Pollution-linked health insurance claims in India increased 4.34 times to 38,554 in FY2026, compared with 8,875 in FY2023, according to data from Policybazaar. The total claim payout also rose 4.5 times to ₹241.6 crore, while the average claim amount reached ₹62,662. Cardiovascular conditions accounted for 43.5% of pollution-associated claims, followed by respiratory infections at 35%, pneumonia at 11.2% and bronchitis at 6%. Working professionals aged 31–55 accounted for 59% of claims, while those aged 55 and above contributed another 31%.
The data suggests that pollution is increasingly becoming a health and insurance-risk issue extending beyond respiratory diseases and major metropolitan areas. Delhi recorded the highest number of claims at 8,093, followed by Pune, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad, while Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities together accounted for 55% of claims. Claims were also concentrated between October and March, which represented 56% of FY2026 claims. For insurers, the trend could have implications for health-risk assessment, product design, pricing and claims management, while the fact that 48% of consumers in highly polluted cities opted for higher health insurance coverage points to rising consumer awareness of the financial impact of pollution-related health risks.
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