Health Insurance comparison
Niva Bupa vs Star Health
Niva Bupa leads on overall score, but the better choice depends on your priorities. Here is how they compare, dimension by dimension.
IRDAI figures side by side
| Measure | Niva Bupa | Star Health |
|---|---|---|
| Claim settlement ratio (latest year)Claims paid out of claims decided, by number. 95% or more is strong; below 90% is a flag. | 92.55% in FY 2024-25 | 86.42% in FY 2024-25 |
| Claims counted in that yearBelow 1,000 claims, the ratio swings too much to compare. Each insurer's review names the exact IRDAI table used. | 10,24,782 reported, 9,42,543 paid | 23,74,200 reported, 20,22,177 paid |
| Three-year average claim settlement ratioShown only when all three years are available. | 91.74% | 84.06% |
| Incurred claims ratioClaims incurred as a share of premium earned, from IRDAI's Annual Report. | 61.63% in FY 2024-25 | 70.53% in FY 2024-25 |
| Complaints to IRDAIGrievances reported, from IRDAI's Handbook. | 7,970 in FY 2024-25, 77.8 per 10,000 claims | 20,527 in FY 2024-25, 86.5 per 10,000 claims |
| Solvency ratioIRDAI's minimum is 1.50. | 3.03 at 31 Mar 2025 | 2.21 at 31 Mar 2025 |
Sources: IRDAI Handbook on Indian Insurance Statistics 2024-25, IRDAI Annual Report 2024-25 and insurers' NL-37 public disclosures. Each insurer's review lists the exact table and link. See how we calculate these.
On the latest claim settlement ratio, Niva Bupa is ahead. A ratio is one year's record, so weigh it with complaints and the plan wording.
Side-by-side scores
| Dimension | Niva Bupa | Star Health | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.2/10 | 7.6/10 | Niva Bupa |
| Claim settlement | 8.4/10 | 7.8/10 | Niva Bupa |
| Value | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | Niva Bupa |
| Customer service | 7.6/10 | 7.1/10 | Niva Bupa |
| Digital experience | 7.8/10 | 7.4/10 | Niva Bupa |
| Flexibility | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | Niva Bupa |
Niva Bupa
8.2/10Strong health insurer for families with solid restoration features.
Pros
- Good restoration options
- Strong plan variety
Cons
- Can be premium-priced
- Policy terms still require careful reading
Star Health
7.6/10India's largest standalone health insurer by claims handled, but its FY 2024-25 claim settlement ratio (86.4%) was the lowest of the large standalone insurers.
Pros
- Massive hospital network
- Specialized plans for pre-existing conditions
Cons
- 86.5 complaints per 10,000 claims in FY 2024-25, the highest of the standalone health insurers we track
- Proportionate room rent deductions on older plans
The verdict
On our scoring, Niva Bupa edges ahead overall. That said, the loser may still win for you on a dimension you weight heavily, so match the table above to your priorities and read both full reviews.