Best Credit Cards for Insurance Payments in India (2026 Guide)

Insurance premiums are one of the largest annual expenses for Indian households — life insurance, health insurance, term plans, and riders often add up to ₹30,000–₹2,00,000 every year. Yet most people still pay these premiums using net banking or debit cards and earn nothing in return. In 2026, this is avoidable! This guide is a one-stop reference for choosing the best credit cards for insurance payments in India.

With the right credit card, insurance payments can help you:

• Earn rewards or cashback
• Unlock milestone benefits
• Save annual card fees
• Improve your credit history

How Insurance Payments Work on Credit Cards

Before choosing a card, understand this clearly:

• Most credit cards do not reward insurance spends
• Some cards explicitly reward insurance premiums
• Some premium cards count insurance spends toward milestone benefits
• Many popular cards (especially Axis core cards) exclude insurance completely

So the smart approach is to use cards that fall into either of these two buckets:

1. Cards that directly reward insurance premiums
2. Cards where insurance payments count toward milestone spends

Top Credit Cards for Insurance Payments (2026) 

Best Cards That Directly Reward Insurance Premiums

1. IDFC FIRST LIC Credit Card or LIC Axis Bank Platinum / Signature Credit Card

• Accelerated rewards (up to 10X points) on LIC premiums for IDFC
• Earn 2 reward points per ₹100 on LIC premiums for Axis
• Designed specifically for insurance payments

USP: Two of the very few cards in India that officially and clearly rewards insurance premiums, not just retail spends.

Best for: Regular LIC policyholders

Caution: Rewards mainly apply to LIC premiums via eligible LIC channels

2. HDFC Regalia Gold / Infinia / Diners Club Black

• Insurance payments are treated as eligible retail spends
• Even if points aren’t earned, spends count toward milestones
• Helps unlock:
  • Annual fee waivers
  • Vouchers
  • Travel and lifestyle benefits

USP (selling point): Ideal for using large insurance premiums to unlock high-value milestones, even when direct rewards are limited.

Best for: Premium cardholders with high annual spends

Caution: Reward rules have changed in recent years — always confirm milestone treatment before paying.

3. Tata Neu Infinity Credit Card (HDFC Bank)

• Insurance spends earn NeuCoins (subject to caps)
• NeuCoins usable across BigBasket, 1mg, Air India, Croma, etc.

USP: Converts insurance premiums into practical shopping value, not locked reward points.

Best for: Tata ecosystem users

Caution: HDFC has added caps on insurance rewards

4. Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card

• Flat cashback on online spends
• Insurance premiums paid via portals usually qualify

USP: One of the simplest ways to earn real cashback on insurance payments.

Best for: Users who want straightforward savings

Caution: Cashback caps apply

5. Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

• Cashback when insurance is paid via Amazon Pay / partner flows
• No annual fee

USP: Best zero-fee option if your insurer supports Amazon Pay payments.

Best for: Amazon ecosystem users

Caution: Cashback depends on payment route

Comparison Table: Insurance Reward Cards (2026)

Cards Where Insurance Counts Toward Milestone Rewards

These cards may not give direct rewards on insurance, but insurance premiums count toward milestone or annual spend thresholds — which can unlock fee waivers, vouchers, or bonus benefits.

1. HDFC Regalia Gold / Infinia / Diners Club Black

• Insurance spends treated as eligible retail spends
• Helps unlock:
  • Annual fee waivers
  • Milestone vouchers
  • Premium travel benefits

Best use: Paying large annual insurance premiums to hit spend milestones

2. SBI Prime / SBI Elite (Variant-dependent)

• Insurance spends often count toward annual milestone spends
• Milestone benefits include vouchers or bonus points

Best use: SBI users aiming for milestone-based rewards
Note: Always confirm eligibility for your specific card variant

3. ICICI Emeralde / Times Black (Premium ICICI Cards)

• Milestone rewards based on total eligible spends
• Insurance typically contributes to spend thresholds

Best use: High-income users with large annual premiums

Cards You Should Avoid for Insurance Payments

• Axis Magnus
• Axis Atlas
• Axis Select / Privilege
  → Insurance excluded from both rewards and milestone spends
• Most shopping co-branded cards
  → Insurance explicitly excluded in T&Cs

Smart Insurance Payment Strategy (Save This)

Before paying a premium:

1. Confirm with the bank if insurance counts for rewards or milestones
2. Check if the insurer charges a convenience fee
3. Verify monthly reward caps
4. Keep email/chat confirmation for milestone eligibility

Best Credit Cards for Insurance Spends Verdict (2026)

• LIC policyholders: IDFC FIRST LIC or LIC Axis cards
• Reward + shopping value: Tata Neu Infinity
• Cashback seekers: Standard Chartered Smart
• High premium payers: Use insurance to unlock HDFC / SBI / ICICI milestones

Insurance premiums no longer need to be “dead spends” — if you use the right card with the right expectation.

Apply & Earn via PickMyWork

With PickMyWork, you can apply for these UPI-based cards—and also earn by helping others apply.

How it Works

1. Download the PickMyWork app
2. Sign-Up with Mobile Number (no investment)
3. Promote the right Credit Card – You will find it in the Credit Card Section
4. Earn incentives for each successful activation

Perfect for: gig workers, students, part-time earners, and anyone in Tier 2/3 cities.

UPI-based credit cards are the future of India’s payment ecosystem. They combine the simplicity of UPI with the power of credit rewards, and offer some of the best everyday savings for young, digital-first consumers.

Whether you want high cashback (Kiwi), safe, controlled usage (Rio), or bank-backed reliability (HDFC, Axis, ICICI) — there’s a perfect UPI credit card for every type of user.

Start exploring these cards now — and earn with PickMyWork by helping others discover them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I pay insurance premiums using a credit card in India?

Yes. Most insurers allow credit card payments for insurance premiums, either directly or via online portals.

2. Can I pay insurance premiums using a credit card in India?

Yes. Most insurers allow credit card payments for insurance premiums, either directly or via online portals.

3. Which credit card is best for LIC insurance payments?

IDFC FIRST LIC Credit Card and LIC Axis Bank Credit Cards are the best options for LIC premium payments.

4. Do insurance payments help in meeting milestone spends?

Yes, on select premium cards (especially HDFC, SBI, ICICI premium cards), insurance payments can count toward milestone or annual spend thresholds.

5. Are there extra charges for paying insurance via credit card?

Some insurers may charge a convenience fee (usually 0.5%–1.5%). Always check before paying.

6. Is it safe to pay insurance premiums using a credit card?

Yes, as long as you pay the full credit card bill on time. Revolving balances can attract high interest and negate any reward benefit.

7. Are insurance payments eligible for EMI conversion?

Yes, many cards allow EMI conversion for large insurance premiums, though interest or processing fees may apply.

8. What are the other Credit Cards options for me?

Check out all types of credit cards here –  Choose your credit card & fill your digital credit card application right away