ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India)

Offered by ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Limited, the LifeTime Health (India) Plan is designed as a comprehensive health insurance solution that helps safeguard against a wide range of medical expenses. Essentially, it aims to offer a sense of financial stability in the face of unforeseen health issues, letting you and your loved ones focus on recovery instead of costs. Knowing that quality care is within reach when you need it can offer a reassuring layer of security.

The plan comes packed with features and benefits. Another noteworthy addition is that it not only covers hospitalisation expenses but also includes coverage for consumables. Individuals can enjoy a no-claim bonus with no upper cap and choose from several optional add-ons such as OPD cover, maternity and surrogacy cover, critical illness protection, and a waiver of premium rider.

That said, it's important to weigh the trade-offs. The plan tends to be on the pricier side, and there’s a concerning volume of customer complaints around claim settlements and policy purchase processes, suggesting inconsistencies in service delivery.

What are the benefits offered by the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India)?

• Inpatient hospitalisation coverage: If you're admitted to a hospital for over 24 hours, this benefit kicks in to handle a wide range of expenses. From room charges and nursing care to doctor consultations, ICU stays, prescribed medications, and other associated hospital costs - everything falls under the plan's umbrella. Notably, both ICU charges and room rent come without any upper cap, offering flexibility in choosing your care environment.
• Pre-hospitalisation coverage: Healthcare costs don’t begin at the hospital door. Often, a series of medical consultations, diagnostic tests, and reports lead up to admission. The plan covers these pre-hospitalisation expenses for up to 60 days prior to your hospital stay, provided they’re linked to the same medical condition and your main claim is approved. Coverage is extended up to the sum insured, ensuring early-stage treatments aren’t financially burdensome.
• Post-hospitalisation coverage: The road to recovery often continues well beyond the hospital stay and that's where post-hospitalisation coverage steps in. This benefit supports ongoing treatment needs such as follow-up consultations, medications, and routine medical check-ups, ensuring continuity of care after discharge. However, for these expenses to be eligible, they must be directly linked to the original hospitalisation and fall under the approved inpatient hospitalisation claim. Under the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) Plan, insured individuals receive extensive post-hospitalisation coverage for up to 180 days after discharge, within the limits of the sum insured, providing a robust safety net for long-term recovery.
• Daycare treatment coverage: With advancements in medical technology, many treatments and surgeries that once required extended hospitalisation can now be performed within a single day. These are known as daycare procedures, shorter in duration but equally important in care. Under the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) Plan, all such recognised daycare treatments are covered up to the sum insured. So, even when recovery doesn’t require an overnight stay, the financial protection remains comprehensive.
• Domiciliary treatment coverage: Not all medical situations allow for hospital admission. Sometimes, treatment must happen at home, whether due to the patient's critical condition or the unavailability of hospital beds. In such cases, domiciliary care becomes essential. With the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) Plan, expenses for domiciliary treatment are reimbursed up to 10% of the sum insured. However, it’s important to note that this benefit excludes 12 specific illnesses, so checking the policy terms is advised.
• Organ donor coverage: In situations involving organ transplants, the focus shouldn't have to shift to financial worries. The ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) Plan includes coverage for organ donor expenses, taking care of all inpatient costs related to the donor, up to the full sum insured. This thoughtful inclusion ensures the procedure proceeds with fewer financial hurdles.
• Modern treatment coverage: Medical science has come a long way, transforming once-impossible treatments into everyday reality. From stem cell therapy and radiosurgery to precision-driven robotic procedures, these cutting-edge treatments are reshaping healthcare. The ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) Plan keeps pace with this progress, offering full financial coverage for modern treatment options without any upper limit, ensuring you can access the latest advancements without compromise.
• Non-medical expenses coverage: Often overlooked but equally essential, non-medical items like hospital gowns, oxygen masks, nebulisation kits, gloves, and even vaccination costs can quietly add up. To bridge this gap, the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) Plan offers an optional add-on that covers all such non-medical expenses without any financial cap, bringing added convenience and reducing out-of-pocket surprises during treatment.
• No Claim Bonus: In the event that no claims have been filed for the policy year, the No Claim Bonus is provided by the insurance company. With the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) plan, you can accumulate an unlimited No Claim Bonus. You are eligible for a 15% annual bonus, adding extra value to your coverage. The No Claim Bonus will remain unaffected for claims.
• Super No Claim Bonus: Super No Claim Bonus is only a more advanced form of the age-old No Claim Bonus, which indeed offers very similar benefits, but at an enhanced level. Under the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) plan, there is no Super No Claim Bonus.
• Restoration benefit: The restoration benefit is a special feature that replenishes your sum insured if it gets fully used up in a policy year due to unforeseen events. Under the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) plan, one can avail of restoration benefits an unlimited number of times in a policy year. It applies to subsequent claims once the Sum Insured and No Claim Bonus are fully exhausted. This benefit is applicable for unrelated illnesses, and for related illnesses (as an add-on benefit), providing comprehensive coverage and peace of mind.  

