At What Age Can a Child Be Insured?

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While purchasing a health insurance plan, parents often question, ‘At what age can I add my child to a health insurance policy?’ Well, the answer is simple: children can be insured from a very early age of 91 days.


You can buy an individual health insurance plan for your kids or include them under a family floater health plan, depending on their medical condition.


What are the Key Details of a Child's Health Insurance?



  1. Maximum Age


Dependent children of a policyholder are generally covered up to 25 years. After this period, they can opt for a separate health care policy.



  1. Policy Structure


For a child with pre-existing conditions, it is ideal to insure them under a dedicated individual health insurance plan. However, if you are looking for a cost-effective choice, including them in a family floater health plan would be a smarter option. Here, all family members are covered under a single sum insured.



  1. Waiting Periods


Medical history or any pre-existing conditions of a child, such as heart disease or diabetes, can increase the insurance premium. In fact, under such conditions, they would be required to serve a waiting period of a minimum of 12 months. Additionally, it even led to a higher premium amount.



  1. Sum Insured


Under both a family floater plan and an individual health insurance plan for children, the sum insured amount can vary depending on the policy coverage. For instance, the number of add-ons you choose or the number of members included in the family floater plan, along with the child.


Why is It Important to Buy a Health Insurance Plan for Children Early?


Although children can be included in a health insurance plan from up to 25 years, securing them with a health insurance plan early includes numerous benefits, which include:



  • Lower Premiums: Buying health insurance early, even for children, means they are healthier with risk-free profiles. This way, parents can enjoy affordable premiums with wider coverage and long-term benefits.



  • Preventive Care: Especially infants and growing children are often in continuous need of medical attention. Therefore, early purchasing of a health insurance plan will help you properly utilise the preventative care coverage, including annual health check-ups and vaccinations.



  • Newborn Coverage: Many child health insurance plans allow parents to secure coverage even before birth. This way, newborns can receive immediate coverage from the 1st or 16th day after birth. It helps to cover medical needs right from the beginning.



  • Financial Security for Future Milestones: A sudden medical emergency can often drain parents’ savings planned for the future milestones of their child, such as education or marriage. This is why buying health insurance earlier means protecting their future with complete medical protection.


Final Words


Insuring a child with a health plan is a vital step in protecting their future. In fact, with an early investment in healthcare policies, parents can get lower premiums and provide their child a financial safety net for sudden medical emergencies.