In India (2026), a **No Claim Bonus (NCB)** or **Cumulative Bonus** is a reward from your health insurer if you complete a policy year without making a claim. The bonus usually increases your sum insured at renewal without increasing the premium, although some plans offer premium discounts instead. ### How NCB typically works | Feature | Typical Range | |----------|--------------| | Annual bonus for claim-free year | 10%–50% increase in sum insured | | Maximum accumulated bonus | 50%–100% (varies by insurer) | | Benefit type | Higher sum insured or premium discount | | Effect of a claim | Bonus may reduce or reset depending on policy terms | ### What to look for in a health insurance plan in 2026 When comparing policies, don't focus only on NCB. Consider: 1. **Base sum insured** (₹10 lakh, ₹25 lakh, etc.) 2. **NCB growth rate and maximum cap** 3. Whether NCB **reduces gradually** after a claim or **resets to zero** 4. Availability of **NCB Protect** or **Super NCB** add-ons 5. Claim settlement experience and hospital network 6. Waiting periods for pre-existing diseases Experts increasingly note that while NCB is valuable, a strong base cover and good policy features are often more important than a very high NCB percentage. ### Super NCB plans Some insurers offer "Super NCB" benefits that can increase coverage much faster than standard NCB. For example, certain plans provide up to a 50% increase in the base sum insured for each claim-free year, subject to policy conditions. ### If you're buying health insurance in 2026 A common strategy is: - Choose a **base cover of at least ₹10–25 lakh** for an individual or family floater. - Prefer plans where NCB can grow coverage to **100% or more of the base sum insured**. - Check whether accumulated NCB is carried forward if you port the policy to another insurer. If you'd like, I can also provide a comparison of the **best health insurance plans in India in 2026 with the highest No Claim Bonus benefits**, including insurers such as HDFC ERGO, Niva Bupa, Care Health Insurance, and Star Health.
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- No Claim Bonus (NCB) in Health Insurance | Star Healthstarhealth.in/health-insurance/no-claim-bonus-ncb-in-health-insurance
- Health Insurance Plans with No Claim Bonusjoinditto.in/articles/health-insurance/health-insurance-plans-with-no-claim-bonus
- No Claims Bonus is Health Insurance: How It Workscareinsurance.com/health-insurance/no-claim-bonus