How much health insurance cover do you really need?

Ask three people how much health cover you need and you'll get three different answers. The honest reply is: it depends — mostly on where you live, who you're covering and how hospital costs are trending. Here's a practical way to think it through instead of guessing.

Start with the cost of a serious hospitalisation

Your cover should comfortably absorb a major medical event — a surgery, an ICU stay, or treatment for a serious illness. In smaller towns that bill might be a few lakh rupees; in a metro private hospital the same treatment can run several times higher. A good starting point is to imagine the most expensive realistic hospitalisation for your family and make sure your sum insured clears it with room to spare.

Adjust for your city and age

• Metro cities: medical inflation and private-hospital rates are steep, so lean towards a higher base — many young families start at ₹10 lakh.
• Smaller cities: costs are lower, but you may still travel to a metro for serious care, so don't under-insure.
• Older members: claims become more likely with age, which makes a generous sum insured more valuable, not less.

Consider a top-up to stretch your cover

Instead of buying one very large policy, many families pair a base plan with a super top-up that kicks in above a chosen threshold. This is often a cheaper way to reach a high total cover — for example, a ₹5 lakh base plus a ₹20 lakh top-up — while keeping premiums manageable.

Don't forget the features that affect real payouts

A big number on paper means little if the policy has tight room-rent caps, long waiting periods or heavy co-payments. When comparing plans, weigh the sum insured alongside these terms — sometimes a slightly smaller cover with cleaner terms pays out more reliably.

If you'd rather not crunch this alone, that's exactly what a free Insubees call is for — we'll suggest a sum insured and structure based on your specific family.

This guide is general information to help you understand your options, not financial or tax advice. Please consider your own circumstances and consult a qualified professional where needed.