Please keep in mind that the restrictions and requirements listed in the benefits above only apply to a Rs. 10 lakh sum insured.

ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India): Financial Limits

• Room rent limit: The room rent limit is the amount that your insurance company will cover for your room charges in a hospital. So, if you choose a room within this limit, you will not be charged extra. If you opt for a more expensive room, a proportionate deduction will be applicable on your claim. However, with the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) plan, there is no such restriction on selecting any room when you choose it as an add-on cover.
• ICU rent limit: The ICU rent is the maximum cover your plan has for your hospitalisation in an intensive care unit (ICU). In the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) plan, there's no limit for ICU rent and the plan completely covers its cost without any restrictions towards your ICU stay.
• Copayment: A copayment, or copay, is that portion of the approved claim amount that you have to pay out of your own pocket. The insurer will cover the rest of the expenses once you've made your contribution. With the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) plan, there is no co-payment clause. 
• Deductible: Your deductible is the amount of money you have to pay for medical services before your insurance policy starts paying for the rest. The ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) plan does not have any deductibles.   
• Limits on surgeries/treatments: When reviewing your health insurance policy, it’s important to understand the limits on surgeries and treatments. These limits define the maximum coverage your policy offers for specific medical procedures or treatments. While some plans may set fixed restrictions on certain procedures, others could provide more flexibility. With the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) plan, joint replacement surgeries and cataract treatment are covered up to the sum insured.

Please take note that the financial limits listed above are for a 30-year-old who chooses to have Rs. 10 lakhs in sum insured. 

ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India): Waiting Periods & Exclusions

👉Waiting period

A waiting period is a set amount of time after receiving your policy during which certain diseases and medical problems are not immediately covered. It is only possible to make claims for these particular conditions after the waiting period has ended. Additionally, different insurance companies have varying waiting period rates. The various kinds of waiting periods are listed below -

• Initial waiting period: There is a 30-day waiting period for all medical illnesses except accidents. You will not be able to file a claim for any hospital stays during this time, except for accidents. 
• Waiting period for pre-existing conditions: A pre-existing condition is any health issue or sickness you suffered within the past 36 months before you purchased health insurance. A waiting period of 24 months exists for pre-existing diseases under the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) policy. During this waiting period, you will not be eligible to receive reimbursement for any expenses related to your pre-existing conditions.
• Waiting period for specific diseases: Regardless of your medical history, insurers also keep a list of specific illnesses or medical conditions with waiting periods in addition to pre-existing disorders. The insurer determines these waiting periods and your present health status has no bearing on them. There is also a waiting period of 24 months for specific diseases under the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) plan.

👉Exclusions

In health insurance policies, exclusions refer to particular medical disorders or circumstances that are not covered. The following are a some examples that come under exclusions: 

• Standard Permanent Exclusions: The "standard permanent exclusions" set forth by IRDAI must be followed by all insurance companies. Among them are - 

