Summary: India is seeing a sharp rise in heart disease cases, especially among people aged between 30 and 40 years. Treatment costs, which include hospitalisation, surgery and long-term care, can exceed up to ₹7 or above in private hospitals. Beyond medical expenses, patients also face hidden costs, such as lost salary, accommodation, travel expenses, household bills, and lifestyle modifications. Health insurance provides immediate and long-term relief from these costs.
Table of Contents
Introduction
What was an ailment of the elderly has turned into a threat affecting millions of people in their thirties. Heart disease remains the top critical illness today. In June 2025, cardiac medication sales in India reached ₹2,645 crores, representing a 50% increase since 2020. While most of the cardiovascular diseases can be managed with timely diagnosis and advanced medical treatments, the financial burden can drain your life savings even before recovery.
However, a health insurance plan with critical illness coverage can support you and your loved ones during medical emergencies. It adds an important layer of financial security by offering a lump-sum payout for major cardiac events.
Heart Diseases are Rising in India – Statistics and Reasons
Every year, cardiovascular diseases claim over 17.9 million lives globally, with India bearing a disproportionate burden. What makes this worse is that Indians develop heart problems at a younger age. In fact, about a quarter of heart attacks occur before the age of 40. There is also an unprecedented number of cardiac arrests among children, teenagers and physically active people.
One major contributing factor is Indian’s unique lipid pattern – high bad cholesterol level, low good cholesterol and moderately high internal inflammation compared to other demographics.
Highly processed food consumption, South Asian genetics, air pollution, long working hours, desk jobs, lack of physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption, chronic stress and anxiety are other common triggers.
This mix of habits, environmental changes and genetics has made heart disease common in India.
What’s the True Cost of Heart Disease in India?
Heart disease drains life savings and creates never-anticipated expenses. Here are both direct and indirect costs of heart disease:
- Pre-surgery tests and scans: ₹10,000 to ₹30,000
- Heart bypass: ₹2 lakh to ₹6 lakh
- Angioplasty: ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh
- Aortic and mitral valve replacement: ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh
- Heart transplant: ₹21 lakh to ₹31 lakh
- Post-surgery care, medication and monitoring: ₹20,000 to ₹50,000
- ICU and special care rooms: ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakhs, depending on the hospital
There are hidden costs like loss of income during recovery, post-surgery rehabilitation therapy that can go on for months, travel and stay for treatment, emotional stress and lifestyle upgrades, which can add another ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per month.
These long-term costs make heart disease a financial emergency, affecting your monthly budget and expenses.
How a Health Insurance Coverage Safeguards You?
A reliable health insurance plan offers the much-needed financial support during cardiac emergencies, giving you assurance, hope and peace of mind. Here’s how it helps:
- Offers Comprehensive Hospitalisation Coverage
A good health insurance covers all hospitalisation costs, including ambulance fees, room charges, ICU charges, surgery costs and nursing expenses. This eliminates the immediate financial shock when you require urgent cardiac treatment.
- Pays a Lump Sum with a Critical Illness Insurance Plan
Under a critical illness insurance plan, the insurance provider pays the sum insured as a lump sum amount on the first diagnosis of any heart disease stated in the policy. The amount can be used for various purposes beyond medical expenses, such as rehabilitation, travel, rent, education, household bills, caretaker salary, or lifestyle adjustments.
- Covers Pre-and Post-Hospitalisation Procedures
Health insurance policies also cover diagnostic tests, consultations, and medications for 30 to 60 days before admission and 60 to 180 days post-discharge, further reducing your out-of-pocket expenses.
- Covers Daycare Procedures
Some angioplasty cases do not require overnight hospitalisation. A comprehensive health insurance policy can help cover all daycare procedures, making advanced cardiac treatments more accessible without traditional admission requirements.
- Includes Home Care Treatments
In case hospital beds are not available, and the cardiologist approves treatment from home, present medical insurance policies cover home healthcare as well.
- Offers Tax Advantages
Health insurance premiums also qualify for tax deductions of up to ₹25,000 per year under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961. You can also claim tax benefits of up to ₹5,000 on preventive health checkups annually.
- Provides Cashless Treatments Across India
Many health insurance policies offer cashless treatments at network hospitals across India. You needn’t worry about paying bills upfront or arranging money in the middle of an emergency. The insurer settles the bill directly with the hospital.
Conclusion
Heart disease can affect anyone, regardless of age, income, social status, or gender. What’s more concerning is that most cardiac emergencies have no significant warning signs. They happen in a moment. And the financial shock is often worse. Therefore, having a reliable health insurance plan provides financial support and ensures peace of mind.
When selecting a policy, consider the policy benefits, waiting period, claim settlement ratio, and existing medical conditions.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
