No, not the one your company gives you, a plan that’s truly yours.
If you haven’t given it much thought yet, it’s completely understandable. You’re most likely juggling a corporate job, side hustles, and trying to decode SIPs and skincare routines, all at once.
There’s no doubt about the fact that women today are saving, investing, and earning at par with men. But what’s still missing from the conversation is the risk protection. One unexpected medical emergency can wipe out your years of savings.
Think of health insurance not as an expense, but as an investment, one that protects your freedom, fuels your hustle and protects your long-term dreams.
If you haven’t bought one yet, don’t worry. This is your cue to act. Trust me, buying an independent medical insurance plan, especially as a woman, will be a strategic move.
And before you sign on the dotted line, there are a few non-negotiables you should be looking out for in your policy document. Here’s what to know.
Reproductive health is your financial decision
In India, maternity is still often considered as “inevitable.” Insurance companies, too, bake that assumption into their policies, with long waiting periods and restrictive maternity add-ons.
But today’s women are choosing if, when, and how they want to start families. A recent report titled Women’s Health Insurance Trends FY’23 vs FY’24 shows a 43% spike in the number of women opting for standalone health coverage for themselves. That is a pretty significant mental shift. Without the right insurance, you’re left vulnerable to paying out-of-pocket for maternity expenses that can easily spiral from ₹1 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh in metros like Delhi or Mumbai. And if you’re considering IVF, egg-freezing, or other fertility treatments, most base plans won’t cover those costs unless you buy specific add-ons.
Having control over your reproductive health, financially and medically, should be your decision completely.
Mental health is health
All health insurance providers in India are now required to include mental health coverage in their offerings as a result of the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 and the IRDAI directive in 2018. However, if you investigate further, you will discover that the majority of policies only cover inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and do not cover outpatient therapy or counseling. And that’s a problem. Because therapy is often the first step towards healing, not the last. Without OPD coverage, a single session can cost anywhere between ₹1,500–₹3,000 in cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, or Delhi.
What’s worse is that many policyholders don’t know whether they’re covered or not and later face hurdles in accessing those benefits. The fine print, confusing clauses, and lack of mental health literacy among insurers often make it harder than it should be.