Health Insurance comparison
Star Health vs Narayana Health
Narayana Health is too new for us to score, so we do not call an overall winner. Compare the IRDAI figures below instead.
IRDAI figures side by side
| Measure | Star Health | Narayana Health |
|---|---|---|
| Claim settlement ratio (latest year)Claims paid out of claims decided, by number. 95% or more is strong; below 90% is a flag. | 86.42% in FY 2024-25 | 100.00% in FY 2024-25 (small sample) |
| 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. | 23,74,200 reported, 20,22,177 paid | 12 reported, 11 paid |
| Three-year average claim settlement ratioShown only when all three years are available. | 84.06% | Not available |
| Incurred claims ratioClaims incurred as a share of premium earned, from IRDAI's Annual Report. | 70.53% in FY 2024-25 | 57.06% in FY 2024-25 |
| Complaints to IRDAIGrievances reported, from IRDAI's Handbook. | 20,527 in FY 2024-25, 86.5 per 10,000 claims | 3 in FY 2024-25 |
| Solvency ratioIRDAI's minimum is 1.50. | 2.21 at 31 Mar 2025 | 1.61 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.
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
Narayana Health
Not scored yetA new standalone health insurer (IRDAI registration no. 166), wholly owned by Narayana Hrudayalaya Limited. It recorded just 12 claims in FY 2024-25, so we have not scored it yet.
Pros
- Paid 11 of the 12 claims it reported in FY 2024-25 (IRDAI Handbook 2024-25), though the sample is tiny
Cons
- Solvency ratio fell from 1.89 (June 2024) to 1.61 (March 2025), close to IRDAI's 1.50 minimum
- Only 12 claims in FY 2024-25, too few to judge claim handling
The verdict
We have not scored Narayana Health yet: there are too few claims on record to judge. Use the IRDAI figures above, check the network hospitals near you and read the policy wording before buying.