What is Critical Illness Insurance?

Name: Critical Illness Health Insurance
Brand: HDFC ERGO
Rating: 4.4 (22662 reviews)

A critical illness diagnosis in itself is a big blow for even the strongest of us, it could be even more harrowing if you don’t have enough funds or savings to manage yourself and your family during such testing times. Stay prepared for such emergencies by staying a step ahead by investing in critical illness insurance. Critical illness insurance provides coverage for life-threatening medical conditions such as cancer, heart attack, kidney failure, paralysis, and more. It ensures that your savings remain intact if you are diagnosed with an illness requiring extensive treatment and a long recovery. Ideally, with critical illness insurance, you receive a lump sum payout upon the diagnosis of a covered illness, helping you manage expenses beyond just medical needs.

You can add critical illness coverage to your existing health insurance plan or purchase it separately. HDFC ERGO’s Critical Illness Insurance covers major critical illnesses at affordable premiums providing better coverage and assisting you during difficult times.

Features of Critical Illness Insurance Plans

Covers over 15 critical health conditions: A critical illness usually affects a major organ or part of body which can have a huge impact on your overall wellbeing, such as heart attack, kidney faliure, paralysis, brain tumour etc. Such illnesses can take a huge toll on your finances and the treatment can cost you a fortune. With HDFC ERGO’s Critical Illness Plan, you can safeguard yourself from 15 such critical illnesses and ensure financial support in times of need.
Tax benefits: A critical illness plan not only gives you financial support during hospitalisation and treatment, but it also helps you to save taxes and plan your savings. It provides tax benefits under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act 1961. With proper planning and choosing the right plans, you can save up to Rs 75000 with your critical health insurance plan.
Affordable premiums: While the cost of your hospital bills and treatments can be skyrocketing if you suffer from any kind of critical illness, you can secure your health and finances by getting critical illness coverage at affordable premiums for bigger coverage. You can choose from HDFC ERGO’s Critical Illness Plans and stay guarded against any such emergency.
Hassle free claim process: We ensure that one doesn’t have to run pillar to post amidst hospital visits and prolong treatment, so our claim processes are made simple and hassle free to help one avail the services at ease while getting treated and healing at peace.
Lump sum Payout: The most crucial feature of a critical illness insurance plan is the lump sum payout that you can claim if you are diagnosed with any of the critical illnesses mentioned in your plan. This amount comes in handy in a number of ways – covering part of your hospital bills, household expenses or other financial obligations.

Benefits of Critical Illness Insurance

Having critical illness insurance will give you an added advantage in securing your health and wellbeing. Here are some advantages of the same.

Provides coverage for life-threatening illnesses: Unlike your standard health insurance policy, critical illness policy will cover you for life-threatening diseases like cancer, brain tumor, kidney failure, paralysis, which might not fall under the umbrella of a standard health insurance policy. Paying a premium in time for a critical illness policy, you can rest assured of getting financial support during a medical emergency.
Provides tax benefits: A critical illness plan cover provides tax benefits under section 80D and also during the claims one receives a tax-free lump sum amount.
Provides a lump sum for treatment: The advantage of the critical illness policy is that it gives you a lump sum during the claim to manage various expenses other than your medical bills that can add up. You can choose from HDFC ERGO’s Critical Illness Plans and stay guarded against any such emergency at affordable premiums for wider coverage.
Provides easy access to claims: During the claim one will not need to provide bills and other documents as done during a claim for a standard health insurance policy. Only proof of the diagnosis of the illness can help.
Provides with less waiting period: A critical illness policy usually has a reduced waiting period and a claim can be placed as soon as the wait period is over.
Provides Financial Security During Crisis Times: If you are the sole breadwinner of the family and diagnosed with a major illness that has made life go off-track your financial security and that of your family can be compromised. But with the lump sum payout from your critical insurance plan, you can have peace of mind and ensure the up keep of yourself and your family.

