Why Health Insurance is Important in India In India, people often say “health is wealth.” But when a medical emergency strikes, most families realise how fragile their financial health actually is. Medical costs in our country are rising faster than our incomes, and one sudden hospitalisation can wipe out years of savings. This is why health insurance is not a luxury anymore — it is a necessity.   Banner Title Lorem Ipsum is simply dumy text of the printing typesetting industry lorem ipsum. Click here A Common Story in Every Household Imagine a middle-class family in Bengaluru. The father, 45 years old, suffers a sudden heart attack. The family rushes him to the hospital. Doctors save his life, but the bill crosses ₹6 lakhs in just a week. The family had no health insurance. To pay, they break fixed deposits, sell gold, and even borrow from relatives. Financially, they are shaken for years. Now, take the same family with a good health insurance plan of ₹10 lakhs. The hospital bill would be taken care of by the insurer. The family could focus only on the father’s recovery, not on arranging money at midnight. This is the difference health insurance makes. Sadly, in India, the first story is far more common than the second. Rising Medical Costs – A Harsh Reality In private hospitals, a simple appendix surgery can cost ₹70,000 to ₹1 lakh. Cancer treatment can easily cross ₹10–15 lakhs. Even a few days of ICU stay with ventilator support can cost ₹50,000 per day. According to surveys, over 60% of hospital expenses in India are paid from people’s own pockets. This is one of the biggest reasons for families falling into debt or poverty. Why Do Indians Avoid Health Insurance? There are some common beliefs: “I am young and healthy, why should I take it now?” – But accidents and sudden illnesses don’t come with a warning. “It is a waste if I don’t get admitted.” – In reality, not using insurance is a blessing. We don’t regret not claiming car insurance every year, do we? “Government hospitals are enough.” – Truth is, quality private healthcare is what people turn to in emergencies, and that is very expensive. How Health Insurance Works in Simple Words You pay a yearly premium to the insurance company, let’s say ₹15,000 for a cover of ₹5 lakhs. If you are hospitalised, the insurer pays the bill up to ₹5 lakhs. If you are healthy and don’t use it, your money is not wasted — you have bought peace of mind, and many policies give bonuses for claim-free years. In short: small yearly cost vs. massive unexpected bill. Real Examples We See Around Us During COVID-19, many families without insurance spent ₹3–5 lakhs on hospital bills within 10 days. Some even mortgaged property. A friend of mine once told me how his father’s cataract surgery cost ₹80,000 in a private hospital. Luckily, their insurance covered it fully. He said, “We realised that we should have taken a bigger cover earlier itself.” The Way Forward for Indians Start early, because premiums are cheaper when you are young. Choose a family floater so everyone is protected. Don’t just look at the cheapest policy — look at hospitals covered, claim settlement record, and features like critical illness cover. Increase your cover as medical costs rise. Final Thought Health insurance in India is not just about saving money, it is about saving dignity. It spares families from begging relatives, selling assets, or depending on charity during the toughest times of their lives. The question is not “Can I afford health insurance?” — the real question is “Can I afford to be without it?”