Gurugram: As India’s elderly population grows, so does the need for thoughtful, accessible and reliable healthcare support systems. Recognising this, Policybazaar, through its insurer partners, has launched Saarthi, a first-of-its-kind elder care concierge service designed specifically for senior citizens. From choosing the right insurance plan to getting hands-on claims assistance and personalised follow-ups, Saarthi offers a seamless experience tailored to the unique needs of older adults.
Similar to how NRIs can insure their parents in India, customers here too can now buy health insurance for parents living in another city and ensure on-ground support for them during an emergency.
A new standard of care for India’s elderly
The data indicates that the elderly population in India is projected to reach approximately 319 million, constituting about 20% of the total population by 2050. This demographic shift calls for enhanced healthcare and support services to cater to this segment. The Saarthi program is designed as a high-touch, human-led solution to help senior citizens navigate the often complex insurance journey, with features including:
· Specialised sales & service advisors: A specialised team trained to understand the unique needs of seniors, offering clear, jargon-free advice tailored to their health and life coverage.
· Direct helpline for senior citizens: Staffed by executives trained in senior care, this exclusive helpline ensures that older customers get empathetic, quick, and informed responses to queries, including claim-related assistance.
· On-ground claims support: From coordinating with hospitals to helping with documentation or arranging ambulances, Saarthi ensures seniors and their families don’t face the claims process alone.
· Senior-focused concierge services: Saarthi also partners with home healthcare providers, diagnostics centres, and elder-focused services to extend benefits which form part of the insurance policies.
Going beyond basics to offer proactive, ongoing support
The program nails down even the most basic needs with care, whether it’s help with paperwork, a reminder call, or simply someone to talk to. Each member is assigned a dedicated 24/7 relationship manager who is a trusted point of contact who can offer guidance, resolve issues or simply check in from time to time. Seniors also receive proactive reminders for policy renewals and premium payments, delivered through their preferred channels, be it a personalised call, SMS or WhatsApp, ensuring no important deadlines are missed.
When it comes to claims, Saarthi makes the process as seamless as possible. From helping with documentation to arranging doorstep pickup of papers or assisting with digital submissions, the support is designed to suit the customer’s comfort. And in moments that matter, it’s often the small gestures that count, like a friendly check-in call from the Saarthi team, simply to ask how they are doing.
Sarbvir Singh, Joint Group CEO, PB Fintech, shared, “Saarthi is our way of letting India’s senior citizens know that we are here when they need us the most. We understand that with the growing number of nuclear families and empty nests, India needs a mechanism to address the needs of the elderly. Saarthi fills this gap and brings convenience, dignity and hands-on help to the doorstep of our seniors. We want to make sure that in their time of need, our elders are never alone.”
With the Saarthi program, Policybazaar reaffirms its commitment to serving more people meaningfully and bringing them under the protection umbrella. In a fast-moving world, Saarthi stands as a reassuring constant for India’s senior citizens and for their families around the world.
