# AYUSH Cover in Health Insurance, Explained

> How health insurance covers Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy treatment in India: which hospitals qualify, limits, and what to check.
- **Published**: 2026-10-18
- **Modified**: 2026-10-18
- **Category**: health-insurance
- **URL**: https://www.tldr.money/articles/health-insurance/ayush-cover-health-insurance

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AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. Health plans can pay for AYUSH treatment much like allopathic treatment, but the hospital rules are stricter. If you are new to how policies work, read [what health insurance is](/articles/health-insurance/what-is-health-insurance) first.

## What the current plans say

| Plan | AYUSH in-patient cover | Source |
|---|---|---|
| [HDFC Ergo Optima Secure](/health-insurance/hdfc-ergo/optima-secure) | Up to sum insured | Policy wording, Annexure C |
| [Care Supreme](/health-insurance/care-health/care-supreme) | Up to sum insured | Prospectus |
| [Star Comprehensive](/health-insurance/star-health/comprehensive) | Up to sum insured | Prospectus |
| [Star Health Assure](/health-insurance/star-health/assure) | Up to sum insured | Prospectus |
| [ICICI Lombard Elevate](/health-insurance/icici-lombard/elevate) | At a government-recognised AYUSH hospital or AYUSH day care centre | Policy wording, Basic Cover 6 |
| [Niva Bupa Senior First](/health-insurance/niva-bupa/senior-first) | Covered; minimum 24 hours' admission in an AYUSH hospital | Policy wording |

## Which hospitals qualify

The standard definition (quoted in the ICICI Lombard Elevate wording) accepts three kinds of AYUSH hospital:

1. A central or state government AYUSH hospital.
2. A teaching hospital attached to an AYUSH college recognised by the central government or the relevant central council.
3. A registered standalone or co-located AYUSH hospital with **at least 5 in-patient beds**, a qualified AYUSH practitioner in charge round the clock, dedicated AYUSH therapy sections or an operation theatre, and daily patient records available to the insurer.

A wellness resort or spa does not qualify, however clinical it looks.

## Watch-outs

- **Yoga and Naturopathy.** Star's Young Star and Red Carpet brochures say these claims are paid only with the company's prior approval.
- **Admission rules.** AYUSH cover is in-patient cover. A course of out-patient Ayurveda sessions is OPD, which base plans do not pay for (see [OPD cover](/articles/health-insurance/opd-cover-health-insurance)).
- **Rest cure.** Admissions primarily for rest cure, rehabilitation and respite care are a standard exclusion (Star Young Star lists it among its key exclusions, for example).
- **Cashless.** Few AYUSH hospitals are on cashless networks, so expect to claim reimbursement and keep every bill and the doctor's notes.

For a quick definition, see AYUSH treatment in the glossary.

## Sources

- [ICICI Lombard Elevate policy wordings, UIN ICIHLIP27057V062627](https://www.icicilombard.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/elevate.pdf) (definitions of AYUSH Hospital and AYUSH Day Care Centre; Basic Cover 6)
- [HDFC ERGO my: Optima Secure policy wording, UIN HDFHLIP25041V062425](https://www.hdfcergo.com/docs/default-source/downloads/policy-wordings/health/optima-secure-revision-pw.pdf)
- [Care Supreme prospectus, UIN CHIHLIP27061V032627](https://cms.careinsurance.com/cms/public/uploads/download_center/care-supreme---prospectus-cum-sales-literature.pdf)
- [Star Comprehensive prospectus, UIN SHAHLIP26044V092526](https://d28c6jni2fmamz.cloudfront.net/Prospectus_Star_Comprehensive_Insurance_Policy_V_12_dc6058c95e.pdf)
- [Star Health Assure prospectus, UIN SHAHLIP26048V032526](https://d28c6jni2fmamz.cloudfront.net/Prospectus_Star_Health_Assure_Insurance_Policy_V_3_9b8479dfdd.pdf)
- [Star Young Star brochure, UIN SHAHLIP26043V062526](https://d28c6jni2fmamz.cloudfront.net/Brochure_Young_Star_Insurance_Policy_V_9_Web_782fb9d5a9.pdf)
- [Niva Bupa Senior First policy wording, UIN NBHHLIP27053V022627](https://transactions.nivabupa.com/pages/doc/policy_wording/Senior-First-Policy-Wording.pdf)
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