MAM
Kyoorius Designyatra 2024 starts 26 September at Grand Hyatt Goa
Mumbai: Kyoorius Designyatra, India’s biggest anti-disciplinary design conference, presented by Zee5, with Air India Express as journey partner and Johnnie Walker as celebration partner, commences on 26 September 2024 at the Grand Hyatt Goa. Running until 28 September, the event will gather top minds to explore various design fields, including architecture, interiors, branding, illustration, animation, typography, communication, digital, experiential, product, and packaging.
The theme for this year is ‘Academy of Play’, highlighting the importance of playfulness in creativity and urging the design community to explore the role of play in their creative processes. Kyoorius founder and CEO Rajesh Kejriwal shared his excitement for the upcoming conference: “At this year’s Kyoorius Designyatra, we have transported the Grand Hyatt into the Academy of Play to explore how play drives the creative process. Through the Academy of Play, attendees will hear from our ‘Professors of Play’ – those who have made play an essential part of their process. We can’t wait to make it memorable for everyone.”
The ‘Professors of Play’ will share their insights and creative journeys, offering attendees the chance to learn from key figures across various creative disciplines. Speakers include Adidas kit designer for Team India Aaquib Waani, known for his work on the 2024 Olympics and international cricket kits; Knopf graphic designer Chip Kidd, whose notable works include Jurassic Park, Peanuts, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, and 1Q84; Bang & Olufsen’s former creative director Johannes Torpe, known for his innovative designs blending aesthetics and functionality; typographer and lettering artist Gemma O’Brien; interactive installation artist and engineer Nassia Inglessis; and acclaimed artist and designer Paul Cocksedge, whose work explores light and materiality through playful installations.
Other speakers include IKEA in-house designer Akanksha Deo Sharma; Studio Lotus founding principal Ambrish Arora; Amna Elshandaweely fashion designer Amna Elshandaweely; 3D artist and animation director Eva Cremers; PepsiCo India & South Asia head of design Tanu Sinha; Studio Waldemeyer co-founders and product designers Moritz Waldemeyer and Nazanin Farahbod; Mota Italic typeface designers Rob Keller and Kimya Gandhi; Atelier Kaja Dahl stone sculptor and product designer Kaja Solgaard Dahl; That Thing founder and creative directors Joe Weir and Mark Williams; It’s Nice That editor-in-chief Matt Alagiah; STUDIO EEKSAURUS founder and creative director Suresh Eriyat; and Somnath Bhatt, designer, artist, and writer, among others.
In addition to the inspiring talks, Kyoorius Designyatra 2024 will feature interactive workshops and hands-on experiences, giving participants opportunities to put their play into practice.
The event culminates on the 28 September with the prestigious 2024 Kyoorius Design Awards Night, celebrating the finest design talent in the industry with the Blue and Black Elephants at the Kyoorius Design Awards. Along with that, the Red Elephants will be announced for the Kyoorius Young Blood Awards, honouring young, bold, and innovative creators who are shaping the future of design.
If we think about how many times you visited a paediatrician during the year for your child’s fever, or went to the pharmacy for cough syrup, antacids, or prescription cream; how many physiotherapy appointments your spouse had throughout the year, or how many routine diabetes check-up appointments you had; most families would say that the ongoing healthcare cost to their family isn’t necessarily the sudden expense of a grown adult being admitted to the hospital, but rather the ongoing and regular expenses of running the household. Because of this, the search for the best family health insurance plans in India have evolved to include OPD covering as a significant factor in their decision making process.
As someone who has reviewed countless policies for families, I’ve seen a clear shift. Families are no longer satisfied with a plan that only activates during a hospital crisis. They want a partner for everyday wellness, and that’s what modern, comprehensive Health Plans for Family aim to be.
OPD Cover: The Game-Changer in Family Health Insurance
OPD, or Outpatient Department, cover handles expenses incurred outside of a hospital admission. This includes:
- Doctor consultation fees (General Physicians and Specialists)
- Diagnostic tests (blood work, X-rays, MRIs)
- Pharmacy bills (medicines prescribed)
- Minor procedures (dressing, injections)
Without OPD coverage, all these costs come directly from your monthly budget. A comprehensive Health Insurance with OPD Cover absorbs these shocks, transforming your policy from a seldom-used safety net into an active, year-round health management tool. For a family with children or aging parents, this isn’t a luxury; it’s a practical necessity.
Identifying the Best Family Health Insurance Plans In India with OPD
Not all OPD covers are created equal. When comparing Health Plans for Family, you must dig into the specifics. Here’s what separates the good from the truly valuable:
Integrated vs. Add-on Cover: Some of the Best Family Health Insurance Plans In India bundle OPD within the base plan (e.g., HDFC Ergo’s Optima Restore). Others offer it as a paid add-on rider. Integrated covers are often more seamless, but add-ons allow you to customize. Compare the sub-limits and overall value.
Realistic Sub-Limits: OPD coverage always has limits. Look for plans that offer a dedicated annual OPD sum insured (e.g., ₹10,000-₹25,000 per family) rather than a tiny per-consultation limit. This gives you flexibility, you can use it for a few major diagnostics instead of just small consultations.
Cashless OPD Network: The true convenience of health insurance with OPD cover is cashless access. Leading insurers have tied up with pharmacy chains, diagnostic centers, and clinic networks. You can walk in, show your card, and walk out without paying upfront. Check the insurer’s network partners in your locality.
Simplified Claims Process: For reimbursements outside the cashless network, the process should be digital and straightforward—via an app with document upload. Cumbersome OPD claim processes defeat the very purpose.
Key Players and What to Look For
Several insurers have pioneered strong family floater plans with OPD benefits. While new products emerge, plans like HDFC Ergo’s Optima Restore, ICICI Lombard’s Health Advantage Plus, and Niva Bupa’s ReAssure 2.0 have been notable for their structured OPD components. Star Health’s Family Health Optima also offers a comprehensive package.
However, the plan name is less important than its architecture. Your checklist for the Best Family Health Insurance Plans In India with OPD should verify:
Adequate In-patient Sum Insured: This is your core cover. Don’t compromise this for OPD. Start with at least ₹15-20 Lakh for a family of four.
Restoration Benefit: Crucial for families. It restores your main sum insured if exhausted, often including the OPD cover.
No Claim Bonus (NCB): Your reward for a healthy year should protect your OPD benefit too, often by increasing your overall sum insured.
Preventive Health Check-ups: A sign of a wellness-oriented insurer. Many top Health Plans for Family include free annual check-ups, complementing the OPD benefit.
Making the Smart Choice for Your Family
Choosing the right plan requires a simple audit. Tally your family’s average annual spend on doctor visits, tests, and medicines. You’ll likely find it’s a significant amount. Then, compare the premium of a comprehensive Health Insurance with OPD Cover against a basic plan plus your out-of-pocket OPD expenditure. The difference is often negligible, but the value is monumental.
For families, the Best Family Health Insurance Plans In India will be those that acknowledge the fact that the “real” journey for your family’s health occurs daily and not just during emergencies. By choosing a Family Health Insurance plan with meaningful OPD coverage, you will not only be insuring against your family getting sick, but also investing in your family’s ability to see their doctors or other healthcare providers on a more frequent basis for non-emergency issues and providing your family with a significant degree of peace of mind with regards to their financial and physical well-being. The shift away from reactive insurance to proactive insurance by families is now essential; it has become a necessity for the modern family that is living with intention.
