Despite living a pious and disciplined lifestyle, critical illnesses like cancer can harm any person’s body. While one is working hard to achieve their dreams, critical illnesses can yank one back and entirely throw his or her life out of gear.
The Global Burden of Disease Study indicates that 60 percent of people who breathe their last breath in India are suffering from some or the other critical illnesses[1].
To be able to pay for expensive treatment without depleting funds, a person and his family must have access to a critical illness (CI) health insurance policy, preferably with affordable premiums but a broad coverage. *
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The five illnesses that are commonly covered by most critical illness insurance cover in India are listed below:
- Cancer: According to the most recent statistics on cancer diagnoses in India from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), there were 11.57 lakh cases overall in 2018. This suggests an increase of more than 15% over the 10 lakh cases of cancer reported in 2012[1].
Cancer treatments are painful not only on physical, but also on emotional and financial levels. If the family’s primary provider is no more due to the condition, the pain can be even more unfathomable. Breast, oral, cervical, gastric, and lung cancers can be said to be the top five cancers affecting Indians today.
- Cardiovascular conditions: It was thought that between 15 and 20 percent of casualties in India were caused by heart disease and stroke[2]. The fact that these illnesses are the main causes of fatalities in India shouldn’t come as a surprise.
- Renal illnesses: The number of deaths attributable to CKD in India rose from 0.59 million in 1990 to 1.18 million in 2016(3). A 2018 estimate put the number of patients on chronic dialysis in India at about 175,000, giving a prevalence of 129 per million population[3].
Diabetes and high blood pressure are said to be two of the most prominent risk factors associated with the development of renal problems. The cost of dialysis amounts to thousands of rupees which might be expensive for a typical household of four.
- Cirrhosis of the liver: This is a condition that causes irreversible damage to the organ that results in scar tissue that cannot function normally. A liver transplant is the only treatment option available for affected patients. Cirrhosis of the liver can be caused by a number of risk factors, including fatty liver and heavy alcohol consumption.
- Lung diseases: India Tops World in Lung Disease Deaths[4]. COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is an incurable and progressive lung condition. It can destroy the air sacs responsible for extracting oxygen from the blood and expelling carbon dioxide from the body.
In 2017, COPD was the second leading cause of casualties in India, behind only cardiovascular diseases[5]. Long-term exposure to lung irritants and poisons in the environment leads to the development of COPD.
Critical illnesses such as COPD may never be entirely healed by treatment; all that can be accomplished is to stop the progression of the lung ailment.
Considering the high cost of treating critical diseases, investing in a critical illness insurance plan can be a prudent approach for a family to cover these costs without having to dip into their usual source of income. Many insurance providers offer critical illness insurance plans to suit the different needs of the customers. One may compare health insurance plans and use a critical illness insurance premium calculator to find the premium amount basis current need.
Kindly note that critical illness insurance may be very different from your regular health insurance policies.
Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.
