Critical Illness Cover Need

Calculate the right critical illness insurance cover. Accounts for treatment costs, income loss during recovery, and EMI obligations for cancer, heart attack, and stroke.

Critical Illness Cover Calculator

Treatment cost + income loss + EMIs during recovery — right CI cover

Annual income Rs 8L
Rs 2LRs 50L
Rs
Expected treatment cost Rs 5L
Rs 1LRs 30L
Rs
Total monthly loan EMIs Rs 20,000
Rs 0Rs 2L
Rs
Recovery period 12 months
3 mo24 mo
mo
Current age 35 yrs
1860
yrs
Recommended CI cover
---
minimum Rs 20 lakh
Total financial need
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treatment + income + EMIs
Est. annual premium
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indicative estimate
Treatment cost---
Income loss during recovery---
EMI obligations during recovery---
Total financial impact---
Recommended CI cover---
Estimated annual premium---
Treatment vs income loss vs EMIs
Treatment: ---
Income + EMIs: ---

CI cover pays lump sum on diagnosis. Minimum recommended cover is Rs 20 lakh regardless of calculation result. Consult advisor for exact need.

CI cover need by recovery duration
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ThriftRupee Insight

Critical illness insurance pays a lump sum on diagnosis — not just hospitalisation. Cancer treatment in India costs Rs 5–20 lakh; a heart bypass is Rs 3–6 lakh; kidney dialysis runs Rs 3–5 lakh per year. The bigger financial risk is income loss during 6–18 months of treatment and recovery. A CI cover of Rs 20–25 lakh should cover treatment + 12 months of income replacement.

Critical Illness Insurance — Why Treatment Cost Is Only Half the Story

Critical illness insurance pays a lump sum on diagnosis of covered conditions like cancer, heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure. Unlike health insurance which reimburses hospitalisation bills, CI insurance addresses the full financial impact — including months of lost income, ongoing loan EMIs, post-hospital rehabilitation, dietary changes, and other costs that a regular health plan doesn't cover.

Frequently asked questions

What does critical illness insurance cover?
Most CI plans cover 20–64 critical illnesses including cancer (all stages in comprehensive plans), first heart attack, coronary artery bypass graft, kidney failure, stroke, major organ transplant, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, and more. The sum assured is paid as a lump sum on diagnosis (after a 30-day survival period), regardless of actual treatment cost.
Is critical illness cover separate from health insurance?
Yes. Health insurance reimburses hospitalisation bills. CI insurance pays a pre-decided lump sum on diagnosis of a covered illness. They serve different purposes — health insurance covers the hospital bill; CI cover replaces lost income and handles non-hospitalisation costs like chemotherapy, rehab, lifestyle changes, and loan EMIs during recovery.
At what age should I buy critical illness insurance?
Buy between age 25–40 when premiums are lowest and health underwriting is easiest. CI premiums are 3–5× higher at 50 than at 30. Most CI plans exclude pre-existing conditions and have waiting periods (usually 90 days for new plans, 2–4 years for specific conditions). Buying young locks in lower premiums and better coverage terms.