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Insurance Plans Comparison

Care Classic 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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Care

Classic

Comprehensive Family Health Insurance with Unlimited Recharge and Extensive Hospitalisation Coverage

What Makes It Special:

Care Classic is a family-focused health insurance plan offering comprehensive hospitalisation coverage, unlimited automatic recharge, 60-day pre-hospitalisation and 180-day post-hospitalisation coverage, AYUSH benefits, annual health check-ups, and a cumulative bonus of up to 150% of the Base Sum Insured, subject to policy terms.

Best For:

  • Customers looking for long-term coverage benefits – The plan offers a cumulative bonus that can increase up to 150% of the Base Sum Insured, subject to policy terms.

  • Those preferring higher room eligibility – Suitable for eligible Sum Insured options offering a Single Private A/C Room.

  • Customers seeking extensive hospitalisation coverage – Includes pre- and post-hospitalisation, daycare, AYUSH and other eligible medical expenses.

  • Families seeking comprehensive health coverage – Suitable for families wanting a single floater policy with broad hospitalisation benefits.

  • People wanting unlimited recharge – Useful for those who want the Sum Insured to be replenished multiple times during a policy year, subject to terms.

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

  • Review the applicable room-rent, treatment sub-limits and waiting periods before purchasing, particularly the 36-month PED waiting period.

  • Check the plan carefully if maternity coverage is a priority, as maternity expenses are not covered.

  • Consider it if you want AYUSH treatment and annual health check-up benefits.

  • Choose it if 60-day pre- and 180-day post-hospitalisation coverage is important to you.

  • Choose Care Classic if you want family floater coverage with unlimited automatic recharge.

  • 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.

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Detailed Features Comparison

Compare the key features of different health insurance plans

Classic
Classic

Health Insurance Plan

VS
Golden Shield
Golden Shield

Health Insurance Plan

Brochure

Room Rent

Classic

Single Private A/C Room for SI ≥ ₹5 lakh.

VS

Golden Shield

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

ICU Charges

Classic

No limit for SI ≥ ₹5 lakh.

VS

Golden Shield

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

Advanced Treatments

Classic

Information Unavailable

VS

Golden Shield

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

Co-payment

Classic

Optional

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

Classic

Standard sublimits apply

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.

Cashless Healthcare Providers

Classic

10000+ network hospitals.

VS

Golden Shield

10,896+ hospitals across India.

Restoration Benefit

Classic

Standard No-Claim Bonus.

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.

Cumulative Bonus

Classic

25% of Base SI for each claim-free year, up to a maximum of 150% of Base SI.

VS

Golden Shield

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

Daycare Treatment

Classic

All Day Care Procedures are covered, subject to policy terms.

VS

Golden Shield

Covered under the policy. 

Consumable Cover

Classic

Not Available

VS

Golden Shield

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

AYUSH Treatment

Classic

Covered

VS

Golden Shield

Covered under this policy

Initial Waiting Period

Classic

30 days

VS

Golden Shield

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

Specific Waiting Period

Classic

24 months

VS

Golden Shield

24 months for listed diseases and procedures.

PED Waiting Period

Classic

36 months

VS

Golden Shield

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

Modern Treatment

Classic

Covered up to the Sum Insured, subject to applicable policy terms/sub-limits for specified advanced technology methods. Care specifically says advanced technology treatment is subject to the applicable sub-limit.

VS

Golden Shield

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

Annual Health Checkup

Classic

Available as add-on

VS

Golden Shield

Information Unavailable

Pre-Hospitalisation

Classic

60 days

VS

Golden Shield

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

Post-Hospitalisation

Classic

180 days post-discharge

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)

Classic

Optional Add-on

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

Classic

Available

VS

Golden Shield

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

Coverage Options

Classic

Individual or Family Floater

VS

Golden Shield

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

Claim Settlement Ratio

Classic

95.45%

VS

Golden Shield

FY 24-25: ~84%

Maternity Cover

Classic

Maternity/childbirth is excluded. The current Care Classic page specifically excludes expenses attributable to childbirth, including complicated deliveries and Caesarean sections, except ectopic pregnancy.

VS

Golden Shield

Not covered under this senior-citizen-focused plan.

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Still Confused? Get Expert Advice

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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

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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