Diabetes treatment options recently received a boost with multiple launches of generic semaglutide, a leading class of drug (GLP-1) for diabetes.
The weight loss variant of the same drug being available also contributed to the social media buzz. Amidst the heightened awareness, we highlight health insurance options for existing diabetic population and how they could benefit from health insurance. Health insurers generally curtail the options for policyholders with pre-existing disease (PED) with a three-year waiting period. This remains largely true for most of the policies. But there are options in the insurance marketplace, which extend insurance cover to existing diabetes patients and do so without an extended waiting period. We highlight the policies and compare it on price and features of a normal policy.
The primary reason for considering a diabetes variant of health insurance should be to improve the chances of policy issuance for prospective policyholders with diabetes. It must be noted that IRDAI in its changes announced in 2024-25 has mandated insurance for all. This implies that even PED cases must be issued a policy. But by considering the specific diabetes variant, policyholders can interact with a willing seller that is already serving a similar diabetic pool and has designed the cost, coverage and other features including medical checks proactively. Few policies like that of Aditya Birla also announce 100 per cent issuance for their plans. Pre-policy medical checks could be covered by the provider or shared with the buyer based on the policy.
The other reason to consider the diabetes variant should be to lower the PED waiting periods which is normally three years.
Diabetes is characterised by elevated blood glucose which over time impacts cardiovascular system, kidney function, or neuropathy. With such broad range of risk, ensuring the protection net of health insurance early can be crucial. A reduction in PED for diabetes-related conditions can be achieved with targeted health insurance policies.
The plans cover pre- and post-hospitalisation care as a normal practice. This assumes significance for diabetes-related ailments where potent insulin prescribed during treatment may be cost-prohibitive but covered under in-patient hospitalisation.
Diabetes policies
Star Health offers Diabetes Safe Plan-B which costs ₹21,000 for a 40-year-old male with diabetes, type I or type II. A plan for the same condition but without any PED would cost ₹7,357 per year. The premium plan for diabetes patients who are on insulin for chronic disease offers an year in PED waiting for diabetes complications compared to the 3-year waiting period for other PEDs. The plan, though, offers few other additional features; there is no renewal bonus and restoration of cover is limited to once a year for the sum insured and for illness unrelated to illness in the policy period. The plan offers no e-consultation, but includes outpatient consultations cover of ₹5,000 per year in the base plan. This assumes significance as the need for OPD consultations is relatively higher in diabetes.
Manipal Cigna’s Prime Active plan covers diabetes and several other chronic conditions (obesity, asthma, hypertension) from the 91st day even when it is a PED. The plan costs ₹13,447 per year for the same (40-year-old male with diabetes as a PED). The plan even offers both renewal bonus and restoration benefit comparable to market standards (doubling in renewal and unlimited restoration a year). The plan includes unlimited tele-consultations.
Care Supreme Direct from Care Health Insurance offers an add-on rider which can reduce the PED waiting period for diabetes from 3 years to 30 days. The base policy cost of ₹8,284 alongside the add-on cost of ₹2,500 will allow for such lower waiting times. The aforementioned plans are for diabetes patients. Aditya Birla health plans (Activ Health Platinum Essential for instance) may include an option to upgrade chronic management programme if diabetes is diagnosed after buying the policy and is not a pre-existing condition. The actual details of coverage and waiting times can be explored after purchasing the policy. These plans encourage patients with diabetes to purchase insurance and lower waiting times for diabetes PED for a positive outcome. Policyholders may also consider potent OPD options in ICICI Elevate or Tata AIG Medicare but will have to undergo the 3-year waiting period for OPD coverage.
Published on March 28, 2026