Premium comparison websites show you 30–40 plans in a sortable table. And somehow, after 20 minutes of clicking, most people end up more confused than when they started. The table format makes everything look comparable — but not all the things that matter appear in the table.

Here's a more useful framework. Compare plans on five dimensions, in this order of importance.

1. Claim settlement ratio. This is the percentage of claims the insurer paid out last year. IRDAI publishes this annually. Below 95% is a red flag. Above 98% is strong. All major private insurers including Kotak are in the 97–99% range.

"A plan that's ₹2,000 cheaper annually but has a CSR 2% lower than the next option isn't a better deal. The whole point of insurance is the claim."

2. Sum assured available for your age and income. Not every insurer will offer the cover amount you actually need. Check the maximum available before comparing features.

3. Rider quality and cost. The critical illness rider covering 37 conditions is more comprehensive than one covering 15. Compare what conditions are covered, not just whether a CI rider exists.

4. Specific features that match your situation. If you have a young child, the Gen2Gen feature has real value. If you're a woman, the 16% premium discount on Kotak Signature matters. Match features to your life, not just to a generic checklist.

5. Premium — last. A difference of ₹1,500–₹2,000 per year in premium is meaningful but secondary to the above four factors. Don't optimise price at the expense of claim settlement history or cover quality.