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Insurance Plans Comparison

Care Ultimate (Direct) vs ICICI Lombard Golden Shield

Make an informed decision with our detailed side-by-side comparison of top health insurance policies. Compare...

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What Makes It Special:

Ultimate (Direct) is designed for those who want comprehensive coverage without restrictions. It offers extensive coverage for modern treatments and innovative features.

Best For:

  • Not available
VS
ICICI Lombard

Golden Shield

Cover hospital care for seniors, with a twin-sharing room below ₹10 lakh and a single private AC room from ₹10 lakh, a 50% co-pay on every admissible claim, and 60 days before admission plus 180 days after discharge.

What Makes It Special:

ICICI Lombard Golden Shield is designed for senior citizens and offers hospitalisation cover through individual and family floater options. Benefits include inpatient treatment, daycare procedures, AYUSH hospitalisation, pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses, domiciliary treatment and a Reset Benefit. The policy also offers a Loyalty Bonus and optional features such as Claim...

Best For:

  • Buyers seeking additional features such as Claim Protector or Care Management Plus, subject to availability and eligibility.

  • Customers who want to evaluate options for reducing the policy's standard co-payment.

  • Buyers who want a reset feature for eligible subsequent hospitalisation claims.

  • Older couples looking for a shared family floater or individual cover options.

  • Senior citizens seeking health insurance for eligible hospitalisation expenses.

Insurance Plans Comparison

Get Personalized Advice

Our insurance experts are here to help you make the right choice. Get personalized recommendations based on your specific needs and budget.

Quick Decision Guide

  • Compare the disease-specific sublimits with your healthcare needs, especially for cataract, cardiovascular treatment, cancer and renal conditions.

  • Review the 24-month PED and specified-disease waiting periods, along with the separate 90-day exclusion for hypertension, diabetes and cardiac conditions.

  • Check the room category linked to your sum insured to avoid unexpected proportionate deductions.

  • Review the base 50% co-payment carefully and compare the additional premium for reducing it to 40%, 30% or 20%.

  • Select a sum insured based on expected medical expenses and confirm that the desired option is available for your age and health profile.

Insurance Plans Comparison

Detailed Features Comparison

Compare the key features of different health insurance plans

Ultimate (Direct)
Ultimate (Direct)

Health Insurance Plan

Brochure

VS
Golden Shield
Golden Shield

Health Insurance Plan

Brochure

Room Rent

Ultimate (Direct)

The cost of hospital room accommodation is covered under a health insurance policy, subject to specified limits.

No limit on room rent or ICU charges, allowing policyholders to choose any hospital room without financial constraints.

VS

Golden Shield

ICICI Lombard's Health Shield plan offers comprehensive coverage with no specific capping on room rent or ICU charges.

Advanced Treatments

Ultimate (Direct)

Modern medical procedures like robotic surgery or stem cell therapy, often covered under specialized insurance plans.

Covers modern procedures like robotic surgery, stem cell therapy, oral chemotherapy, and deep brain stimulation for critical illnesses.

VS

Golden Shield

The plan covers advanced treatments like robotic surgeries, immunotherapy, oral chemotherapy, stem cell therapy, and minimally invasive procedures for various conditions.

ICU Charges

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

Covered under eligible inpatient hospitalisation, subject to the annual sum insured and applicable policy conditions.

Co-payment

Ultimate (Direct)

A fixed percentage of the claim amount that the insured must pay out-of-pocket before the insurer covers the rest.

No mandatory co-payment for policyholders under 61; a 20% co-payment applies for those purchasing after turning 61.

VS

Golden Shield

The ICICI Lombard Golden Shield plan includes a mandatory 50% co-payment, meaning policyholders are responsible for half of the admissible claim amount, while the insurer covers the remaining 50%. This co-payment applies to all claims made under the policy.

Disease-wise sublimits

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

Yes. Cataract and specified cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, cancer, renal, long-bone/joint and robotic-surgery treatments have limits that vary by sum insured.

Waiting Period

Ultimate (Direct)

The duration after policy issuance during which certain illnesses or conditions are not covered.

Coverage begins after 30 days for general illnesses, two years for specific conditions, and three years for pre-existing diseases.

VS

Golden Shield

Information Unavailable

Cashless Healthcare Providers

Ultimate (Direct)

Hospitals and clinics within an insurer’s network where policyholders can receive treatment without upfront payments.

 

Access to over 24,800 network hospitals for cashless treatment, ensuring hassle-free hospitalization without upfront payments.

VS

Golden Shield

10,896+ hospitals across India.

Restoration Benefit

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

Unlimited Reset Benefit of up to 100% of the annual sum insured for eligible subsequent claims. It does not apply to the first claim and has restrictions for the same illness or related complications.

Daycare Treatment

Ultimate (Direct)

Medical procedures requiring less than 24-hour hospitalization, such as cataract surgery or chemotherapy.

 

Covers treatments requiring hospitalization of less than 24 hours, such as cataract surgeries, chemotherapy, and other specialized procedures.

VS

Golden Shield

Covered under the policy. 

Cumulative Bonus

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

Loyalty Bonus accumulates under the policy's renewal rules; accrued bonus is not reduced merely because a claim is made.

AYUSH Treatment

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

Covered under this policy

Consumable Cover

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

Claim Protector is available as an optional cover for eligible non-medical items associated with an accepted inpatient claim.

Initial Waiting Period

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

30 days for illnesses, except covered accident-related hospitalisation.

Specific Waiting Period

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

24 months for listed diseases and procedures.

PED Waiting Period

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

24 months of continuous coverage for declared and accepted pre-existing diseases.

Modern Treatment

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

Listed modern treatments are covered up to the annual sum insured, subject to specified sublimits.

Pre-Hospitalisation

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

60 days before hospitalisation, subject to policy terms and the accepted inpatient claim.

Post-Hospitalisation

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

Up to 7% of hospitalisation expenses, subject to a maximum of ₹5,000 for ₹3–5 lakh sum insured, ₹7,000 for ₹10–15 lakh, and ₹10,000 for ₹20–50 lakh.

Outpatient Department Cover (OPD Expense)

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

Not included as a general standard reimbursement benefit. Outpatient consultations may be available through the optional Care Management Plus Program.

Deductible Option

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

Optional voluntary deductible of 20% of the annual sum insured, applied on an aggregate basis during the policy year.

Coverage Options

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

Individual or family floater; optional Claim Protector, reduced co-payment, voluntary deductible and Care Management Plus Program.

Claim Settlement Ratio

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

FY 24-25: ~84%

Maternity Cover

Ultimate (Direct)

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

Not covered under this senior-citizen-focused plan.

Insurance Plans Comparison

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Get a dedicated expert managing your claim end-to-end, from hospital admission to approval, including dispute resolution and support

What Our Experts Help You With

Personalised Recommendations

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Explore Insurance Category

Senior Citizen Health Plan

Senior Citizen Health Plan

  • Secure against age-related medical costs

  • Tailored for seniors healthcare needs

Most Popular

Family Health Plan

Family Health Plan

  • One policy covers the entire family

  • High sum insured with cashless care

  • Multiple coverage options based on your family needs

Maternity Health Plan

Maternity Health Plan

  • Covers delivery, newborn care, and maternity expenses

  • Reduces financial stress of childbirth costs

Insurance Plans Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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