How I, Secured My Health Before It Got Real
The true story of why insurance became more than a checkbox.
The Day It Almost Got Real
Just two months after buying my life insurance, something unexpected happened.
One of my close cousins, just 26, collapsed at work and was rushed to the hospital. Diagnosis: appendicitis. Surgery was needed—and fast.
Thankfully, no complications. He came out safe. But the hospital bill? ₹92,000.
Guess what?
He didn’t have insurance.
His father had to borrow money from a family friend. There were tears, panic, paperwork, and a strange sense of embarrassment in the air.
I remember sitting in the hospital lobby, watching families argue over billing counters, clutching file folders like they held life itself. My phone buzzed just then, with a policy reminder from Niva Bupa.
A chill ran down my spine, followed by a weird calm.
I was 20. And I knew—I had done the right thing.
Health Insurance – A Silent Necessity
We talk so much about life insurance. But what about when you live… and fall sick?
Hospital stays today are budget destroyers. ₹1–2 lakh for a dengue admission, ₹70,000 for a fracture surgery, ₹5–10 lakh for cancer.
That’s when I realized:
Survival needs more preparation than death.
But insurance was a fog of insurance terminology:
Individual vs Family Floater?
Base Policy vs Top-Up?
OPD, Daycare, PED, Sub-Limits, Room Rent Capping...?
I broke it down for myself.
Here’s what I decided:
I needed individual coverage
Cover of at least ₹5 lakh
Should be cashless and accepted in good hospitals nearby
Should have a clean claim process
So I went with:
Base Policy: ₹5 lakh
Top-Up Plan: ₹10 lakh (kicks in after ₹5 lakh)
Premium: ~₹4,000/year
Provider: Niva Bupa (trusted brand + strong network)
Plus, I added a Critical Illness Rider. A single cancer diagnosis can cost ₹10–20 lakh. Better prepared than sorry.
Understanding Riders and Real Benefits
Riders are the hidden heroes of an insurance plan. They can save you in ways most people don’t realize, until it's too late.
Here are the ones I explored:
Accidental Death Benefit
Permanent Disability
Critical Illness
Waiver of Premium
Income Benefit Rider
Each one sounded useful, but each one also raised the premium. So, I filtered based on my life:
I chose Critical Illness and Waiver of Premium
I read real stories, a man lost his leg, couldn’t earn, but the waiver rider kept his life cover active. Another had a heart attack; his critical illness payout funded treatment abroad.
These aren't “extra features.”
They’re lifelines.
Real Stories, Real Lessons
One of my friends paid ₹1.2 lakh for dengue. He had to borrow from his credit card.
Another friend’s mom got breast cancer. Their ₹10 lakh policy saved them from selling their house.
That’s when it hit me:
Insurance isn’t cool. Until it is.
Also, things I noted:
Most plans have waiting periods for existing diseases
Daycare treatments (like cataract or minor surgeries) should be covered
A cashless hospital network is crucial—no one wants to swipe cards during chaos
These weren’t just features. They were survival tools.
Sharing the Wisdom (and Resistance)
After all this, I became that friend who won’t shut up about health insurance.
But most people my age replied:
“I’m young, I don’t need this.”
“I’ll take it once I get a job.”
“Company ka group cover le lenge.”
“Bro, abhi paisa tight hai.”
Truth?
✔ The younger you buy, the cheaper the premium
✔ Company insurance ends with the job
✔ Pre-existing disease waiting periods start only after you buy
✔ ₹6,000 a year now saves ₹18,000 a year later.
My Health Plan Checklist
Here’s what I now use as my "young adult checklist" when comparing health plans:
What I’d Do Differently (If I Could Go Back)
Bought at 20, but 18 would've been smarter
Should’ve taken family floater quotes early—for my parents
Talked to an advisor for a second opinion.
But hey, we learn. And we share.
Claim Process – Teaching My Family
Buying a policy is half the work. The other half?
Claiming it when needed.
So I created a folder (both in my cupboard and on Google Drive) that includes:
All policy documents
Claim forms
Customer care numbers
A note: whom to contact, how to start
Death certificate format (yes, morbid but necessary)
I sat with my parents and explained everything.
Because what’s the use of a ₹1 crore cover if your family has no clue?
Insurance Is Not Optional. It’s Responsibility.
At 20, I thought insurance was for old people. But the truth is:
I’m the cheapest to insure right now
Health problems can hit at any time
Buying later = more expensive
I may not have dependents, but I still have a duty to future me
₹500/month is not much. It gives me peace of mind. That peace is priceless.
Separate Insurance and Investment
One big myth I unlearned:
“Insurance should give returns.”
Nope.
Insurance is not a money-making tool
It’s a safety net.
So, I:
Invest in mutual funds to grow wealth
Buy insurance to protect it
When agents said, “Sir, returns bhi milenge,” I smiled, nodded… and walked away.
What I Tell People Who Ask Now
“Health insurance is boring… until it saves you from a ₹5 lakh drain.”
I ask one thing:
“If your phone can be insured… why not your body?”
What’s Next for Me?
Upgrade base cover to ₹10 lakh after CFA Level 1
Keep a top-up of ₹10 lakh
Help parents buy a floater
Learn the porting process
Educate friends who’ll listen
Add a maternity or OPD rider when life stage changes
Maintain a digital + physical emergency folder
Want to understand better?
Here is a link of article and video I used:
9I’ve uploaded the Excel sheet comparing top insurance plans for young adults like us—base plans, top-ups comparisons. Feel free to explore it and choose what fits your life.
Health Insurance
Insurance is not a trend. It’s a habit.
One that could someday save your life—or your family’s future.
Final Word from a 20-Year-Old
I don’t have a six-figure salary. I don’t have dependents. Heck, I’m still figuring out how to manage investments.
But I’ve done something most 20-year-olds haven’t:
I’ve protected my future self.
My insurance may never be used. And I hope it never is.
But just knowing that a ₹92,000 hospital bill won’t shake my finances gives me peace.
That peace?
It costs me ₹500/month.
That’s less than what I spend on coffee, data packs, and Swiggy combined.
So, if you’re young, earning something, and still delaying insurance, don’t.
Do it now. Quietly. Before you “need” it.
Because when that moment comes—and it might—it’s already too late to protect yourself.