1. Investigation and evaluation: Hospital stays for the purpose of observing or monitoring a patient's condition. 
2. Rest, rehabilitation, and respite care: Medical care involving rest, recuperation, and relief without the requirement of active treatments or surgeries.
3. Obesity/weight control: Treatments or surgeries designed to control obesity or weight.
4. Gender reassignment: Medical procedures and treatments meant to transform into the opposite sex and change gender identity.
5. Plastic/Cosmetic surgery: Treatment or surgery designed to enhance or alter physical appearance.
6. Profession in adventure or hazardous sports: Expenditures of medical treatment because of participating professionally in adventurous activities like river rafting, mountaineering, scuba diving, and other risky sports. 
7. Breach of law: Cost of treatment for offenders who have committed or attempted a criminal act.
8. Excluded providers: Treatment costs by a medical doctor or hospital not covered by the insurance firm.
9. Narcotics: Treatment for substance dependency, including addiction to alcohol or drugs, is not covered under the policy.
10. Treatments in establishments arranged for domestic purposes: Costs regarding treatment within nursing homes or other healthcare institutions aimed at offering non-medical, domestic care.
11. Dietary supplements are substances purchased without subscription:  Products like vitamins and minerals that are purchased over-the-counter without a prescription from a healthcare provider.
12. Refractive error: Costs associated with correcting refractive issues up to 7.5 diopters to improve vision.
13. Unproven treatments: Unproven treatments include medical practices, surgical operations, or treatments found to be ineffective or without scientific evidence.
14. Expenses related to sterility, birth control, and infertility: Sterilisation, contraception, artificial insemination, advanced reproductive technologies such as GIFT,  IVF, ZIFT, ICSI, gestational surrogacy, and others. 
15. Maternity expenses: Prenatal and postpartum expenses as well as healthcare costs associated with childbirth. 

• Additional permanent exclusions: In addition to the standard permanent exclusions adopted in most insurance policies, insurance companies may add more exclusions for certain medical conditions or circumstances. If the insurers consider that some diseases or serious health conditions are too risky to be covered, they reserve the right to permanently exclude them from your policy. It's crucial to understand that health insurers are bound by a list of illnesses set by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), to which they can apply permanent exclusions. Insurers cannot impose permanent exclusions for any illnesses or conditions beyond this specified list. 
• Non-standard exclusions (Specific exclusions): Non-standard exclusions are additional exclusions that go beyond the standard permanent ones defined by the IRDAI. These exclusions can differ between insurance providers and are based on the specific terms and conditions of each policy. Below are the key specific exclusions under the ManipalCigna LifeTime Health (India) plan: 

1. Costs associated with screening, counseling, or treatment of external birth defects are not covered.
2. Circumcision is excluded unless it's medically required due to a specific illness or injury.
3. Prosthetics, corrective devices, and medical appliances not essential during surgery for the covered illness or injury are excluded, unless opted for separately.
4. Treatments outside the scope of allopathy are not covered, with the exception of those falling under AYUSH systems of medicine.

What to expect in terms of claims experience if you buy from Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited?

• Speed of claims settlement: Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited has settled  99.14% of its claims within 30 days, ensuring an efficient and timely claim settlement experience. 
• Claim-related complaints: As per our research, Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited has a higher complaint rate than other insurers, 0.26%.
• Claims incurred ratio: One indicator of an insurer's financial performance is the claims incurred ratio. It shows how many claims were paid out overall compared to the amount of premiums collected within a specific fiscal year. Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited has a claims incurred ratio of 63.78%.
• Claim settlement ratio: Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited's claim settlement ratio stands at 87.68%. The ratio of total claims received to claims settled by the company for a specific fiscal year is displayed in this figure. 
• Network hospitals: Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited provides access to an extensive network of 15,000+ hospitals. This vast network ensures that clients can receive cashless care without worrying about their finances.

How is the customer service of Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited?

• Policy purchase-related complaints: Based on our research, Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited has received 0.01% of complaints related to its after-sales service, which is significantly higher than that of other insurance companies. 
• Response on Toll-Free: Our research suggests that Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited’s response time on their toll-free number is average compared to other insurers. 
• Response on Twitter: According to our research, Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited has a slow response time on Twitter compared to others.

About Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited

ManipalCigna Health Insurance is a dedicated health insurance provider in India, born from a strategic joint venture between the Manipal Group and the global insurance leader, Cigna Corporation. Since its inception in 2012, the company has operated as a standalone health insurer, offering a diverse portfolio tailored to the varied needs of Indian consumers. From individual and family floater plans to critical illness cover, personal accident policies, group health insurance, and hospital cash benefits, their offerings are designed to provide flexible and focused protection. Headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, the company continues to grow its presence across the Indian health insurance landscape.