Illnesses Covered under Critical Illness Insurance Plans


Covers Under Critical Illness Insurance	Platinum Plan	Silver Plan
Heart Attack
Multiple Sclerosis
Stroke
Cancer
Major Organ Transplantation
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Paralysis
Kidney failure
Aorta Graft Surgery
Primary Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Heart Valve Replacement
Parkinson's Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
End Stage Liver Disease
Benign Brain Tumour
	buy now	buy now

Save Tax with Critical Illness Insurance Policy

Dual Benefit

A critical illness health insurance policy not only covers your medical expenses but also offers tax benefits so that you can save upto ₹ 1 lac**** under Section 80D of Income Tax Act 1961. It plays an important role in planning your finances.

tax deduction on medical insurance premium paid

Tax deduction based on medical insurance premium paid

By getting yourself a critical illness cover, you can get a deduction of up to ₹ 25,000 per budgetary year for medical insurance premium under Section 80D of Income Tax Act 1961.

Deduction on preventive health check-ups

You can also claim tax benefits on preventive health check-ups annually under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act. You can claim up to ₹ 5,000 every budgetary year as expenses incurred for preventive health check-ups.

Deduction on medical insurance premium paid for parent

If you are paying the medical insurance premium for guardians, then you can also claim an additional deduction of up to ₹ 25,000 every budgetary year. If your parents or either of them is a senior citizen, then this limit can go up to ₹ 30,000.

Please note that the above-mentioned benefits are as per the current tax laws prevailing in the country. Your tax benefits may change subject to tax laws. It is advisable to reconfirm the same with your tax consultant. This is independent of your health insurance premium value.

Critical Illness Insurance Plan vs. Health Insurance Plan

Should you invest in critical illness insurance if you have health insurance? This question often comes to mind when we have to decide to invest in critical illness insurance. Well, one needs to understand that these two plans are different and come with their benefits. While health insurance ensures cashless hospitalisation and covers medical expenses and other related costs as mentioned in the plan, critical illness insurance provides a lump sum payout to help take care of expenses beyond hospitalisation. Moreover, a health insurance policy doesn’t cover all diseases and usually has a long waiting period for specific ones. On the other hand, critical illness insurance covers critical illnesses and provides financial security during recovery without breaking your bank balance.

Features	Health Insurance Plan	Critical Illness Insurance Plan
Coverage	It provides coverage for a variety of incidents like accidents, diseases, pre-existing diseases, etc.	Offers coverage for a limited number of serious diseases. The number of such illnesses covered depends upon the insurance company.
Benefits	Cashless treatments, additional coverage options, coverage for multiple family members, etc. are offered.	Once the policyholder is diagnosed with a specified critical illness, the coverage amount is paid.
Premium	It depends on the insurance company, coverage offered; members covered, and amount of sum insured of the policy.	Depends on the insurance company, the number of diseases covered, and sum assured of the policy.
Survival period	NA	This is the time period for which the policyholder must survive after the date of diagnosis. It ranges from 14 to 30 as per the policy.

For instance, imagine a person A who has taken a health insurance policy and has been paying his premium on time every year gets diagnosed with life-threatening diseases like cancer or kidney failure. His health insurance policy might not cover him for that particular disease. But if he had taken a critical illness policy in addition to his health insurance policy, he could claim a lump sum amount after the diagnosis of any life-threatening disease as mentioned in the policy.
So, both health insurance policies and critical illness policies provide a wide range of coverage and have their own benefits. Both are critical for one’s well-being and cannot undermine the importance of the other. It is better to have a comprehensive health insurance policy and a critical illness policy as a rider or a separate cover to avail of their benefits in time of need.

Understand Coverage Offered by Our Critical Illness Insurance

What’s Covered?
What’s Not Covered?

Financial Security

At the core of our critical illness insurance plans is your financial security. Your treatment will have little or no impact on your hard-earned savings as the insurance will take care of your expenses beyond the medical bills.

Quality medical treatment

You won’t have to worry about not being able to afford the medical expenses at quality hospitals. If your regular health insurance plan doesn’t include certain tests, or diagnostics that are an essential part of your treatment, you can use the sum insured to take care of those needs.

