What is a deductible in health insurance?
In shortA deductible is the part of a claim you, or your base policy, must cover before a policy starts paying. Top-up and super top-up plans use one to stay cheap.
A top-up pays only when one claim crosses the deductible. A super top-up adds up all claims in the year, so several smaller stays can cross it together.
Plan the two together: a ₹5 lakh base policy fits a top-up with a ₹5 lakh deductible. A gap between them is paid by you.
| Claim | ₹7,00,000 |
| Paid by your base policy (₹5 lakh cover) | ₹5,00,000 |
| Paid by the super top-up | ₹2,00,000 |
If your base cover were ₹3 lakh, the ₹2 lakh gap below the deductible would be yours.
Check yours
- Find the deductible on your top-up’s schedule.
- Compare it with your base cover, including any employer cover you may lose.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a top-up and a super top-up?
A top-up looks at one claim at a time; a super top-up adds up the year’s claims against the deductible.
Can my employer’s cover count towards the deductible?
Yes, any payment from another policy counts, but that cover ends when you leave the job.
General information, not advice. Your policy’s own wording decides what it pays; IRDAI figures are from its Master Circular on Health Insurance Business (May 2024).