Beyond Hospitalisation: Comprehensive Financial Protection For Critical Illnesses

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.

About SBI General Insurance

SBI General Insurance, one of the fastest-growing private general insurance firms, backed by the robust support of SBI, upholds a legacy of trust and security. We position ourselves as India's most trusted general insurer amidst a dynamic landscape. Since our establishment in 2009, our expansion has been substantial, growing from 17 branches in 2011 to a nationwide presence in 146 branches. In FY 2024-25, SBI General Insurance reported a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of INR 14,140 crores, recording a YOY growth of 11.1%.

The company received numerous prestigious accolades, showcasing its excellence across various domains. Key honors include being named as the Domestic General Insurer of the Year – India and Claims Initiative of the Year – India at Insurance Asia Awards 2025 Singapore, Large General Insurance category at the Mint BFSI Summit & Awards, the 3rd InsureNext Awards 2024 for Best Claims Settlement, and India’s Best General Insurer of the Year at the 7th Insurance Conclave Awards. At the India Insurance Summit & Awards 2024, the company secured titles for General Insurance Company of the Year and Leading Implementer of Analytics Technology in Insurance. Additionally, it was honored as the Best BFSI Brand at the ET NOW Best BFSI Brands Conclave 2024 and included in BW BusinessWorld’s India’s Most Respected Companies. Certified as a Great Place to Work in 2024, the company also excelled at the ETBFSI Exceller Awards 2024 with recognition for Best Claims Management in Insurance and Best CSR Campaign of the Year, further highlighting its commitment to social responsibility and innovation.

With a team of over 9,000+ employees and our multi-distribution model covering Bancassurance, Agency, OEM, Broking, Retail Direct Channels, and Digital collaborations, we are committed to providing both Suraksha and Bharosa to all our consumers. Leveraging a vast network that includes over 22000+ SBI branches, plus agents, financial alliances, OEMs, and digital partners, we extend our services to even the most remote areas of India. Our offerings cater to Retail, Corporate, SME and Rural segments, and our diverse product portfolio ensures accessibility through both digital and physical channels.