Best credit card for ₹10L hospital bill (no insurance) – help a brother out 🙏

[saitama]

HI everyone,

I have a big hospital expense (~₹10L) in the next 1–2 months. No insurance covers it, so I’m trying to save whatever I can via credit cards (cashback or easily redeemable rewards ). Me or my family don’t travel much, don’t dine/stay at luxury places.

Current cards I have:

• HSBC Live+ (using right now, 1.5% cashback on most spends)
• Amazon ICICI
• Tata Neu Infinity
• SBI Cashback

What I found so far:

• Yes Bank Reserve: got approved for Elite+ LTF 🥲. Not sure whether I should activate it or push them to upgrade it, which may take time
• AU LIT: AU Bank offered me Nomo, not sure if useful here

1. Is it worth chasing Yes Bank Reserve (even if paid) vs sticking to Elite+ or my existing cards?
2. Any other cards better for hospital/medical bills (offline)?
3. Has anyone here paid a big (₹10–12L) hospital bill on card – which card gave you the best effective return?

Would really appreciate guidance, since this is a big one-time spend and every % matters 🙏

 

[the_dark_knight]

Amex Platinum travel is one good option for upto 4L spend
Axis Atlas too

 

[BhaiyaJi]

One thing I would recommend is to check the MCC by doing a small txn.

 

[BhaiyaJi]

Since its a big bill, keep in mind that banks reports credit bill payments more than 10L in a FY to Income tax department.

 

[nandhakumarn]

HI everyone,

I have a big hospital expense (~₹10L) in the next 1–2 months. No insurance covers it, so I’m trying to save whatever I can via credit cards (cashback or easily redeemable rewards ). Me or my family don’t travel much, don’t dine/stay at luxury places.

Current cards I have:

• HSBC Live+ (using right now, 1.5% cashback on most spends)
• Amazon ICICI
• Tata Neu Infinity
• SBI Cashback

What I found so far:

• Yes Bank Reserve: got approved for Elite+ LTF 🥲. Not sure whether I should activate it or push them to upgrade it, which may take time
• AU LIT: AU Bank offered me Nomo, not sure if useful here

1. Is it worth chasing Yes Bank Reserve (even if paid) vs sticking to Elite+ or my existing cards?
2. Any other cards better for hospital/medical bills (offline)?
3. Has anyone here paid a big (₹10–12L) hospital bill on card – which card gave you the best effective return?

Would really appreciate guidance, since this is a big one-time spend and every % matters 🙏

all this cards i hold . better take an insurance. 10 lakhs spend you may need income tax

 

[AkashnAkashn is verified member.]

Axis ace? ?

 

[BhaiyaJi]

Axis ace? ?

He has Live+, I think offline cashback is same in both the cases.

 

[anujdit]

Ask for online payment link if possible. Then try SBI cashback (5%)

 

[BhaiyaJi]

Ask for online payment link if possible. Then try SBI cashback (5%)

Limited to 1L payment.

 

[Dr.AMAN]

First of all hope a smooth treatment and speedy recovery for ur family member. For a bill of 10L I assume it must be a big surgery or something like that.
Most imp step first is to confirm that the Hospital's bill desk accepts CCs. U dont want yourself to be scrambling at the last minute to arrange 10L in ur bank account if they deny CC payments.
- Since u dont travel much so chasing Reward points based CCs wont be much useful. Try dividing the 10L spends into 2-3 cashback CCs ( preferably HSBC and Tata neu infinity to get base 1.5%).

-TNI card is giving extra milestone offer like spend 60k and get 2000 neucoins extra. So ur base return will easily cross 3%. Dividing the spends into 2-3 banks' CCs will also avoid ATS reporting.

- If u plan to use Amazon pay card then u can convert the Apay balance into gift cards like HP wallet/Instamart/Lenskart/ Max fashion etc using Maximize/Dealzy.
- Lastly hospitals bills r a good source to cashify ur CCs. Means some hospitals take upfront payment and at the end of the treatment they refund back the excess amount as cash. So u get the CC benefits and also cash in ur hand. Just keep all bills safely, as it can be handy if ur bank enquires the reason for the huge spends.

 

[saitama]

Axis ace? ?

i already have live+

 

[saitama]

First of all hope a smooth treatment and speedy recovery for ur family member. For a bill of 10L I assume it must be a big surgery or something like that.
Most imp step first is to confirm that the Hospital's bill desk accepts CCs. U dont want yourself to be scrambling at the last minute to arrange 10L in ur bank account if they deny CC payments.
- Since u dont travel much so chasing Reward points based CCs wont be much useful. Try dividing the 10L spends into 2-3 cashback CCs ( preferably HSBC and Tata neu infinity to get base 1.5%).

-TNI card is giving extra milestone offer like spend 60k and get 2000 neucoins extra. So ur base return will easily cross 3%. Dividing the spends into 2-3 banks' CCs will also avoid ATS reporting.

- If u plan to use Amazon pay card then u can convert the Apay balance into gift cards like HP wallet/Instamart/Lenskart/ Max fashion etc using Maximize/Dealzy.
- Lastly hospitals bills r a good source to cashify ur CCs. Means some hospitals take upfront payment and at the end of the treatment they refund back the excess amount as cash. So u get the CC benefits and also cash in ur hand. Just keep all bills safely, as it can be handy if ur bank enquires the reason for the huge spends.

Thank you for all the suggestions. I have checked with the hospital admission counter, and they accept CC's

 

[saitama]

Ask for online payment link if possible. Then try SBI cashback (5%)

I'll check if I could get a payment link. Thanks

 

[shenoyanil98]

IDFC wealth debit card can be a very good option if you already have it, or you can try if you can get one in a hurry.

 

[HumorSimpson]

Kiwi cc. UPI scan and pay . Hit 1.5L on this to get 5%

Sbi on bharat QR gives 5%

 

[6ix9ine]

First check MCC and then match the mcc with your cards inclusions/exclusions.

Your whole research and time will go waste if MCC is wrongly mapped.

 

[S U D O]

No insurance covers it

if you don't mind answering, can you tell why so?
I am looking to buy health insurance so your answer may be helpful to me
you can dm if you don't want to answer here

 

[bilalnaz]

if you don't mind answering, can you tell why so?
I am looking to buy health insurance so your answer may be helpful to me
you can dm if you don't want to answer here

and @saitama

I am also looking for health insurance and want to be careful so do let us know

 

[Kabir_1112]

and @saitama

I am also looking for health insurance and want to be careful so do let us know

Are you looking to pay for health insurance? Depends on cards that you hold. I recently paid for my hdfc ergo using DCB and got rewards and also step closer to milestone. Same for Amex plat travel. Amex mostly milestone.