Pollution-linked health insurance claims in India have risen about 4.3 times over the past three years, with Delhi recording the highest number of such claims, data released by Policybazaar showed. Total claim payouts rose 4.5 times to ₹241.6 crore, while the average claim amount stood at ₹62,662, pointing to a sharp increase in both the volume and cost of pollution-related treatment.
Working professionals aged 31 to 55 accounted for 59% of the claims, and senior citizens accounted for 31%, together making up nearly 90% of pollution-related claims. Young adults between 21 and 30 filed 6.7% of claims, while people below 20 accounted for 3.7%, the smallest share in the age-wise break-up.
Cardiovascular and respiratory ailments accounted for 78% of the total claims. Cardiovascular conditions had the largest share at 43.5%, followed by respiratory infections at 35%. Pneumonia accounted for 11.2% of claims and bronchitis for 6%, Policybazaar’s data showed.
Delhi reported 8,093 pollution-linked claims, the highest among cities. Pune ranked second, followed by Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad. Policybazaar said the claims were not confined to major urban centres: tier-2 and tier-3 cities together accounted for 55% of the total, indicating that pollution-related health costs are spread well beyond the largest metros.
The data also showed a seasonal concentration in pollution-related health claims. October to March, when air quality typically worsens in several parts of India, especially during winter, accounted for nearly 56% of annual pollution-linked claims in FY26. Insurers recorded the highest number of claims during these six months, Policybazaar said.