Free Look Period

We provide a free look period of 15 days starting from the date of receipt of the policy document. During this period you can go through the features and benefits of your critical illness insurance policy and check if it meets all your requirements or if you need to opt for any add-on features.

No Medical Check-ups

To avail of critical insurance cover you don’t have to undergo any medical tests. You can get this insurance cover to safeguard your finances at any time, especially if you have a history of critical illnesses in your family consider getting one sooner.

Tax Benefits of Critical Illness Insurance

Taking critical illness cover will also give you tax benefits and you can save tax up to ^^Rs. 50,000. Some savings are always a blessing.

Lifetime Renewability

Unlike any other health insurance policy, critical illness insurance provides lifetime renewability which means there isn’t any age restriction in renewing the policy. So you can be at ease after timely renewals knowing that your expenses will be taken care of in case of an emergency.

Adventure sport injuries

Adventure sports can be exciting, but if you meet with an accident, while participating in them, they can be hazardous. Our policy does not cover accidents encountered while participating in adventure sports.

Self-inflicted injuries

You might think of causing injury to yourself, but we don’t want you to get hurt. Our policy does not cover self-imposed injuries.

War

Wars are disastrous and unfortunate. However, our policy does not cover any claims that are caused due to wars.

Participation in defense operations

Our policy does not cover accidents while you are participating in defense (Army/Navy/Air Force) operations.

Sexually transmitted diseases

We do understand the critical nature of your disease. However, our policy does not cover venereal or sexually transmitted diseases.

Obesity or cosmetic surgery treatment

Treatment of obesity or cosmetic surgery is not eligible for coverage under your insurance policy.

Best Critical Illness Plans offered by HDFC ERGO

You can choose from the following 3 plans offered by HDFC ERGO

1

Silver Plan

This is a basic plan which gives coverage for eight major illnesses including Cancer, Heart attack, Kidney failure among others.

2

Gold Plan

This is an upgrade to the silver plan and provides coverage for eleven major life-threatening illness such paralysis, heart valve replacement and conditions included in the silver plan as well-being.

3

Platinum plan

This is the premium plan offered by HDFC ERGO where ^15 major illnesses are covered to ensure you stay financially secured and take your time to heal in the comforts of your home.

Factors To Consider Before Buying Critical Illness Insurance

1

No People Dependent On You

You need to be practical when you are thinking of getting critical illness insurance. Some of the things to consider are family structure, your present age and your dependents, especially old parents. If you have senior citizens and family as dependents, it can be assumed that you need extra coverage for sudden healthcare emergencies like heart attacks, cancer etc. A critical illness policy will be a safety net for your loved ones during uncertain times and not put a burden on your financial savings.

2

Your Current Health Situation

Your present health status may be an important deciding factor in whether you should buy a critical illness policy or not. People who are regular smokers, have high-stress jobs and are more at risk of health problems in the future. Also, if you have a family history of critical illnesses ensure you have a critical illness cover to safeguard your finances. Therefore, it is always advisable to start planning early so that there are fewer obstacles in the future while buying insurance. Hence opt for a critical illness policy that will offer you sufficient financial support and not affect the other financial commitments towards your family.

3

Choosing Your Sum Insured Responsibly

Having a critical illness cover is not just a plan that comes to rescue you during your tough times. It also ensures that you are investing in your health the right way and allocating funds to take care of your needs in the future. Remember that healthcare costs are constantly increasing and further inflation in the healthcare sector is bound to happen. So, decide on a sum insured that would adequately cover your expenses and that of your family, if a situation arises in the future.

4

Wider Coverage For Illnesses

Even though critical illness insurance might not be your primary health insurance plan, you need to choose it carefully. Hence before selecting a policy, read and know about the list of illnesses covered to know if most critical conditions will be covered by the insurer. Also, read the terms and conditions thoroughly to know the exclusions in the policy.

5

Adds Advantage to Your Health Insurance Policy

When selecting your critical illness insurance, make sure it balances your health insurance policy, so that you get maximum coverage at a reasonable price. Together, both policies should cover all aspects of health care so that your stress regarding healthcare is reduced.

