Critical Illness Cover Calculator
Find out how much critical illness insurance you need to protect against major health events.
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Your current monthly income
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Cancer: ₹10–50 lakh. Heart surgery: ₹5–15 lakh. Stroke: ₹5–20 lakh
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Covered by your existing health insurance
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Loans that must be paid even if you can't work
Common questions
What is critical illness insurance and how does it work?
Critical illness (CI) insurance pays a lump sum on diagnosis of a covered condition (cancer, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, etc.). Unlike health insurance which reimburses hospital bills, CI pays you directly. You decide how to use it: treatment, income replacement during recovery, lifestyle adaptation, loan repayment.
Is CI insurance separate from health insurance?
Yes, and ideally you should have both. Health insurance covers hospital bills. CI covers the income loss and non-hospital costs during recovery (physiotherapy, home care, modified diet, travel for treatment). They complement each other — CI fills gaps that health insurance doesn't.
What conditions are typically covered?
Standard CI policies cover 36 conditions including: cancer, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, major organ transplant, coronary bypass, MS, Parkinson's, and blindness. Higher-end policies cover 50–100+ conditions. Check the exact definitions carefully — "heart attack" may require specific medical evidence.
At what age should I buy critical illness insurance?
Buy early (30s) when premiums are low and health is good. A ₹25 lakh CI policy for a healthy 35-year-old costs ₹8,000–15,000/year. The same cover at 45 with a pre-existing condition could be ₹40,000–60,000/year or declined entirely. Don't wait.
Does CI insurance pay if the illness is pre-existing?
No. CI policies exclude pre-existing conditions, and most have a waiting period of 90 days to 3 years before any claim can be made. Some policies also have a survival period — you must survive for 30 days after diagnosis for the claim to be paid. Read policy terms carefully.