As Odisha enters the monsoon season, when dengue, malaria, fever and other infectious diseases typically rise, Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited (NSE: STARHEALTH; BSE: 543412), one of India’s leading standalone health insurance companies, is stepping up its monsoon healthcare outreach across the state. Star Health’s FY25-26 Odisha data shows around five-fold increase in Home Healthcare utilisation for fever and infectious diseases. Alongside this growth, the company has seen exceptional demand for its recently launched Virtual OPD service across the country, with a growing number of customers choosing it as their first point of medical consultation.
The outreach focuses on early intervention by connecting policyholders to Talk to Star and Home Healthcare support, while enabling the general public to access free 24/7 Virtual OPD consultations through the Star Health Customer app. For policyholders, Talk to Star at 7200 222 333 remains the guided access point: press 1 for Home Healthcare and press 2 for planned hospitalisation.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Aditya Omprakash Biyani, Business Head, Odisha, Star Health Insurance, said:
“Behind every monsoon infection is a family managing uncertainty, disrupted routines and concern for a loved one. The fivefold rise in Home Health Care utilisation in Odisha during FY26 shows the growing need for timely support that is easier to access, particularly for children, senior citizens and patients who may find hospital visits difficult. Our responsibility goes beyond arranging treatment. We want patients and caregivers to feel informed, supported and confident about the next step in their care. Policyholders can call ‘Talk to Star’ at 7200 222 333 to receive guidance on Home Health Care or planned hospitalisation, while the public can access free 24/7 Virtual Doctor Consultations through the Star Health Customer app. Our focus this monsoon is to help people seek advice early, receive appropriate care and recover with less stress and disruption.”
Lower costs and rain-ready care: the case for home healthcare
Data from the National Statistical Office’s 80th round survey on household health expenditure, released in 2026, highlights the financial burden of illness and hospitalisation on households. Private hospitalisation costs an average of ₹39,056 in rural Odisha and ₹61,218 in urban Odisha, healthcare expenses across the board remain high, leaving most individuals and families to cover these expenses out of pocket.
Star Health’s monsoon support protocol addresses this gap by creating two clear access routes: Talk to Star for policyholders and free Virtual OPD through the Star Health Customer app for the general public. Together, these services give families an earlier, lower-friction way to seek medical advice before symptoms worsen or hospital visits become unavoidable.
The initiative brings together three timely service interventions for the monsoon season:
- Unlimited teleconsultations for policyholders: Policyholders can access unlimited teleconsultations during the policy period, encouraging timely medical advice at the first sign of fever or infection.
- Talk to Star for policyholders: Policyholders can call 7200 222 333 for guided support. Press 1 for Home Healthcare and press 2 for planned hospitalisation. The service helps customers understand care pathways, cashless processes, network hospital options and documents to keep ready.
- Cashless Home Healthcare: For eligible policyholders whose conditions can be managed at home under medical supervision, Star Health covers doctor-prescribed home treatment. This may include professional nursing care, routine blood tests and monitoring, IV fluids and injections delivered at the patient’s home.
Free Virtual OPD for the general public:
For non-policyholders and members of the general public, access is through the Star Health Customer app, where users can book a free 24/7 Virtual OPD consultation for common monsoon symptoms.
To access the service, users can:
- Download the Star Health Customer app on a smartphone.
- Sign up with basic details, including name, email ID and date of birth, to access available health benefits.
- Open the menu and select ‘’Telemedicine’ within the app.
- Book a free online consultation with experienced doctors across relevant specialties.
As part of the outreach, Star Health is encouraging households across the region, especially those with school-going children and senior citizens, to follow a monsoon-first health protocol: do not ignore persistent fever, seek early medical advice and choose the right access route. Policyholders can call Talk to Star at 7200 222 333, while non-policyholders can book a free 24/7 Virtual OPD consultation through the Star Health Customer app.
The takeaway for the state’s households this monsoon is clear: persistent fever should not be ignored, and early doctor access — by phone for policyholders or through free 24/7 Virtual OPD for the wider public — can help families act before symptoms escalate.
