
Individual or Family Floater
Once you have made up your mind to secure your health with an insurance policy, then the next big leap is deciding which policy to adopt. Will you go for an individual health insurance policy or a family floater health insurance policy? It is necessary to weigh the pros and cons of both so that your medical and financial needs are utilized in a judicious manner. Read on to make a quick decision of which is best suited for you.
Individual Health Insurance
Individual Health Insurance is where you have to take individual policies for each family member; individual members of the family are insured against the entire amount separately.
Pros of Individual Health Insurance
- The policy can extend to nearest family members like parents and in-laws
- The policy works best for older families where health risk is more
- The policy does not put any age restriction on members for renewal
- The policy allows to avail benefits of loading and discount until it lapses
Recommended Read : How to get Health Insurance for senior citizen?
Cons of Individual Health Insurance
- The policy is expensive for a healthy family with low health risk
Family Floater Health Insurance
Family Floater Health Insurance is where your entire family is covered against the policy and the amount is shared together by all. The policy generally covers two adults and two children.
Pros of Family Floater Health Insurance
- The policy is cheaper than Individual Health Insurance, as you get a higher cover for a lower cost.
- The policy works well for families who have a low health risk
- Your entire nuclear family can be covered under one policy
- If only one claim is used in a year, then the family member gets far greater amount than on an individual health insurance policy.
- The premium paid for family floater insurance can benefit from tax deductions.
- Cashless treatment is also offered by some insurance companies for family floater health insurance.
Cons of Family Floater Health Insurance
- If more than one claim is used in the family then other family members will be left with very little cash coverage.
- Only your immediate family members can be covered, your parents or siblings cannot be covered.
- The policy is valid till the eldest family member or the proposer reaches the maximum age of renewability
- Pre-existing diseases are sometimes not covered under family floater health insurance.
Considering these facts, opting for a family floater health insurance will be a more economical and practical decision for your small family. But if any of one family member has a high risk of any fatal diseases or illness, it is best to use an individual health insurance plan because in the long run, there might be only very little amount left to cover the rest of the family. Hence, think of all the pros and cons of an individual health insurance plan and family floater health insurance plan and consult with your insurance advisor and financial advisor and make a wise decision to secure your family financially and medically.
Recommended Read :
- How to Get Health Insurance for The Aged?
- How to Select a Health Insurance Plan?
- Individual vs Family Floater Health Insurance
- Selecting Your Health Insurance Provider
- What Exactly is Lifetime Renewal of Health Insurance?
- Cashless Hospitalisation - Not Always Cashless
- How to Change Health Insurance Provider?
- How to Escalate If Your Health Claims Gets Rejected?
- Portable Health Insurance - Avoid Claim Rejections
- Portable Health Insurance Risks Involved
- Reimbursement vs Cashless
- What is Cashless Hospitalization?
- Types of Health Insurance
- Health Insurance for Women Maternity Coverage
- What is Day Care Hospitalization Health Insurance?
- Common Pre Existing Diseases Health Insurance
- Role of TPA in Health Insurance
- Pre and Post Hospitalization Health Insurance
- Possible Reasons for Health Insurance Claim Rejection
- Quick Health Insurance Policy - Beware
- What is Network Hospital for Health Insurance?
- What is Planned Hospitalisation?
- Emergency Hospitalisation
- Critical Illness Policy
- Preventive Health Care Plan
- Group Health Insurance Plan
- Indemnity Based Health Plans
- What is An OPD Cover Health Insurance?
- Myths On Health Insurance



















The advantages and disadvantages of both kinds of plans have rather been penned down in a very systematic way that enhances clarity.
However, how about focusing on a kind of plan wherein the Family Floater Health Insurance holds along with a minimum quota allotted to each of the individuals so that one does not drain out the other?
Just wondering if there is a type of insurance plan that can cover an immediate family PLUS any extended relatives we take care of?
It is very common that extended family can live together and be funded by a single family income, so are there health insurance packages that can take care of that need?
Any extra information would be appreciated.
It’s very helpful to know there are such a lot of points to note when choosing a health insurance plan. I have seen people who take family insurance in one go, to reduce the efforts of documentation .They don’t even bother to understand the potential difficulties and disadvantages of the scheme .Even if the scheme is nice, it may not give expected results to a family which is at very less risk of health issues. Very informative post indeed
Individual or family floater health insurance policy is always a necessity. Individual is a bit expensive but covers the cost well and is best suited for older family members. It also covers the nearest family member that is the parents or in- laws. Whereas family floater covers the entire family and is best suited for family with low health risk. The advantage is that it is cheaper in comparison and the entire family is covered under one umbrella.
As you evaluate a family objectives and on the basis of previous experiences your family decides, meaning the parent usually, decides which health plan is the most appropriate one, for the time being, of course. Health plans can be changed and when you think it´s time for a change, you just do it.