Bangalore : India is facing a significant rise in critical, non‑communicable diseases. Diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes together account for nearly 63% of all deaths nationwide. The treatment costs for these illnesses are often substantial, ranging from several lakh rupees for surgeries to even higher amounts for long-term therapies like chemotherapy or organ transplants.

In line with this, the Union Budget 2026–27 underscores the government’s focus on addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, recognising that their impact extends beyond hospitalisation alone. While traditional health insurance largely covers treatment costs, it often falls short in addressing income loss, rehabilitation, and lifestyle adjustments linked to critical illnesses. This underscores the role of critical illness insurance as a vital add-on, providing families with financial support to manage the wider, long-term consequences of serious health conditions.

Critical illness insurance helps families navigate the financial and practical challenges that arise from serious health conditions. It complements regular health coverage, offering protection against the broader impact of critical illnesses.

Key Features of Critical Health Insurance:

  • Lump Sum Payment: Upon diagnosis of a covered critical illness, a critical illness policy provides a predetermined lump sum amount. This helps families manage not only medical treatment and hospitalisation costs but also recovery-related expenses, travel, or any urgent financial needs without added stress.
  • Comprehensive Coverage: Critical illness insurance covers a broad spectrum of serious conditions, including cancer, heart attack, stroke, Coma, and other life-threatening diseases. It ensures financial protection even for high-cost treatments that standard health insurance may not fully cover.
  • Flexible Use of Payout: The insurance payout is not restricted to medical expenses alone. Families can use it for household costs, daily living adjustments, rehabilitation, debt repayment, or any financial requirement that arises during the patient’s recovery period.
  • Vital Add-on: Critical illness cover can often be added as an add-on  to an existing health insurance policy. This allows individuals to enhance their protection against serious diseases, providing additional peace of mind and financial security.

The rising incidence of critical illnesses such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, and multiple sclerosis has created not just health challenges but also significant financial pressures for families. To help manage these challenges, SBI General Insurance offers Critical Illness insurance, providing financial support for treatment, recovery, and related expenses. By planning with the right protection, families can navigate difficult times with greater confidence and peace of mind.

SBI General’s Critical Illness Policy offers comprehensive coverage major critical illnesses, providing financial protection to manage high treatment and associated costs. Designed to be affordable, it balances robust coverage with cost-effective premiums, while a simple claims process with cashless and reimbursement options ensures timely access to funds and reduces stress during treatment.