Myth : You Do Not Need Health Insurance If You're Young and Healthy

Posted on: Jun 5, 2025 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Myth : You Do Not Need Health Insurance If You're Young and Healthy

Being in your youth, full of energy, eating healthy, and rarely visiting doctors makes you believe buying a health policy is unnecessary. But you should know that medical emergencies do not discriminate by age, and life doesn't follow a script. A bike accident on your way home from work, unexpected surgery, or being diagnosed with a condition that needs long-term treatment—anything like this can throw your health, finances, and life into chaos.

Buying online health insurance early is not just a smart decision; it is a long-term investment in peace of mind, financial safety, and future health.

Why Health Insurance is a Smart Choice for Young and Healthy People

It's very simple, just because you feel healthy today doesn't mean you will feel like that tomorrow, or days after that as well. Medical emergencies, lifestyle diseases, or even a minor surgical procedure can disrupt your daily life and put you in financial trouble. Here is a list of reasons that will help you understand the significance of health insurance better:

1. Help You Lock Lower Premiums

If you check an online health insurance policy, you will find that each policy has different premiums for different age groups. The younger you are, the less you pay each year as a premium. In your twenties and early thirties, insurance companies will consider you a low risk, which means greater coverage for a lower cost. Waiting until your 40s or 50s will result in higher premiums and limited options.

2. Beneficial for Lifestyle and Mental Health issues

You may not realise it, but mental health is as important as physical health, and with increasing awareness of it, many insurers provide coverage for therapy, counselling and psychiatric treatments. With a health insurance policy, you can cover these heavy expenses and give your mental health some peace.

3. Helps You Beat the Waiting Period

Most insurance policies come with a waiting period that ranges from 30 days to 4 years based on medical conditions like cataracts, hernia, or even maternity benefits. Waiting to get insurance coverage only when you are sick makes you unprotected at the moment. Opting to buy health insurance early will help you get past this waiting period, so your coverage is ready when you truly need it.

4. It's a Safety Net for You and Your Family

Medical emergencies never come with a warning. From road accidents, viral infections, to stress-induced complications, anything can strike at any time. While you are in the hospital bed fighting to overcome your medical condition, your family might be battling with the financial stress that comes with these medical emergencies. Health insurance is the best way to ensure that the whole burden of medical expenses doesn't fall on you or your family.

5. Get covered before the Development of Your Pre-Existing Condition

For anyone looking to buy health insurance, a pre-existing condition is one of the biggest issues. The reason is that if you are diagnosed with a medical condition, like thyroid, diabetes, high blood pressure, or cancer, the insurer can rightfully exclude them from your immediate coverage or charge a higher premium. But buying health insurance early means you are protected before these conditions emerge. This will give you full, unrestricted coverage throughout your medical journey.

6. You Accumulate No Claim Bonuses (NCB)

A policyholder who doesn't submit any claims during the policy year is eligible for a no-claim bonus, sometimes referred to as a cumulative bonus, from the insurance provider. You can utilise this bonus to either enhance the sum insured of your policy or get a discount on the premium when you renew your policy. Purchasing insurance at a young age gives you more years to collect NCB and receive better protection as you get older.

Additional Benefits of Buying an Online Health Insurance Policy Early

Here are a few more benefits that you can get

• No Medical Test Required:

Most people under 35 can get a policy without undergoing any pre-policy medical checkups. This will help you save time and avoid the risk of discovering an issue that could raise your premium.

• Wider Range of Policies:

You can get a wide range of policy options at a young age, such as maternity cover, wellness rewards, OPD benefits, mental health support and more.

• Tax Saving:

You can claim a deduction on your health insurance premiums under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.

Why Should You Choose Online Health Insurance Policies?

Buying an online health insurance policy is not only convenient, but also a wise decision because.

Here is how:

• You can compare multiple plans in minutes

• The best way to review and check the hospital networks instantly

• The application process and paperwork are minimal

• It eliminates the need for middlemen, as you can get quotes instantly

• You will get policy documents in your email in a few hours.

Conclusion

Good health is a blessing, but it's not guaranteed forever, and when illness strikes, it doesn't come with a warning. So, do not jeopardise your life and future with the belief that you do not require health insurance when you are young. Buy an online health insurance policy now and shield your family from big hospital bills during medical emergencies.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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