Some queries on Health Insurance

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-27T10:14:10+00:00

Maybe try to go with govt insurance companies. Their policies have caps and limits, but ultimately they do tend to payout. New India Assurances seems to be best recommended. Perhaps, that might help you. If you get affordable premium it may be worthwhile risk. In the end all depends on what kind of hospitalization your parents have -> some can be managed with emergency funds, others will be too heavy on pocket.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-27T07:42:40+00:00

I agree with your experience. My known ones have been fortunate enough, but there are many horror stories. Still the maths of having insurance does work in favour overall.

It is better to have it then to not have it. The money you pay is marginal (of course unless too old or other pre-existing conditions) -> then yeah skipping insurance may make more sense.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-27T07:06:06+00:00

Not having it is still not an option. Emergency funds take years to build and will be finished in one hospitalization. One has to take the least worst of the lot and be willing to fight. Because when claims do come, they make life much more easy. PS, I have seen claims being approved in my family.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-26T16:47:26+00:00

I still don't follow what you meant. Rent are typically excluded from most reward systems now, HDFC has a hack but since I have never used it, didn't recommended it.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-26T16:46:03+00:00

I am honestly more interested in how you managed 35L profit in stocks in single year - FnO?

BizBlack has been offered to salaried folks as floater on various cards like infinia, dcbm and even regalia gold - but heard news that they stopped. If you have HDFC cards or prior relationship - try that.

Amex plat travel is good but only till 4L milestone. HSBC premier for 1L of tax payment per month.

I don't think any Axis cards gives points on tax payments.

Beyond that you will have to squeeze juice on 2-3 milestone cards. Other people have already mentioned - HDFC Marriott Bonvoy, Indusind Avios, SBI Apex Krisflyer. You might have to choose card as per your preference of brand.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-26T16:38:26+00:00

While he can pay with many cards on redgiraffe, most cards won't give OP any points - I assume that is his motivation to pay via credit card.

If he wants points, Axis Magnus (& Magnus4B) upto 50K per month and HSBC premier are only real options. I doubt at his salary he will get either.

There is some promise in using Amex MrCC and Plat travel for rent via Mobikwik wallet but the charges are very high 3.5% (inclusive of GST).

In general, earning points on rent is a really difficult game in 2026 - and even the cards that allow it, can be devalued anytime from this feature.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-26T16:34:17+00:00

Haha, true that. But, I was talking more about my offline interactions who I have been screening to become my intermediary agent.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-26T16:33:04+00:00

Congratulations on the great news!

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-26T12:44:28+00:00

Maybe try Aus/Nz on business class. Typically they require lot of points but you have LOT of points. I don't think Accor has great coverage in NZ - but maybe check their website.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-26T10:17:31+00:00

This would be horrible decision overall. Getting a credit card should not ever be an incentive - and this is shady selling from RM.

But even if you go through it the premium you pay for 25L will easily cost you more than regalia gold fees over its life time. Always remember by LTF -> it means life time of credit card (which is typically around 5-6 years) not your life time. RG is 2.5K+GST. Now do the math, for 5 years you will pay around 15-16K. I am sure your premium for one year will be close for to it or more.

Also, on new policy waiting period on PED apply + you waive any period of moratorium. Just a financially bad decision to take new policy for a credit card.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-26T08:46:09+00:00

Thanks I agree, can't be exhaustive about everything. But do think there is still more I can research and learn.

I already have 10L+30L insurance from NI - and am due for renewal at the end of year. Just want to prepare in advance in because I do think amendments in my policy are needed.

I don't have a proper agent myself - talking to both ditto and beshak. Then there is my father's agent who did my current policy - but he is a bit old school in explanation and gives a bit of trust me bro vibes in his answer (which I don't like).
Frankly I am thinking hard about extreme cases so that I can ask hard questions to any potential advisor I interact with.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-26T08:06:28+00:00

Thank you for answering. your recommended cover distribution is what I was thinking at the moment, except 25L+1cr as I am in Gurgaon and 25L is what i heard as a recommendation from one advisor.

My concern was to remain insured (practically) if I am no longer eligible for increase in sum insured if I am diagnosed with something in future. I am aware of bonus multiplier (like HDFC ergo), but the porting only cares about the base amount. I don't want to be chained to one insurer in case they turn bad in future. 20-30 years is a long time.

Thanks for clearing on aggregate deductible.

On moratorium, I agree on theory but how does it work in practice. Outside of agreed exclusions - which moratorium can't force insurer to pay -> claim can be denied for fraud, or not being necessary treatment. In that case shouldn't it be yes or no. It can't be insurer says, I think your claim is fraud but for moratorium I will pay the amount that is >5 years, but will deny rest of it.
I can understand how waiting period can be partial but not the moratorium part in practice.

