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Insurance Plans Comparison

Star Special Care Gold 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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Star

Special Care Gold

Cover hospital bills for a listed disability or HIV with a 20% co-pay, and if the CD4 count falls below 150 after 90 days pay a once-in-a-lifetime lump sum of the sum insured or the remaining balance.

What Makes It Special:

Special Care Gold is designed for persons with disabilities and individuals with HIV/AIDS. The product provides individual indemnity and benefit coverage, with defined eligibility requirements, hospitalisation cover, daycare treatment, AYUSH treatment, modern treatment coverage and a 20% co-payment that can be waived through an optional benefit.

Best For:

  • Customers who need defined coverage with optional co-payment waiver

  • Customers looking for AYUSH hospitalisation coverage

  • Families seeking specialised health insurance for eligible members

  • Eligible individuals living with HIV/AIDS

  • Eligible persons with disabilities

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

Star Special Care Gold

  • No pre-policy medical test is required, subject to submission requirements.

  • A co-payment waiver is available for additional premium.

  • AYUSH inpatient treatment is covered up to 100% of Sum Insured.

  • Sum Insured options of ₹4 Lakh and ₹5 Lakh are available.

  • The product is specifically structured for disability and HIV/AIDS-related eligibility.

ICICI Lombard Golden Shield

  • 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

Special Care Gold
Special Care Gold

Health Insurance Plan

Brochure

Policy Wording

VS
Golden Shield
Golden Shield

Health Insurance Plan

Brochure

Room Rent

Special Care Gold

Up to 1% of Sum Insured per day

VS

Golden Shield

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

ICU Charges

Special Care Gold

Up to 2% of Sum Insured per day

VS

Golden Shield

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

Advanced Treatments

Special Care Gold

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

Special Care Gold

Specified treatment limits 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.

Co-payment

Special Care Gold

20% on all claims; waiver available for additional 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

Special Care Gold

Not specified

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

Special Care Gold

Cashless treatment available at network hospitals


VS

Golden Shield

10,896+ hospitals across India.

Cumulative Bonus

Special Care Gold

Not specified

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

Special Care Gold

All daycare procedures covered

VS

Golden Shield

Covered under the policy. 

Consumable Cover

Special Care Gold

Not specified

VS

Golden Shield

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

AYUSH Treatment

Special Care Gold

Covered up to 100% of Sum Insured

VS

Golden Shield

Covered under this policy

Initial Waiting Period

Special Care Gold

30 Days for indemnity basis; 90 Days for HIV/AIDS benefit basis


VS

Golden Shield

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

Specific Waiting Period

Special Care Gold

24 Months

VS

Golden Shield

24 months for listed diseases and procedures.

PED Waiting Period

Special Care Gold

36 Months for PEDs other than specified disability and HIV/AIDS; 24 Months for pre-existing disability


VS

Golden Shield

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

Modern Treatment

Special Care Gold

Covered up to 50% of Sum Insured for listed modern treatments

VS

Golden Shield

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

Annual Health Checkup

Special Care Gold

Not specified


VS

Golden Shield

Information Unavailable

Pre-Hospitalisation

Special Care Gold

Up to 30 Days

VS

Golden Shield

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

Post-Hospitalisation

Special Care Gold

Up to 60 Days

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)

Special Care Gold

Not a standard OPD benefit


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

Special Care Gold

Not specified

VS

Golden Shield

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

Coverage Options

Special Care Gold

₹4 Lakh and ₹5 Lakh, individual basis


VS

Golden Shield

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

Claim Settlement Ratio

Special Care Gold

Not specified


VS

Golden Shield

FY 24-25: ~84%

Maternity Cover

Special Care Gold

Not specified as a standard maternity benefit

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?

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

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Free Expert Consultation

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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.

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