Do you know that in India, kidney transplantation can cost Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh? Even many people are battling for their lives to afford such expensive treatments.
In this scenario, having a critical illness cover can facilitate financial relief in a crisis without depleting your debt. Understand why critical illness cover is essential in the present health insurance.
Why is Critical Illness Cover Essential in Today’s Health Insurance Plan?
Critical illness insurance cover includes chronic disease treatment and specialist visits to minimise out-of-pocket expenses. For example, you may receive treatment expenses for a family member’s long-term health conditions, like diabetes, asthma, cancer or arthritis.
- Increasing Incidence of Critical Diseases
Currently, India reports the highest cancer burden in the world, 1.57 million cancer cases in 2025. Even the growing incidence accounted for 75,000 lung cancer cases per year. Moreover, Diabetes is becoming another serious health issue in India. Currently, around 101 million people are diagnosed, and 136 million are pre-diabetic.
This alarming rise in diabetes multiplies health complications, such as kidney, liver, and cardiovascular disorders. To deal with life-threatening illnesses, critical illness cover provides financial and clinical protection, like cashless treatment.
- Cashless Treatment
Hospital bills for treating any critical illness can add stress to your daily life. If you buy a critical illness cover, diagnosis and treatment expenses are covered under the policy conditions. Therefore, to avail a cashless treatment and a hassle-free payment of hospital bills, you need to choose a network hospital of the insurer.
- Unique Coverage
Critical illness insurance provides financial assistance for serious illnesses requiring long recovery and extensive treatment. A single sum insured of Rs. 5–25 lakh can cover hospital payments, doctor fees, and diagnostic charges for the entire family. This makes it an excellent complement to health insurance plans for family , offering comprehensive protection.
A single policy with a sum insured of Rs. 5-25 lakh covers hospital payments, doctor fees, and diagnostic charges for the entire family.
- Expensive Treatments Become Affordable
Buy critical illness cover to receive cashless treatment with no out-of-pocket costs. A critical illness cover allows the policyholder to perform expensive treatments without stressing about medical bills.
For instance, critical care insurance covers the expenses of life-long conditions like paralysis, coma and any surgery or organ transplants with flexible premium options. The insurance company directly settles hospital bills for the treatment.
- Additional Healthcare Services
Critical illness cover provides additional service benefits like ambulance charges, nursing and doctor fees, and hassle-free, quick claim settlement commitments. It provides 24*7 telehealth services for customers. Therefore, you can contact them at any time to get solutions to queries and ensure seamless experiences.
What Types of Critical Illnesses are Covered?
Critical care illness insurance covers brain, nerve and organ disorders, including heart-related diseases and cancer. The following list of critical illnesses is generally covered under any critical care insurance:
- Bone Marrow Transplantation
- Cancer
- Anaemia
- Open Chest CABG
- Aorta Surgery
- Myocardial Infarction
- Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
- Open Heart Repair or Replacement
- Heart Transplantation
- Coronary Artery Diseases
- Coma (Specific Severity)
- Stroke
- Paralysis
- Benign Brain Tumour
- Neuron Diseases
- Sclerosis
- Speech Loss
- Alzheimer
- Head Trauma
- Deafness
What are the 5 Key Features of Critical Illness Plans?
- Sum Insured
Choose a plan with a substantial sum insured that has extensive coverage for healthcare expenses. For example, critical illness cover includes a maximum of Rs. 25 lakh sum insured with an instalment mode of premium payments.
- Waiting Period
The most important feature to consider is the waiting period to buy critical illness cover. A few policies cover a 90-day waiting period from the plan commencement before the first diagnosis of a major disease.
However, policyholders can claim for another major illness treatment after 12 months from the first diagnosis.
- Per-Existing Disease
You must declare your or a family member’s pre-existing health issues while applying for the policy. It is important to know pre-existing diseases because they affect your premium rate and eligibility.
Few policies do not include coverage for pre-existing diseases, so check properly before buying one.
- Limitations:
Opt for a policy with no co-payments, sub-limits and choose riders for alternative treatments to minimise your out-of-pocket expenses. For example, a few critical illnesses cover limits accidental and child-birth coverage and do not allow critical illness rider options.
- Well-being Services
Opt for a critical care insurance that initiates wellness programs and mental well-being services. For example, many policies cover counselling, therapy sessions and stress management assistance that benefits particular families who may have financial difficulties accessing such sessions.
Final Words
Due to old age and hereditary reasons, the risk of contracting chronic illnesses is increasing. In this situation, having critical illness cover helps individuals to remain stress-free and focused on illness treatment rather than worrying about finances.
