6,000 hospitals nationwide.
New India also provides specific options for senior citizens and top-up plans under “Top-up Mediclaim Policy”.
Comparison between United India and New India mediclaim policies
The following comparison outlines how each health insurance policy fares on key parameters:
| Feature | United India Mediclaim | New India Mediclaim |
| Sum Insured Range | Rs. 1 lakh – Rs. 10 lakh | Rs. 1 lakh – Rs. 15 lakh |
| Room Rent Limit | 1% of SI per day for normal, 2% for ICU | 1% of SI per day for normal, 2% for ICU |
| Day Care Treatments | 140+ procedures covered | 140+ procedures covered |
| Ambulance Charges | Covered (up to Rs. 2,500 per hospitalisation) | Covered (subject to sub-limit) |
| AYUSH Treatment | Covered | Covered |
| Organ Donor Expenses | Covered | Covered |
| Pre-Existing Disease Cover | After 4 years | After 4 years |
| Co-payment | 10% – 20% for entry after age 60 | 10% – 20% depending on age |
| Network Hospitals | 7,000+ | 6,000+ |
| Policy Type Options | Individual and Family Floater | Individual and Family Floater |
| Add-ons and Riders | Critical illness, top-up, personal accident | Top-up, senior citizen options |
Premium comparison
The premium for a mediclaim policy varies based on factors like age, sum insured, location, and policy type (individual or family). For a 35-year-old individual seeking Rs. 5 lakh coverage:
- United India Mediclaim: Approx. Rs. 6,000 – Rs. 7,000 annually
- New India Mediclaim: Approx. Rs. 5,800 – Rs. 6,800 annually
While both plans are comparably priced, New India may offer slightly lower premiums for similar coverage levels. However, United India sometimes offers additional discounts for long-term policies or members of specific organisations.
Customer service and claim settlement
Both United India and New India have well-established reputations for servicing claims, though public sector insurers are generally known for manual procedures and longer processing times compared to private players.
- Claim settlement ratio (as per IRDAI data): Both companies maintain a high claim settlement ratio in the health insurance segment, typically over 90%.
- Cashless facilities: Both insurers offer cashless hospitalisation through TPAs at network hospitals.
- Support: Toll-free numbers, branch office assistance, and TPA helplines are available, although app-based support is more limited compared to private insurers.
Which mediclaim policy should you choose?
The better mediclaim policy between United India and New India ultimately depends on your individual or family requirements. Here’s a breakdown to help guide your choice:
Choose United India Mediclaim if:
- You prefer a wider hospital network.
- You seek optional riders like critical illness or personal accident.
- You plan to cover a higher-risk family member and want flexible sum insured upgrades.
Choose New India Mediclaim if:
- You are cost-sensitive and want slightly lower premium options.
- You need higher coverage beyond Rs. 10 lakh (up to Rs. 15 lakh).
- You prefer policies with flexibility for children up to 25 years under floater plans.
Conclusion
Both United India and New India offer robust mediclaim policy options backed by public sector reliability and wide healthcare networks. When choosing a health insurance policy, factors such as the sum insured, network hospitals, premium affordability, add-on availability, and service record should all be weighed carefully.
While United India offers a slightly broader hospital network and more customisation via add-ons, New India stands out for marginally better pricing and extended coverage options. Ultimately, selecting the better policy comes down to aligning the product with your medical needs, age group, and budget priorities.