Health Insurance in India is evolving to reflect social reality and diversity. A growing number of insurers now allow customers to cover same‑sex partners, live‑in partners, and a wider set of dependent relatives under retail and group plans. This shift sits alongside the steady rise in demand for comprehensive individual health insurance, as families seek clarity and certainty for medical costs. As the market broadens, it is important to understand who can be included, how to document relationships, and how benefits and tax treatment work. This guide explains the full list of eligible members, policy rules, and practical steps to use health Insurance and individual health insurance effectively.
What has changed and why it matters
Several regulatory and market developments have improved access and inclusivity.
The Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment in Navtej Singh Johar decriminalised consensual same‑sex relations, which encouraged wider inclusion in employee benefits and insurance.
In 2022, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India urged insurers to ensure non‑discriminatory coverage and put in place clear underwriting for transgender persons and persons with disabilities. You can refer to IRDAI updates on consumer protection and inclusivity at irdai.gov.in.
Employers led the way by adding same‑sex partners and live‑in partners to group covers. Retail Health Insurance has begun to mirror this, with more products permitting partners and a broader scope of dependent relatives.
The standard Arogya Sanjeevani policy formalised a broad family definition for many products that includes parents and parents‑in‑law, which many insurers also apply or adapt.
This matters because it expands financial protection for diverse Indian households. It also helps more families optimise tax benefits and pool medical risk under either a family floater or individual health insurance, depending on needs.
Full list of eligible members in Indian health insurance
Core family members commonly eligible
Most Health Insurance policies, whether family floater or individual health insurance, allow the following members. The exact list depends on the insurer and product wordings.
Self. The primary proposer. Age limits vary by product.
Legally wedded spouse. Recognised across all plans.
Dependent children. Usually from 91 days to 25 years. Children with permanent disability are typically covered without an exit age when declared.
Parents. Dependent or non‑dependent, based on product. Many plans permit them as co‑insureds.
Parents‑in‑law. Recognised under several standardised products such as Arogya Sanjeevani. Many retail plans also allow them, often on a separate floater to manage premium fairness.
Extended family members increasingly allowed
Some insurers now allow more relatives, often under specific conditions. Review the product brochure and policy wordings before purchase.
Same‑sex partner. Permitted by several insurers, especially in group plans, and increasingly in retail Health Insurance on a “partner” or “domestic partner” basis with proof of relationship.
Live‑in partner. Included by a growing number of products. Proof of cohabitation is usually needed.
Dependent siblings. Allowed by a few insurers. An income declaration or proof of dependency may be required.
Dependent grandparents. Permitted by limited products or via separate senior citizen policies.
Daughter‑in‑law or son‑in‑law. Rare in the same floater. More commonly insured under separate policies.
Adopted or stepchildren. Covered when legally adopted or declared as dependants.
Disabled adult dependants. Typically covered on declaration with medical documentation.
Insurers define family for each product. For standardised definitions and consumer guidance, check the IRDAI website at irdai.gov.in for circulars and product guidelines.
Inclusion of LGBTQ partners and live‑in partners
Insurers had already opened group covers to same‑sex partners, live‑in partners, and partners identified as transgender in proposal forms. Retail Health Insurance is following, though availability still varies by insurer and state.
Eligibility. Many products recognise “partner” or “domestic partner” as a relationship type. This includes same‑sex partners and live‑in partners for co‑insurance.
Documentation. Insurers may seek proof such as a joint bank account, shared rental agreement, utility bills at the same address, a common KYC address, beneficiary nomination in investments, or an affidavit of relationship. Aadhaar, PAN, and photographs are standard KYC.
Age limits. Partner entry ages generally mirror those for spouses in the same product.
Waiting periods and exclusions. Standard waiting periods for pre‑existing diseases, maternity, and specified ailments apply equally to partners.
This approach places LGBTQ partners on a par with heterosexual partners for most underwriting and claims decisions. It also means partners can be covered under a family floater, or through separate individual health insurance policies, depending on medical profiles and pricing.
What coverage looks like for partners and dependent relatives
Coverage under modern Health Insurance policies is largely uniform across eligible members. Typical benefits include:
In‑patient hospitalisation. Room, board, nursing, ICU, and treatments as per the policy.
Pre‑ and post‑hospitalisation. Often 30 to 60 days pre, and 60 to 180 days post, subject to policy.
Day‑care procedures. Hundreds of listed procedures without 24‑hour admission.
Domiciliary hospitalisation. When treatment at home is medically necessary and permitted.
Modern treatments. Robotic surgery, oral chemotherapy, and other procedures as per the latest policy list.
Mental health coverage. Mandated after MHCA 2017 for hospitalisation, subject to terms.
Maternity and newborn. Included as a rider or built‑in in some plans, with waiting periods and sub‑limits. Partners must be recognised in the policy to claim maternity benefits where applicable.
Organ donor expenses. As per policy limits and IRDAI regulations.
OPD, wellness, and teleconsults. Available in select products and add‑ons.
For individual health insurance, these benefits apply member‑wise. For a family floater, the sum insured is shared, which can be efficient for younger families but may be inadequate for older or high‑risk members.
How to add LGBTQ partners and dependent relatives in practice
Follow a step‑by‑step approach for smooth on‑boarding.
Shortlist products. Identify Health Insurance plans that state “partner” or “domestic partner” eligibility in policy documents. Confirm if parents‑in‑law, siblings, or grandparents can be added.
Verify documents. Request your insurer’s checklist for partner proof and dependency proof. Prepare two to three proofs to avoid back‑and‑forth.
Select structure. Decide on a family floater for partners and children, and use individual health insurance for senior parents and high‑risk members.
Choose sums insured. Align with hospital costs in your city, family health history, and affordability. Consider super top‑ups to scale coverage.
Complete medicals. Attend health check‑ups promptly if scheduled. Keep medical records handy for underwriting queries.
Freeze add‑ons. Evaluate features like PED waiting period reduction, room rent waiver, maternity, OPD, and consumables cover based on needs.
Pay and record. Pay digitally in the proposer’s name for tax records. Save the e‑policy, KYC, and proof of relationship for claims.
The regulatory context and consumer safeguards
IRDAI has progressively clarified consumer‑friendly norms, including standardisation of definitions, disclosure norms, and grievance redress. While there is no blanket mandate forcing every product to include LGBTQ partners today, insurers are expected to avoid unfair discrimination and to publish their underwriting philosophy for diverse consumer groups. Customers can:
Review the policy prospectus and customer information sheet.
Escalate unresolved issues through the insurer’s grievance cell, and then to the IRDAI Grievance Management System via irdai.gov.in.
Use portability and migration to move to an insurer whose Health Insurance offering better matches family composition.
These safeguards support better access to individual health insurance and family floaters for Indian households of all types.
Conclusion
India’s Health Insurance landscape is becoming more inclusive, with broader recognition of LGBTQ partners, live‑in partners, and dependent relatives. Families can now design cover that reflects their true household, while aligning with budgets, tax planning, and medical needs. By combining a well‑chosen family floater with targeted individual health insurance where needed, you can protect every member appropriately and preserve continuity over time. Review eligibility, documents, and benefits carefully, and use the consumer safeguards available to you for a resilient Health Insurance strategy tailored to modern Indian families.