5

Maximum age limit

A critical illness insurance can be bought for anyone in the age group of 5 to 65 years. The maximum entry age for a critical illness insurance policy is 65.

The Need For A Critical Illness Insurance

A critical illness policy is essential for several key reasons:

1

Financial Protection

Critical illnesses like cancer, heart attacks, and strokes can result in significant medical expenses, including treatments, hospital stays, and post-operative care. A critical illness policy provides a lump-sum payment that helps cover these costs without wiping off your savings.

2

Loss of Income

Suffering from a serious illness may require extended time off from work, leading to a loss of income. The policy payout can be used to replace lost earnings and manage ongoing living expenses like mortgage payments, utilities, and daily needs.

3

High Treatment Costs

Modern treatments for critical illnesses can be expensive, often not fully covered by basic health insurance policies. A critical illness policy helps bridge the gap, ensuring you can afford advanced treatments, medications, and specialist care.

4

Flexibility of Use

The payout from a critical illness policy can be used for various purposes beyond medical expenses, such as rehabilitation, travel for treatment, or lifestyle adjustments needed after diagnosis.

5

Peace of Mind

Knowing that you are financially prepared for an unexpected critical illness brings peace of mind, reducing stress during an already challenging time.

Who Should Buy Critical Illness Cover

People with high-pressure jobs

Critical illnesses have a high association with high-pressure jobs. Many studies have stated that people working in high-pressure work environments are at higher risk of having a critical illness. Hence, people having a job where they have a lot of pressure on them, should definitely buy a critical illness policy.

People over 40 years of age

Once you cross 40 years, you are more at risk to developing critical illnesses. It is practical to buy a critical illness insurance policy when you are in your late 30s. Moreover, people are most likely to be in a better financial position and can pay policy premium easily.

People with critical illness family history

People with family history of critical illness

There are critical illnesses that are hereditary. A person has maximum chances of developing a critical illness if it runs in their family. So, it is essential to take precaution in advance and therefore, people who have a history of critical illnesses in their family should definitely buy a critical illness insurance.

Also Read : Family medical history & impact on your health insurance

How To Buy Critical Illness Insurance

Buying critical illness insurance involves several steps to ensure that you get the right coverage for your needs. Follow these steps:

1. Consider Health Risks: Evaluate your family’s medical history and lifestyle. If you're at higher risk for conditions like heart disease or cancer, a critical illness policy can provide valuable protection.

2. Review Existing Coverage: Check if your existing health insurance includes critical illness coverage or if you need a separate policy.

3. Compare Policies Online: Decide on the lump-sum amount you want the policy to cover based on potential medical expenses and loss of income.

4. Covered Illnesses: Check the list of illnesses covered by the policy, as some insurers cover a wider range of critical illnesses, while others may focus on more common ones like cancer or heart disease.

5. Waiting and Survival Periods: Be aware of waiting periods (the time after buying the policy before coverage begins) and survival periods (how long you need to survive after being diagnosed to claim the benefit).

6. Compare premium costs: Compare premium costs across different insurers for similar coverage amounts and illnesses. Make sure it fits your budget.

7. Decide on type of plan: Decide whether to buy a standalone critical illness policy or add it as a rider to an existing life or health insurance plan.

8. Understand the Exclusions: Review the policy’s exclusions carefully. Pre-existing conditions, illnesses diagnosed within the waiting period, or self-inflicted injuries may not be covered.

9. Application Process: Fill out the application form online or download it from our website with accurate health information. You may need to undergo a medical examination. Provide necessary documents such as proof of identity, age, and income.

10. Premium Payment: Pay the premium to activate the policy. Most insurers offer flexible payment options (monthly, quarterly, or annually).

11. Review and Renewal: After purchasing the policy, keep reviewing it annually to ensure it still meets your needs. Make timely premium payments to avoid lapses in coverage.

Why Should You Buy a Critical Illness Cover Even If You Already Have a Mediclaim Plan?

