Partner with us

Insurance Plans Comparison

Care Joy Today vs ICICI Lombard Golden Shield

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

Read more
Care

Joy Today

Specialised plan for the Joy of you

What Makes It Special:

Care Joy is a hospitalisation plan with built-in maternity and newborn cover. The Joy Today variant is the faster-access option, with a 9-month waiting period for maternity claims. The other variant, Joy Tomorrow, has a 24-month wait. Maternity benefits are capped at ₹35,000 on a ₹3 lakh sum insured and ₹50,000...

Best For:

  • Long-term peace of mind with 3-year policy term

  • Cashless treatment across 8,000+ hospitals

  • Comprehensive family protection during pregnancy

  • Maternity and Newborn health coverage

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

  • You want cashless access to 8,000+ hospitals across India

  • You prefer short waiting period for maternity benefits (9 months)

  • You want maternity and newborn cover under one plan

  • You’re planning for pregnancy or expanding your family soon.

  • 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

Joy Today
Joy Today

Health Insurance Plan

Brochure

VS
Golden Shield
Golden Shield

Health Insurance Plan

Brochure

Room Rent

Joy Today

Single Private AC room covered

VS

Golden Shield

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

ICU Charges

Joy Today

No restriction on ICU room rent

VS

Golden Shield

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

Advanced Treatments

Joy Today

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.

Disease-wise sublimits

Joy Today

Not Specifically mentioned

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.

Co-payment

Joy Today

20% for above 61 years unless waived by extra premium

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.

Restoration Benefit

Joy Today

Not Available

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.

Cashless Healthcare Providers

Joy Today

8000+ Healthcare Providers

VS

Golden Shield

10,896+ hospitals across India.

Cumulative Bonus

Joy Today

Not Available in the base plan but you can add a rider to avail

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

Joy Today

Covers medical expenses for treatments not requiring 24-hour hospitalization, up to your annual sum insured

VS

Golden Shield

Covered under the policy. 

Consumable Cover

Joy Today

Included within hospitalisation expenses.

VS

Golden Shield

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

AYUSH Treatment

Joy Today

Covers AYUSH treatment expenses up to your annual sum insured during the policy period

VS

Golden Shield

Covered under this policy

Initial Waiting Period

Joy Today

30 days

VS

Golden Shield

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

Specific Waiting Period

Joy Today

2 years

VS

Golden Shield

24 months for listed diseases and procedures.

PED Waiting Period

Joy Today

3 years

VS

Golden Shield

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

Modern Treatment

Joy Today

Covered

VS

Golden Shield

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

Annual Health Checkup

Joy Today

Not Stated

VS

Golden Shield

Information Unavailable

Pre-Hospitalisation

Joy Today

You get cover for medical tests and doctor visits up to 30 days before hospitalisation, if your main claim is approved

VS

Golden Shield

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

Post-Hospitalisation

Joy Today

You get cover for medical bills up to 60 days after discharge, including physiotherapy if your doctor prescribes it

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)

Joy Today

OPD expense is not included.

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

Joy Today

Not 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

Joy Today

8000+ Healthcare Providers

VS

Golden Shield

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

Claim Settlement Ratio

Joy Today

96%

VS

Golden Shield

FY 24-25: ~84%

Maternity Cover

Joy Today

Available including pre-natal and post-natal expenses, up to ₹35,000 or ₹50,000 based on sum insured; maternity cover available up to age 45.

VS

Golden Shield

Not covered under this senior-citizen-focused plan.

Insurance Plans Comparison

Still Confused? Get Expert Advice

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

Why Choose Our Expert Consultation?

End-to-End Support

End-to-End Support

From choosing the right policy to managing claims, every step is handled for you

Zero Spam. Zero Hassle

Zero Spam. Zero Hassle

Pure advice, no unwanted calls, no unnecessary push

Free Expert Consultation

Free Expert Consultation

Talk to experienced advisors at no cost, and make confident decisions

24/7 Claim Assistance

24/7 Claim Assistance

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

  • Every suggestion is backed by expert analysis of your life stage, goals, and budget

Expert-Led Policy Review

  • We decode the fine print—identifying risks, sub-limits, and gaps you may have missed. No surprises later

Smart, Tech-Enabled Experience

  • From digital onboarding to real-time claim tracking, our platform makes insurance easy, accessible, and stress-free

Insurance Plans Comparison

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)

Having questions? We've got answers. Explore our FAQs to find the information you need.

1-5 of 10 FAQs

Compare With Other Health Insurance Plans

Policy Pal

Chat with PolicyPal

Get a free policy review

No pressure. No product push. Just honest advice.