Rising adoption of home-based healthcare and virtual consultations is reshaping Assam’s healthcare services market, with Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited reporting a sixteen-fold increase in Home Healthcare utilisation for fever and infectious diseases during FY25-26 amid the ongoing monsoon season.
The insurer said demand for its recently launched Virtual OPD platform has also grown rapidly across the country, reflecting increasing consumer preference for digital-first healthcare. In response, the company has expanded its monsoon outreach by strengthening access to Home Healthcare, teleconsultation and planned hospitalisation support for policyholders, while extending free 24/7 Virtual Doctor Consultations to the general public through the Star Health Customer app.
Policyholders can access services through the ‘Talk to Star’ helpline at 7200 222 333, with dedicated support for Home Healthcare, planned hospitalisation, cashless treatment guidance, network hospitals and documentation. Eligible customers can also receive doctor-prescribed cashless home treatment, including nursing care, blood tests, IV fluids, injections and patient monitoring.
Business Head (Northeast) Amitabh Chatterjee said the company is prioritising early intervention and convenient healthcare access, particularly for children, senior citizens and patients with mobility challenges during the monsoon.
The market opportunity is reinforced by the National Statistical Office’s 2026 survey, which estimates average private hospitalisation costs at ₹52,766 in rural Assam and ₹79,406 in urban Assam. Against this backdrop, insurers are increasingly investing in preventive care, telemedicine and home healthcare services to improve customer experience, reduce treatment delays and address rising healthcare expenditure while expanding digital healthcare penetration in the state.
