Health Insurance AQI: Many states across the country are facing the brunt of pollution. Since Diwali, the number of health insurance claims has increased by 14% due to rising pollution. Air pollution is the biggest contributor to this growing threat.
Health Insurance AQI: Today the entire world is facing the brunt of pollution. Children have to bear the brunt of pollution the most. A continuous increase in health insurance claims has been recorded in the period after Diwali. Due to the recent pollution, there has been a continuous increase in health insurance claims. In the year 2022, pollution related claims were 6.4%, which increased to 9% in 2025, i.e. there has been an increase of 14%. In September 2025 alone, about 9% of hospital admissions were related to pollution related diseases. These included problems like respiratory problems, heart problems, eye and skin allergies.
According to a report by Policybazaar, air pollution is impacting not only people’s health but also household budgets. The report found that approximately 43% of pollution-related health insurance claims involve children. This means children are the most affected group by this crisis. Meanwhile, the cost of treating respiratory and heart-related diseases has increased by 11% in the past year. It states that children are five times more affected than any other age group.
Delhi has the highest pollution level
Pollution-related illnesses now account for 8% of all hospitalization claims. Respiratory and heart-related issues are also contributing significantly to this increase. Delhi leads the country in terms of the number of such insurance claims, while Bengaluru and Hyderabad have a higher proportion of claims. Tier-2 cities like Jaipur, Lucknow, and Indore have also seen an increase in the number of cases. This shows that the impact of air pollution is spreading beyond the metropolises.
Pollution’s impact on children
Children under 10 years of age are bearing the brunt of pollution. This age group recorded 43% of claims, five times more than any other age group. Adults aged 31-40 accounted for 14% of claims, and those over 60 accounted for 7%. Data shows that young people and those who are more outdoors active are most directly impacted by poor air quality.
The report details how air pollution has transformed from an environmental crisis to a public health emergency. It found that the rise in pollution-related illnesses has also led to an 11 percent increase in treatment costs. The average health insurance claim related to air pollution was ₹55,000, while the average hospitalization cost was ₹19,000 per day.
