No Claim Bonus (NCB) is one of the most overlooked benefits in Indian health insurance. The right insurer can effectively double your sum insured in 4 claim-free years — for the same annual premium. Here's the 2026 insurer-by-insurer NCB schedule + how to protect it from small-claim resets.
How NCB works
NCB = EXTRA sum insured added to your policy for free, for every year you don't make a claim. Example timeline for HDFC ERGO Optima Secure (50% per year, cumulative 100%):
| Year | Base sum insured | NCB added | Effective sum insured |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ₹10,00,000 | 0% | ₹10,00,000 |
| 2 (1 claim-free yr) | ₹10,00,000 | +50% = ₹5,00,000 | ₹15,00,000 |
| 3 (2 claim-free yrs) | ₹10,00,000 | +100% (cap) = ₹10,00,000 | ₹20,00,000 |
| 4-onwards (claim-free) | ₹10,00,000 | +100% (cap stays) | ₹20,00,000 |
| If claim made in Yr 5 | ₹10,00,000 | NCB resets to 0% | ₹10,00,000 (unless NCB Protect rider) |
NCB rates by Indian insurer (2026)
| Insurer Plan | NCB per year | Cumulative cap | NCB Protect rider available? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care Heart Comprehensive | 100% | 500% | Yes |
| HDFC ERGO Optima Secure | 50% | 100% | Yes (Restore option) |
| Niva Bupa Reassure 2.0 | 50% | 100% | Yes |
| Star Health Premier | 25% | 100% | Yes |
| ICICI Lombard Complete Health Elite | 25% | 100% | Yes |
| Bajaj Allianz Health Guard | 10% | 50% | No |
| SBI General Arogya Premier | 10% | 50% | No |
| New India Assurance Mediclaim | 5% | 50% | No |
| Tata AIG MediCare Premier | 20% | 100% | Yes |
| ManipalCigna ProHealth Insurance | 25% | 100% | Yes |
What is NCB Protect rider?
Standard NCB resets to 0% on ANY claim — even ₹5,000. NCB Protect (also called "Cumulative Bonus Protect") is a rider that prevents reset on the first 1-2 claims per policy year.
| Without NCB Protect | With NCB Protect rider |
|---|---|
| ₹5K claim resets your accumulated 100% NCB | NCB unchanged after the claim |
| NCB starts again from 0% | NCB continues to grow next year |
| Net cost of small claim: ₹5K + lost NCB on future years | Net cost: just the ₹5K + 5-15% extra rider premium |
Worth adding NCB Protect if: you're 45+, have family history of frequent medical needs, OR you have a young child (kids generate small claims often).
NCB vs Restore Benefit vs Refill — different things
| Benefit | What it does | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| No Claim Bonus (NCB) | Extra sum insured for NOT claiming | Every claim-free year |
| Restore Benefit | Refills base sum insured if exhausted in a year | After a major claim drains base cover |
| Refill / Recharge | Same as Restore | Same as Restore |
| Super NCB / Unlimited NCB | Combination of NCB + Restore — gives both benefits | Best of both worlds |
Practical recommendation
- Pick a plan with at least 25% NCB per year and 100% cumulative cap
- Add NCB Protect rider unless your annual premium is already high
- Compare effective coverage AFTER 5 years (not just base sum insured)
- Don't claim for amounts below ₹15-25K — the lost NCB (over future years) often exceeds the claim amount
For our complete health insurance guide including claim settlement ratios + waiting period rules + cashless hospital networks, see /insurance.
Sources: IRDAI Annual Report FY 2024-25; insurer brochures + brochures for Care Health, HDFC ERGO, Niva Bupa, Star Health, ICICI Lombard, Bajaj Allianz, SBI General, New India Assurance, Tata AIG, ManipalCigna verified May 2026; PolicyBazaar health insurance comparison data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is no claim bonus (NCB) in health insurance?
NCB is an EXTRA sum insured that the health insurer ADDS to your policy for free, for every year you don't make a claim. Example: ₹10 lakh base sum insured + 25% NCB after 1 claim-free year = ₹12.5 lakh effective cover for the next year — at the same premium. NCB rates vary by insurer: 5-10% per year for older policies, up to 50-100% per year for top 2026 plans. Cumulative cap: most insurers cap NCB at 100-200% (so max effective cover is 2-3× your base sum insured).
Does the NCB reset to zero if I make even a small claim?
Yes for most policies — even a ₹5,000 claim resets your NCB to 0%. But several modern Indian health insurers (HDFC ERGO Optima Secure, Care Heart, Niva Bupa Reassure, Star Health Premier) offer 'NCB Protect' rider where NCB doesn't reset on the first 1-2 claims per year. Cost of this rider: 5-15% extra premium. Worth it if you're 50+ or have a family history of frequent medical needs.
Is no claim bonus the same as cumulative bonus in health insurance?
Yes — NCB and CB (Cumulative Bonus) refer to the same benefit. Some insurers call it 'No Claim Bonus' (when described as 'you didn't claim'), some call it 'Cumulative Bonus' (when described as 'extra sum insured that accumulates'). Both work identically. Newer terms: 'Reset Benefit', 'Sum Insured Refill' — these are SLIGHTLY different (they restore your sum insured AFTER it's exhausted in a year), not NCB which gives EXTRA on top of base sum insured every year for not claiming.
Which Indian health insurer gives the highest no claim bonus?
Top NCB rates in 2026: (1) Care Heart Comprehensive: 100% NCB per year (highest), cumulative cap 500% — so ₹5L base can reach ₹30L effective in 5 claim-free years; (2) HDFC ERGO Optima Secure: 50% per year, cumulative 100%; (3) Niva Bupa Reassure 2.0: 50% per year, cumulative 100%; (4) Star Health Premier: 25% per year, cumulative 100%; (5) ICICI Lombard Complete Health Insurance Elite: 25% per year, cumulative 100%. For all of these, NCB Protect rider can be added to prevent reset on small claims.
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