MAM
Wunderman Thompson South Asia’s 21 Times Health
Wunderman Thompson South Asia’s report titled ‘21 Times Health’, is an incisive look at the effects of the coronavirus disease pandemic and the resulting lockdown on the health, pharma and wellness categories.
As the world slowly inches back to normal, many categories will find themselves being redefined. Studies show that 21 days is the minimum time required to change a habit. With the extended lockdown, the Indian consumer has got more time than that! And with a strong emotional and economic motive to boot! For many categories, the day the lockdown lifts will be ‘Day 1’ in many ways. 21 Times Health is a look at some trends that can help us get ready for that day.
The team at Wunderman Thompson South Asia conducted a lockdown study among Indian households in 32 cities in 15 states* to capture their changing mindsets and behaviours around health, pharma and wellness, besides speaking with various brand and field experts to corroborate the findings. Inputs that found their way into this project also included, various COVID-19 reports compiled by different Wunderman Thompson offices around the world, reports by research agencies like Kantar, experts opinions, articles from various publications, studies on global financial crisis in 2008 and so on.
Tarun Rai, Chairman and Group CEO, Wunderman Thompson, South Asia, said, “There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything we’ve seen before. And unlike some of the crises we have witnessed in the past few decades, this will have a much deeper impact on not just the economy but also on society. There is an urgent need, therefore, to rethink, relook at emerging data, and reload for the future. This health & wellness category report is our attempt to do just that. We hope it helps our partners to navigate through this crisis and come out stronger as they emerge into the post-COVID world.”
Commenting on the report, Ajeeta Bharadwaj, National Planning Director, Wunderman Thompson India, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic is making structural changes in mindsets and marketplaces, alike. It is changing the hierarchy of benefits and crash-coursing the education of certain categories, it is forcing a rethink on the way things are made, stacked & served and digitizing behaviors at a scale that would have been hard to imagine. 21 Times Health is an attempt to identify these shifts and the opportunities emerging from them, so that brands can reconfigure their relevance and emerge stronger.”
When you plan to buy medical insurance for your family, the first question is often about savings. You may assume that buying online automatically means paying less, but that is only part of the picture. The real issue is not just whether the premium looks lower, but whether the policy gives you suitable family health insurance without adding avoidable costs later.
Buying online can sometimes appear more budget-friendly because you can compare plans, review features, and complete the process without depending entirely on offline assistance.
Still, a lower visible price does not always mean better value. To understand whether you can truly save more, you need to look at the full buying experience and the policy terms together.
Why Online Purchase Can Look More Economical
When you explore family health insurance online, you usually get access to plan details in a more direct and organised way. This can make the buying journey feel simpler and more transparent.
A few reasons online purchases may seem cost-effective include:
● Easier comparison of policy features
● Direct access to premium details
● The ability to review inclusions and exclusions at your own pace
● Fewer chances of making a rushed decision
● More control over the plan selection process
This does not mean every online option is automatically cheaper. It simply means the online route may help you assess choices more carefully, and that itself can influence how much value you get from the policy you choose.
Saving Money is Not Only About a Lower Premium
A lower premium often catches your attention first, but that should not be the only measure of savings. If you buy medical insurance based only on what looks affordable at the start, you may overlook conditions that matter later.
A family health insurance policy should be judged on overall value, including:
● The scope of cover
● Waiting period terms
● Exclusions
● Room eligibility conditions
● Sub-limits, if any
● Claim-related terms
● Renewal conditions
If the premium is lower but the policy has stricter internal conditions, the apparent saving may not feel meaningful when you actually need hospitalisation support.
So, the better question is not only whether online purchase costs less, but whether it helps you select a plan that remains financially sensible over time.
Comparing Plans Online Can Prevent Overspending
One clear advantage of the online route is that it allows you to compare different options without pressure. This can help you avoid paying for features you may not need or missing features that matter for your family.
Before you buy medical insurance online, look closely at:
● Who can be covered under the plan
● How the sum insured works for the family
● Whether day care procedures are included
● How pre-existing illness rules are explained
● Whether add-ons are optional or built in
● How clearly the policy wording is presented
This level of comparison can support better decision-making. In many cases, savings come not only from the premium itself but from choosing a policy with fewer surprises.
Online Discounts Should be Viewed Carefully
Online discounts can make a plan look attractive, but they should always be read alongside the policy details. A discount may reduce the upfront cost, yet the true worth of the policy depends on what it covers and how it responds during a claim.
When reviewing discounted online plans, check whether the policy has:
● Treatment-specific limits
● Room rent restrictions
● Co-payment clauses
● Disease-wise waiting periods
● Claim deductions linked to the hospital category
● Limited cover for selected benefits
These points are important because a policy that looks cheaper at purchase may involve more out-of-pocket spending later. That is why discount-led buying should be replaced with detail-led buying.
Final Thoughts
Yes, buying online can sometimes help you save more when choosing family health insurance, but only if you look beyond the headline price. The online route may give you better visibility, easier comparison, and more time to review the policy terms.
That can support smarter choices and may reduce the chances of paying for a plan that does not suit your family well.
If you want to buy medical insurance online, treat savings as more than a discount. The real advantage lies in choosing family health insurance that balances affordability, clarity, and meaningful coverage for your household.