A lot of people think that they do not require critical illness coverage if they already have a medical insurance policy. Most of them consider the mediclaim policy and critical illness coverage to be the same. However, in reality, they are two different policies, catering to different needs.

In critical illness policy, the benefit that will be allotted to you instead of the policy is a one-time lump sum payment. So it can be used at once or in a way you deem right either to meet the expenses of your household or other financial commitments. In an extreme situation, you can also use a part or full of your sum insured towards your treatment if your medical insurance is exhausted or doesn’t cover certain treatments. A critical illness policy is appropriate for situations where you will be required to pay a huge sum in a considerably shorter period for a disease that may not be covered by your health insurance.

Mediclaim policy covers an individual against the cost of pre and post-hospitalization even if it is for minor illness or injuries, as mentioned in the policy. But if the policyholder is diagnosed with any major disease which may require prolonged hospitalization and put pressure on one’s income and savings then a critical illness policy can be a life saviour. It provides for the cost of treatment, subsequent caretaking, loss of income and maintaining a lifestyle despite the challenges faced.

How to Make a Claim for your HDFC ERGO Critical Illness Health Insurance Policy

Cashless Claim
Reimbursement Claim

1

Intimate us

Fill up the pre-auth form at the network hospital for cashless approval

2

Approval/Rejection

Once hospital intimates us, we send you the status update

3

Hospitalisation

Hospitalisation can be done on the basis of pre-auth approval

4

Claim settlement

At the time of discharge, we settle the claim directly with hospital

We settle reimbursement claims within 6~* hours

1

Hospitalisation at non network hospital

You need to pay the bills initially and preserve the original invoices

2

Register a claim

Post hospital discharge send us all your invoices and treatment documents

3

Verification

We verify your claim related invoices and treatment documents

4

Claim Settlement

We send the approved claim amount to your bank account.

What are the Documents Required at the Time of Critical Illness Insurance Claim?

Following documents are needed for filing claims:

• ID Proof of the applicant

• Claim form (duly filled & signed)

• Copy of hospital summary, discharge papers, prescription, medical reference, etc.

• Copy of medical reports, records

• Doctor’s certificate

• Any other relevant document as requested by the Insurer

Should you buy an add-on rider or separate policy?

While buying a health insurance policy for critical illness weigh your options well. You can either choose to buy a stand-alone critical illness cover or opt for a rider option. A stand-alone policy provides comprehensive cover as compared to riders. However, an add-on rider too comes with its own advantages. There are two kinds of rider policy - A Comprehensive Critical Illness Rider and Accelerated Critical Illness Rider. In the Comprehensive Critical Illness Rider an additional cover amount is added, in addition to your term plan cover. If there is a claim, this amount will be paid, while keeping your base term insurance cover 100% intact. However, in an Accelerated Critical Illness Rider, a part of the base cover is paid as an advance from the base sum assured in case of a claim and the base insurance cover will be reduced by an equal amount. It is better to weigh your pros and cons and have a healthy discussion with your health advisor before investing in a rider or separate policy.

Health Insurance Reviews & Ratings

4.4/5 Stars

Our customers have rated us

View all 22,662 Reviews

DEVENDRA KUMAR

EASY HEALTH

5 June 2023

BENGALURU

Very nice services, keep it up. Best wishes to team members.

G GOVINDARAJULU

HDFC ERGO GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE

2 June 2023

COIMBATORE

My sincere thanks to your customer service executive Ms Meri who has helped me uploading the claims on your website.Her knowledgeable guidance was very helpful. Such help is very much appreciated for Senior Citizen like us. Thank you once again

RISHI PARASHAR

OPTIMA RESTORE

13 Sep 2022

DELHI

Excellent service, nothing to complain about. You are number one in terms of service. My uncle suggested me to purchase insurance from you and I am very happy

VASANT PATEL

MY:HEALTH SURAKSHA

12 Sep 2022

GUJARAT

I have a policy with HDFC and it has been a great experiense with HDFC team.

SHYAMAL GHOSH

OPTIMA RESTORE

10 Sep 2022

HARYANA

The excellent services have helped me feel mentally very secured and at peace while undergoing treatment for these life threatening disease. Looking forward to the same excellent service in the future as well.

