Aditya Birla Health Activ One MAX vs HDFC ERGO Optima Secure+
Side by side on the figures that decide a claim — and which one we would actually pick.
We score HDFC ERGO Optima Secure+ higher at 4.6/5 against 4.4/5, winning 4 of the 7 comparable measures. Activ One MAX is the cheaper of the two on the illustrated profiles.
Side by side
| Measure | Aditya Birla Health Activ One MAX | HDFC ERGO Optima Secure+ |
|---|---|---|
| Myinsurancebro Score | 4.4 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Claim settlement ratio 3-year average | 96.25% | 97.61% |
| Complaints per 10,000 claims Lower is better | 18.67 | 8.87 |
| Cashless hospitals | 16500 | 16000 |
| Annual health premium | ₹4,920.43 Cr | ₹6,596.53 Cr |
| Sum insured available | ₹2 L – ₹6 Cr | ₹10 L – ₹2 Cr |
| Restoration of cover | Unlimited, from the 2nd claim onward | Unlimited, built in |
| No-claim bonus | 100% a year, up to 500% — capped at ₹3 Cr | Infinite Benefit — 100% of base cover added every year, no cap |
| Pre-existing disease wait | 3 years | 3 years |
| Specific illness wait | 2 years | 2 years |
| Maternity cover | Separate product | Parenthood rider |
| Room rent limit | No limit — any room category | No limit — any room category |
| Consumables covered | Via add-on | Covered in base plan |
| Premium — couple, 31 & 32 | ₹16,299 | ₹21,128 |
| Premium — seniors, 62 & 63 | ₹66,505 | ₹75,608 |
Activ One MAX
The best value on this list, and by a clear margin. It undercuts every other plan at every profile while holding a 96.25% settlement ratio, and the 500% cumulative bonus means the cover you buy at 28 is worth several times as much by 40. The caveats are that restoration starts from your second claim rather than your first, and that maternity is not available at all. If you are young, reasonably healthy and not planning a pregnancy in the next few years, this is where your money goes furthest.
Against it
- 18.67 complaints per 10,000 claims — twice HDFC ERGO, though far better than Care Health
- Restoration only kicks in from the second claim, not the first
- Hitting the full 100% HealthReturns discount is very hard in practice
- Maternity requires an entirely separate policy
- A younger health insurer, so the servicing track record is shorter
Optima Secure+
This is the plan we put in front of most families, and the reason is the claims record rather than the feature list. A 97.61% settlement ratio with 8.87 complaints per 10,000 claims means that when you are standing at a hospital billing desk, this insurer is the one most likely to just pay. The Infinite Benefit is the other reason — cover that adds 100% of the base every year with no ceiling quietly solves the medical-inflation problem that catches most people out a decade in. It costs more than Activ One MAX. We think it is worth it.
Against it
- The most expensive of the five for a young individual buyer
- The 3-year pre-existing disease wait is standard, not market-leading
- The senior couple premium of ₹75,608 is steep
- Ambulance cover is limited compared with SBI General
Which one we would pick
HDFC ERGO Optima Secure+, on balance — 4.6/5 against 4.4/5. Where Activ One MAX is ahead: cashless hospitals, premium — couple, 31 & 32, premium — seniors, 62 & 63. Where Optima Secure+ is ahead: myinsurancebro score, claim settlement ratio, complaints per 10,000 claims, annual health premium.
A score ranks plans on the evidence available; it cannot know your health history, your dependants or which exclusion will matter to you in ten years. Where the two are close, the deciding factor is usually the text rows above — room rent, waiting periods, exclusions — read against your own circumstances.
Scores are plan features 45%, insurer strength 45%, premium 10% — how we score plans.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Aditya Birla Health Activ One MAX or HDFC ERGO Optima Secure+?
We score HDFC ERGO Optima Secure+ higher at 4.6/5 against 4.4/5. This is the plan we put in front of most families, and the reason is the claims record rather than the feature list. A 97.61% settlement ratio with 8.87 complaints per 10,000 claims means that when you are standing at a hospital billing desk, this insurer is the one most likely to just pay. The Infinite Benefit is the other reason — cover that adds 100% of the base every year with no ceiling quietly solves the medical-inflation problem that catches most people out a decade in. It costs more than Activ One MAX. We think it is worth it.
Which of the two settles more claims?
HDFC ERGO — 97.61% against 96.25%. Read it beside complaint volume: Aditya Birla Health draws 18.67 complaints per 10,000 claims and HDFC ERGO 8.87 complaints.
Which is cheaper?
Aditya Birla Health Activ One MAX, on the illustrated profiles in the table above. Premiums are illustrations for a stated profile, not quotes — your own depends on age, health, city and underwriting.
Read the full reviews
Disclaimer: Figures shown here are compiled from IRDAI annual reports and public grievance disclosures, and from insurer public disclosures and policy wordings. Claim settlement ratios and complaint volumes are three-year averages for FY 2024–26. Premiums are indicative illustrations for the stated profile, not quotes — your actual premium depends on your age, health, city, habits and underwriting. Scores are Myinsurancebro's own assessment. Always read the official policy document and speak to an advisor before buying. Myinsurancebro is an IRDAI-licensed insurance advisor — we do not manufacture or underwrite any insurance product.