** Star Health and Allied Insurance STAU.NS drops 1% to 394.25 rupees; stock opened 5.8% lower at session-low
** STAU's Q4 profit plunges 72% as, per brokerages, higher commissions and claims paid led to 3x surge in underwriting loss
** Jefferies (rating: "hold") says higher claims led to Start Health's first operating loss in three years
** But Motilal Oswal (rating: "buy") says it remains optimistic on STAU's long-term prospects
** Analysts' avg rating is "buy", similar to industry peers, per data compiled by LSEG
** STAU's stock has fallen ~17% so far this year
(Reporting by Nandan Mandayam in Bengaluru)
((Nandan.Mandayam@thomsonreuters.com; Mobile: +91 9591011727;))
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