Nelson

Optima Secure

10 Jun 2022

Gujarat

Thanks for calling me. The customer care executive was very articulate and systematic about various products of HDFC Ergo Health Insurance. It was great talking to her.

A V Rammurty

Optima Secure

26 May 2022

Mumbai

Thanks for calling me and explaining to me in great detail the various features of Optima Secure and Energy Health Insurance Policies. The customer service executive was very articulate, systematic, and knowledgeable about various products of HDFC Ergo Health Insurance. It was great talking to him.

Read Latest Critical Illness Insurance Blogs

Increasing sum assured for critical illness coverage

Can you increase the sum insured for your critical illness coverage during renewal?

Published on 09 October, 2024

Can a Critical Illness Claim Get Rejected?

Published on 07 October, 2024

How to Claim Critical Illness Insurance for Sudden Illnesses

Published on 20 September, 2024

Should You Get Critical Illness Cover If You Have Diabetes?

Published on 17 September, 2024

Everything You Need To Know About Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

Published on 27 August, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions Related to Critical Illness Insurance

1. What is a Critical Illness Insurance?

Critical Illness Insurance is a policy that pays out a lump sum amount upto the sum insured upon diagnosis of a critical illness covered under the policy.

2. How much critical illness benefit is required for an individual?

If god forbid you are diagnosed with a critical illness, the cost of treatment can weigh you down and if you are planning to buy a critical illness policy, you need to plan it right. Remember it might take some years for you to recover from a critical illness and you should be prepared to support yourself financially till then. So, to calculate how much critical benefit you need, you need to consider the following factors:

1. Your monthly expenses: If your monthly expenses are Rs 1 lakh a month, then in 5 years you will need at least Rs 60 lakhs
2. Your liabilities: If you are paying an EMI of suppose Rs 40,000 you will need to pay an amount of Rs 24 lakhs in 5 years
3. Other source of income: Suppose you make a decent 20k from a side hustle in the next 5 years, it can amount to Rs 12 lakh
4. Cost of the treatment: This could range from 25 to 35 lakhs for any kind of critical illness for a 5-year recovery period. Lets take this as Rs 25 lakhs.
5. Emergency funds: Funds that you have saved and can come in handy. Let’s say you have Rs 5 lakhs saved. Now add all these amounts and multiply them by 1.5, keeping the inflation rate in mind. The total amount will be the amount you need. So plan accordingly. Alternatively, you can use a critical illness insurance calculator or have a chat with your financial advisor.

3. Can I purchase a critical illness benefit once I am diagnosed with an illness?

Ideally, you get a lump sum assured in a critical illness policy after the first diagnosis. If you are already diagnosed with the illness, unfortunately, you won’t be able to avail yourself of the benefit of a critical care insurance policy.

4. What is a Benefit Policy?

Under a benefit policy on happening of an insured event, the insurance company pays the policyholder a lump sum amount.

5. What are the benefits under this policy?

The company will pay the sum insured as lump-sum on first diagnosis of any of the Critical Illnessess stated in the policy, provided that the insured person survives a period of 30 days from the date of the first diagnosis. The following Critical Illnesses are covered under our plan:- 1. Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) 2. Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery 3. Stroke 4. Cancer 5. Kidney Failure 6. Major Organ Transplantation 7. Multiple Sclerosis 8. Paralysis

6. What are the available plans under this critical illness policy?

You can choose from sum insured ranging from Rs. 5 lacs Rs. 7.5 lacs and Rs. 10 Lacs.

7. Is there any eligibility criteria for purchasing critical illness insurance?

Critical Illness policy covers individuals in the age group of 5 years to 65 years.

8. Do I need to undergo medical tests to enroll myself for critical illness cover?

No pre-policy medical check up is required for individuals upto 45 years.

9. What kind of documentation is required?

The best part of this policy is that you do not require to submit any documentation. Simply fill the details online and make payment via multiple secured payment modes. In case of a pre-existing disease, you might have to submit relevant medical documents.

