#976 Is ₹10 Lakh Health Insurance Enough for Your Family? | Govindraj Ethiraj | The Core Report

<p>Is ₹10 lakh health insurance enough for your family? In this episode of The Core Report Weekend Edition, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with Mayank Bathwal, CEO, Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd., about rising healthcare costs, medical inflation and whether family health insurance is keeping pace with the treatment people expect.Mayank Bathwal says medical inflation has consistently run at 10–12%, making ₹10 lakh and ₹15 lakh health insurance covers increasingly common. He explains why families need to consider future healthcare expenses when assessing coverage, as newer treatments and changing patterns of illness reshape the cost of care.The conversation explores whether health insurance can move beyond what Mayank Bathwal calls “sickness funding”. He discusses preventive health checkups, outpatient care, cashless consultations and wellness incentives designed to encourage healthier behaviour. He also explains why OPD cover, vaccinations and maternity benefits present different pricing challenges and vary across policies.Govindraj Ethiraj asks why health insurance claims still cause frustration. Mayank Bathwal discusses waiting periods, pre-existing conditions, exclusions and the gap between what customers expect and what their policies cover. He acknowledges that efforts to detect fraud can create friction for genuine claimants, making clearer communication and a better claims experience essential.The discussion also examines what younger consumers want from health insurance. Mayank Bathwal explains why regular benefits such as OPD care and wellness rewards can make policies more relevant to people who do not expect to need hospital treatment. He also discusses how younger policyholders can help balance the insurance risk pool and support affordability.Govindraj Ethiraj and Mayank Bathwal explore family health insurance, medical inflation, rising premiums, cashless hospital networks, lifestyle-related claims and the challenge of reaching India’s underinsured population. They also discuss Bima Sugam and why both distribution expenses and healthcare delivery costs matter when making insurance more affordable.At the heart of the conversation is a bigger question. Is ₹10 lakh health insurance enough, or should families look more closely at what their policy covers, how claims are handled and how their needs could change?Chapters:00:00 Health Insurance in India and Rising Medical Costs00:55 Introducing Mayank Bathwal, Aditya Birla Health Insurance CEO01:03 Health Insurance Beyond Hospital Bills03:16 What Is Standalone Health Insurance?05:56 How Health Insurance Benefits Are Changing07:41 Medical Inflation and the Need for Higher Cover09:14 Is ₹10 Lakh Family Health Insurance Enough?11:07 Wellness Rewards and Health Insurance Premium Benefits13:25 OPD Coverage, Cashless Care and Reimbursement15:31 Does Health Insurance Cover Vaccinations and Maternity?17:00 How Lifestyle Diseases Are Changing Insurance Claims19:46 Healthcare Costs and Future Insurance Needs22:37 How Hospital Costs Affect Health Insurance Premiums25:26 Cashless Health Insurance and Hospital Networks26:25 Why Health Insurers Need Young Policyholders28:50 Health Insurance for Young Adults and Wellness Benefits30:41 Premium Discounts During Overseas Travel31:40 Bringing More Young Indians Into Health Insurance32:40 How Age and Claims Affect Insurance Pricing33:57 Why Young Customers Renew or Drop Health Insurance35:01 Affordable Health Insurance and India’s Missing Middle36:35 Can Bima Sugam Help Make Insurance More Affordable?37:43 Insurance Claims, Waiting Periods and Customer Trust38:53 Wellness and Preventive Health in Insurance41:27 Mayank Bathwal’s Fitness, Sleep and Wellness RoutineIs ₹10 lakh health insurance enough for your family? Govindraj Ethiraj and Mayank Bathwal explore medical inflation and insurance claims on The Core Report.#HealthInsurance #FamilyHealthInsurance #TheCoreReport #TheCore</p>