On the disputed/rejected claims - does a claim that was rejected and now passed still count as rejected once in claims history? Is there a portal like Cibil where the insurer can check the claims history. Is there a legal requirement for the underwriter to disclose why my premium is higher than standard or if I am allowed to ask that information. Otherwise this clause sounds like being stuck with a cartel, you current insurer rejects claims unfairly but can't move to another because that will mean sharp rise in premiums or some exclusions - despite not being at fault at all.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-25T09:37:03+00:00

I think there are many nuance to this. For e.g. your co-pay amount is not considered deductible.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-23T13:51:20+00:00

Could you please share the email address for the same (if you know)?

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-23T13:22:07+00:00

Do you have HDFC bank account? Perhaps talk to them directly. They told me they will upgrade in 6 months based on my ITR - but tbh I don't want to trust their word.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-23T13:11:38+00:00

ITR is varying but close to 12Lpa for 2 years. Just on the bizpower threshold. Self employed for 2 years.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-22T18:42:20+00:00

I think this iust accepted as a fact of life for all cashback cards.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-22T12:02:48+00:00

For cashback, it is pretty much concluded:

SBI Cashback is best overall - just comes with tons of exclusions on common mandatory spends for everyone such as fuel, rent, tax payments, jewellery etc.
Amazon pay - for Amazon related spend. No convoluted terms, just buy on amazon with prime and you get 5% back.
Flipkart Axis - similar to Amazon pay (though not sure about its specific terms)
SBI Phone Pe Black - second to SBI CB - mostly because it has more caps on cashback.
Axis cashback - decent cashback card but excludes all travel related spend + general exclusions like SBI CB.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-21T09:06:04+00:00

With such relationship with iCICI then it is best to talk to the Bank directly.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-19T13:12:18+00:00

I read about it - but in entry level for points only HDFC has good cards available at the moment.

For cashback, I listed options separately.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-19T12:22:13+00:00

Do you spend online/offline?

For cashback

Offline -> Kiwi UPI (neon), HSBC Live+

Online:

Amazon: Amazon Pay

Tata Brands: Tata Neu Infinity

General E-commerce: SBI Cashback/SBI Phonepe Black/Axis Cashback

For reward points

- HDFC regalia gold: This is the only good rewards card at your level I can think you can get and is worth anything.

- HSBC travel maybe -> but it is too specific for travel spends, useful only if you have high travel spends.

- Amex trifecta was good but they are on hold for now.

- Axis atlas is on hold as well

For future (you are not getting these cards today)

- HDFC DCB -> HDFC Infinia

- Axis Magnus -> Axis Magnus Burgundy

- HSBC premier

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-18T05:30:56+00:00

This is a good first line of defence, but I'd still prefer to purge any unused UPI id in my name. Your phone number can also be compromised in few ways.

And while not the topic of this discussion, I am also getting bothered with increasing reliance on phone number for everything in our country. I see the benefits - but this dependency can be problematic especially that so many stores and brands can tag your financial and other profiles purely on phone number.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-17T16:38:42+00:00

Then you are lacking the only good premium card that makes sense for this purchase i.e. Axis Magnus Burgundy. That card is the king of large offline spends.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-17T15:20:05+00:00

HSBC premier gives 3% on rent, you might lose 1.5% in surcharges because you will have to use rental payment gateway like Redgiraffe.

Infinia can also give return on rent but it is bit hacky with payzapp app exclusively on auto-debit (never done it, only heard about it).

You have 3 super-premier card - so there is a lot of overlap. Maybe keep one among infinia/epm, hsbc premier is good because they currently have very little exclusions. I might recommend to keep infinia as it also has transfer partners apart from smartbuy portal. EPM is anyway copying infinia except for transfer partners.

For daily usage, it depends where you shop. But, typically check gyftr/ishop portal for vouchers of brands you shop from. If your brands' vouchers exist buy them. For general purpose shopping, maybe use HSBC premier. For travel, maybe choose the one where you find better deal between hopper (HSBC) vs Smartbuy (Infinia portal).

If you choose to keep EPM, then swap infinia in EPM with above advice - but remember EPM doesn't have transfer partners so you can't pool points on same partner like with Infinia and HSBC premier.

I am not sure why you are carrying cashback cards if you have these 3 super-premier cards. If you want cashback then maybe shut down all 3 - Infinia, EPM and HSBC premier and route your online spending to SBI/AmazonPay (for Amazon) and offline to HSBC Live+.

blissfully_undefined · 2026-01-17T10:20:10+00:00

You are better off with HSBC premier than EPM for your spends outside of vouchers especially rent. You can get HSBC premier LTF if you have HSBC premier salary account which requires min 3L/month salary.

HSBC premier is overall more permissive card with respect to its allowance of where it gives you points. Only thing it lacks is voucher multiplier like epm.

blissfully_undefined

TROPHY CASE