A regular health plan pays your hospital bills.
A critical illness plan pays you - a lump-sum amount on
diagnosis of serious diseases like cancer, stroke, or heart attack.
In 2025, treatment for major illnesses can exceed ₹10 - ₹25 lakh, and recovery may take months
of income loss.
Critical illness (CI) policies bridge that gap - giving you money upfront to pay for
treatment, EMIs, or even household expenses while you recover.
This guide lists India’s top CI plans for 2025 with coverage details, waiting periods, and
payout examples. Whether you’re a working professional, self-employed, or caregiver for
parents, these plans provide the financial cushion your health plan alone can’t.
What Is a Critical Illness Plan?
A specialized insurance that pays a fixed lump-sum (₹5L - ₹1Cr) if you’re diagnosed with any
of the covered major illnesses.
- No hospitalization proof needed.
- Payout is 100% of sum insured once diagnosis is confirmed.
- You can use it freely - treatment, rent, travel, EMIs, or recovery income.
Top Critical Illness Plans in India 2025
| Rank |
Insurer |
Plan Name |
No. of Diseases Covered |
Waiting Period |
Avg. Premium (₹10L) |
| 1 |
HDFC ERGO |
Critical Illness Platinum |
15 |
90 days |
₹3,500 |
| 2 |
Aditya Birla |
Activ Secure Critical Illness |
64 |
90 days |
₹3,800 |
| 3 |
Niva Bupa |
CritiCare |
36 |
90 days |
₹3,900 |
| 4 |
Care Health |
Care Critical Mediclaim |
32 |
90 days |
₹3,700 |
| 5 |
ICICI Lombard |
Complete Health - CI Add-on |
25 |
90 days |
₹3,600 |
| 6 |
Star Health |
Critical Illness Multipay |
9 (multi-claim) |
90 days |
₹4,000 |
Compare Critical Illness Plans →
Major Diseases Typically Covered 2025
- Cancer (any major type)
- Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
- Stroke / Paralysis
- Kidney Failure
- Liver Failure / Organ Transplant
- Major Burns
- Multiple Sclerosis / Parkinson’s
- Alzheimer’s / Dementia (advanced)
- Coronary Artery Bypass
- Coma / Loss of Speech / Blindness
How Critical Illness Plans Work
- Diagnosis confirmed by specialist doctor.
- Submit claim form and medical reports.
- Lump-sum payout credited within 7 - 15 days.
- Continue your existing health policy separately for hospitalization.
CI vs Health Insurance (Key Difference)
| Feature |
Health Insurance |
Critical Illness Plan |
| Claim Basis |
Hospital bills |
Diagnosis certificate |
| Payout Type |
Actual expenses |
Lump-sum fixed amount |
| No. of Claims |
Multiple per year |
Usually once (few multi-claim) |
| Coverage |
All illnesses |
Specific listed illnesses |
| Use of Funds |
Hospital bills only |
Any purpose |
Real-Life Example (₹10L CI Cover)
Ravi (35) suffers a minor heart attack.
- Health plan pays ₹3L hospitalization.
- Critical Illness plan pays ₹10L lump-sum within 10 days.
He uses ₹4L for treatment, ₹6L to cover EMIs & recovery leave.
Cost Snapshot 2025
| Age |
₹10L Cover |
₹25L Cover |
₹50L Cover |
| 25 yrs |
₹3,200 |
₹5,900 |
₹9,800 |
| 35 yrs |
₹3,800 |
₹7,100 |
₹11,500 |
| 45 yrs |
₹5,600 |
₹9,900 |
₹15,500 |
| 55 yrs |
₹8,200 |
₹14,800 |
₹22,000 |
Who Should Buy a Critical Illness Plan?
- Working professionals (income protection)
- Self-employed with no paid sick leave
- Families with a history of heart or cancer disease
- Senior citizens without high mediclaim limits
- Parents above 50 (as supplement to health plan)
Calculate Your Ideal CI Cover →
Buying Checklist for 2025
- Choose coverage ≥ 3× annual income.
- Check the list of covered illnesses carefully.
- Verify waiting period (≤ 90 days).
- Look for multi-claim or recurrence cover options.
- Ensure lifetime renewability.
- Combine with base health plan or term insurance rider.
Local Insights (Hyderabad)
- Most claimed illnesses: Heart Attack, Cancer.
- Avg. claim payout time: 21 days.
- Common coverage chosen: ₹25L.
- Top network hospitals managing CI cases: Apex Heart Institute, LifeCare
Oncology Centre, City Multispeciality Hospital.
FAQs
How is CI different from mediclaim?
Mediclaim covers hospital bills; CI pays lump-sum on diagnosis.
How many illnesses are covered?
Ranges from 9 to 64, depending on insurer.
Can I claim from both CI and mediclaim?
Yes, they are independent policies.
Is medical test required?
Usually for cover > ₹25L or age > 45.
What’s the waiting period?
90 days from policy start, 30 - day survival clause post-diagnosis.
Are pre-existing diseases covered?
Only if disclosed and accepted by insurer after waiting.
Is CI payout taxable?
No - exempt under Section 10(10D).
Can I make multiple claims?
Only in multi-claim variants like Star Multipay or Birla Activ Secure.
Can I add CI as a rider to term insurance?
Yes - cheaper but lower coverage; standalone gives higher sum insured.
Which CI plan offers widest disease list in 2025?
Aditya Birla Activ Secure (64 diseases).
Customer Reviews
- “Critical illness payout saved us during my father’s bypass surgery.” - Ravi
Menon
- “Loved the lump-sum payout; quick approval.” - Sneha Iyer
- “PolicyBachat tool helped compare 9 vs 64-disease covers.” - Vikram Desai
- “Worth adding along with my base health plan.” - Kavya Sharma
- “Aditya Birla plan covered second claim for cancer recurrence.” - Rajesh
Rao
- “Transparent and simple explanation - very useful.” - Meera Nair
Buy Critical Illness Policy Online →
PolicyBachat Advantage
- Compare 20+ critical illness plans instantly.
- See diseases covered and waiting periods.
- Combine with base health plan or term rider.
- Instant quote and e-policy download.
- Free Claim Assist for payout guidance.
PolicyBachat Tip
Your health plan pays the hospital. Your critical illness plan pays you. Keep both - that’s real financial protection.
Tax Benefits (Section 80D & 10(10D))
- Premium deduction under 80D (₹25k - ₹75k).
- Lump-sum payout fully exempt under 10(10D).