10. Is there any tax exemption under the critical illness policy?

You can avail upto ^^Rs.50,000 as tax benefit under 'Section 80 D'.

11. What do you mean by pre-existing Diseases?

Any condition, ailment or injury or related condition(s) for which insured person had signs or symptoms and/or was diagnosed and/or received medical advice/treatment within 48 months prior to your first policy with the company is termed as pre-existing diseases.

12. What is meant by disease?

Disease means a pathological condition of a part, organ, or system resulting from various causes, such as infection, pathological process, or environmental stress, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms.

13. Can I make multiple claims for same or any other listed Critical illnesses?

No, you can make only one claim during the lifetime of the critical illness insurance.

14. Whom to contact in case of claim?

In case of a claim under the Policy, you should immediately intimate us on our helpline numbers. On receipt of the intimation, we would register the claim and assign a unique claim reference number which would be communicated to the Insured which may be used for all future correspondence.

15. What does Critical Illness mean in Insurance?

Critical Illness Insurance Plans refers to the coverage against Specified major medical illnesses or diseases. The management of these critical illnesses requires long term care. Apart from the hospitalization costs, there will be other expenses like doctor visit fees, other medical expenses, rehabilitation and much more. Under Critical Illness plan a lump sum amount i.e. the Sum Insured is paid, which can be used to cover these expenses. This lump sum amount is in addition to any of your indemnity health insurance policy.

16. What does a Critical Illness Plan cover?

The Policy pays the sum insured as lump-sum on first diagnosis of any of the Listed Critical Illnesses stated in the policy after a waiting period and provided that the insured person survives a period as specified in the policy from the date of the first diagnosis of the Critical illness.

The following 8 Critical Illnesses are covered under Silver plan of our Critical illness policy:- 1. Myocardial Infarction (First Heart Attack of specified severity) 2. Open Chest CABG 3. Stroke resulting in permanent symptoms 4. Cancer of specified severity 5. Kidney Failure requiring regular dialysis 6. Major Organ Transplantation 7. Multiple Sclerosis with Persisting Symptoms 8. Permanent Paralysis of Limbs

Platinum Plan covers a total of 15 critical illnesses. In addition to above mentioned illnesses, this plan covers:- 9. Surgery of Aorta 10. Primary (idiopathic) Pulmonary Hypertension 11. Open Heart Replacement or Repair of Heart Valves 12. Benign Brain Tumor 13. Parkinson’s disease 14. Alzheimer’s Disease 15. End Stage Liver Failure

17. What is the waiting period under this policy?

HDFC ERGO Critical Illness insurance policy has a waiting period of 90 days.

18. Is it worth getting Critical Illness insurance?

Critical Illness Insurance provides you and your family an additional financial security on diagnosis of a critical illness. The policy provides a lump sum amount which can be used for: costs of the care and treatment, recuperation aids, debts pay-off, any lost income due to a decreasing ability to earn and for a change in lifestyle.

19. What is the sum insured of Critical Illness insurance cover?

You can choose from sum insured ranging from Rs. 5 lacs, Rs. 7.5 lacs and Rs. 10 lacs.

20. Can I get Critical Illness cover after being diagnosed with cancer?

Critical Illness cover can be offered only to Individual with No past medical history of critical illness. For more information, read the policy document.

21. Can I take multiple claims under Critical Illness Cover for the same disease?

No, you can make only one claim during the lifetime of the critical illness insurance.

22. Is LASIK surgery covered under critical illness insurance?

LASIK surgery is typically not covered under critical illness insurance. Critical illness insurance is designed to provide financial protection against severe, life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other similar conditions. LASIK surgery, which is a corrective eye procedure for vision improvement, does not fall under the category of critical illnesses.

23. Why do we need critical illness cover?

Critical illness cover is important because it provides financial support when you are diagnosed with a serious, life-threatening illness. A severe illness may prevent you from working for months or even permanently, leading to a loss of income. The payout from a critical illness policy can act as income replacement, helping you cover daily living costs like rent, mortgage, and utility bills.