Health insurance update: Claims now allowed for 2-hour hospital stays

In a major shift that could redefine health insurance benefits in India, insurers are now offering policies that cover hospitalisations as short as two hours. This is a significant departure from the long-standing rule that required a minimum of 24 hours of admission to be eligible for claims. 

"Over the past decade or so, medical advancements have transformed how treatments and surgeries are done, significantly reducing the time required for such procedures," said Siddharth Singhal, head of health insurance at Policybazaar. 

Conditions that earlier warranted overnight monitoring or post-operative care can now be safely managed with just a few hours of hospital stay, thanks to minimally invasive procedures like laparoscopy, laser surgery, and advanced imaging that allow quicker diagnostics and faster recovery. “Many common procedures like cataract surgeries, chemotherapy sessions, angiographies, or even emergency observations can now be completed within a few hours, without the need for prolonged admission,” he added. 

Singhal said the insurance industry is adapting to these new medical realities. “Today, you can claim health insurance even for short hospital stays that once fell through the cracks of traditional coverage. Many leading insurers have introduced these flexible provisions in their health plans.”

Several insurers have already rolled out such enhanced offerings. For instance, a 30-year-old male, a non-smoker residing in a metro city, can get a ₹10 lakh sum insured under ICICI Lombard’s “Elevate” plan for an annual premium of ₹9,195. CARE Health Insurance’s “Care Supreme” plan comes at ₹12,790 per year, while Niva Bupa’s “Health ReAssure” plan is priced at ₹14,199. These price points reflect not just risk assessments but also the range of benefits, hospital networks, and added features offered by each plan.

As medical care becomes faster and more precise, the insurance sector is stepping up to match the pace.