Insurance experts warn of rising pollution claims and weak coverage

As pollution levels rise across many Indian cities, health insurance companies are reporting a clear increase in claims for breathing and lung-related illnesses.

On CNBC-TV18’s Let’s Talk Money, Sanjiv Bajaj of Bajaj Capital, Priya Deshmukh of ICICI Lombard, and Amit Chhabra of Policybazaar explained why families must re-evaluate their health cover now.

Amit Chhabra said their data shows a 15% rise in pollution-linked claims, especially after the Diwali period. What is worrying is that children under 10 years account for almost 43% of these claims, as they are more sensitive to bad air. He also noted that this trend is no longer limited to Delhi; cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad and even Bengaluru are seeing more such cases.

Sanjiv Bajaj said the bigger issue is under-insurance. Medical co