Health insurance claims linked to pollution in India have surged 4.34 times over the past three years, according to new data from Policybazaar. The findings demonstrate that pollution-related complications are increasingly contributing to heavy healthcare demands beyond conventional respiratory illnesses.
The analysis, based on a sample size of 50,000 cases, found that cardiovascular conditions accounted for the largest share at 43.5 percent. Other respiratory infections contributed 35 percent, pneumonia accounted for 11.2 percent, and bronchitis represented 6 percent of pollution-associated insurance claims.
The data reveals that working professionals bear the brunt of the crisis. Individuals aged between 31 and 55 accounted for 59 percent of claims, while senior citizens aged 55 and older made up 31 percent. Young adults aged 21 to 30 and children under 20 represented 6.7 percent and 3.7 percent respectively.
Financial commitments have expanded alongside hospital admissions. Total claim payouts jumped 4.5 times between fiscal years 2023 and 2026, with the average claim amount standing at 62,662 rupees, according to Policybazaar.
While Delhi recorded the highest number of cases, followed by Pune, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, Tier-2 and Tier-3 urban centres collectively accounted for 55 percent of all pollution-related claims.
Rohan Goel, Business Head of Health Insurance at Policybazaar, stated that rising pollution levels are directly reflected in healthcare burdens, noting that 48 percent of consumers in polluted cities now seek higher insurance coverage.
Seasonality remains a major factor, with 56 percent of annual claims in fiscal year 2026 recorded between October and March during peak winter air pollution.
Source: Moneycontrol
🌐
