Critical Illness Insurance Calculator
Calculate premium for a lump-sum critical illness plan covering 36 standard illnesses, plus Section 80D tax savings.
Policy Details
Your Critical Illness Cover
Annual Premium (incl. GST)
₹5,605
Monthly: ₹467 — covers 36 illnesses
Lump-sum Payout
₹25.00 L
Total Premiums
₹1.40 L
80D Eligible
₹5,605
Tax Saved/yr
₹1,682
What's typically covered
Standard 36-illness CI plans in India cover:
Survival period (usually 14-30 days post-diagnosis) must be cleared before payout. Policy terminates after a single claim — so re-buy fresh cover if possible.
Why your health policy isn't enough
A regular health insurance policy reimburses hospitalisation bills — nothing else. But a cancer diagnosis or heart attack brings non-medical costs that dwarf the hospital bill: 2-5 years of lost income, home nursing, special diet, travel for treatment, and home modifications. A critical illness (CI) plan pays a lump sum on diagnosis that you can spend freely.
How much CI cover do you need?
Rule of thumb: 2-3× your annual income, or a minimum of ₹25 lakh. A 35-year-old earning ₹18 lakh/year should aim for ₹50 lakh CI cover. This funds 3-5 years of income replacement during treatment and recovery plus out-of-pocket medical costs not reimbursed by health insurance.
Standard 36 illnesses covered
IRDAI's standardised CI definition (2024) includes cancer (specified severity), heart attack (first), open heart surgery (CABG), kidney failure needing dialysis, stroke with permanent symptoms, major organ transplant, multiple sclerosis, paralysis of limbs, motor neuron disease, aplastic anaemia, end-stage liver failure, and 25 others. Read the exact clause — "cancer of specified severity" excludes early-stage (stage 0) and some in-situ cancers.
Section 80D — yes, you can claim CI premiums
CI premiums are deductible under Section 80D, sharing the health insurance cap: ₹25,000 for self/family (₹50,000 if senior), plus ₹25,000/₹50,000 for parents. Only the old tax regime allows this — new regime taxpayers get no 80D deduction on CI or any health premium.
2026 premium benchmarks (per ₹25 lakh cover, non-smoker male, 30-year term)
- Age 25: ~₹2,500-3,500/year
- Age 30: ~₹3,800-4,800/year
- Age 35: ~₹5,500-7,000/year
- Age 40: ~₹8,500-11,000/year
- Age 45: ~₹14,000-17,500/year
- Age 50: ~₹22,000-28,500/year
Standalone or rider?
Prefer standalone CI policies over term insurance CI riders. Standalone plans pay out and continue term insurance separately; riders usually reduce the term sum assured after CI payout (defeats the purpose). Standalone CI also typically covers more illnesses with clearer claim terms.
Common questions about Critical Illness
How does CI insurance differ from health insurance?+
Health insurance reimburses hospital bills within the sum insured; you submit bills, insurer pays hospital. CI insurance pays a LUMP SUM on diagnosis of a covered illness — no bills needed, use as you wish (income replacement, home nursing, treatment abroad, home modifications). The two are complementary. A comprehensive plan has both: ₹10-25L health + ₹25-50L CI.
What 36 illnesses are typically covered?+
IRDAI's 2024 standardised CI list includes: cancer of specified severity, first heart attack, open-heart CABG, kidney failure requiring regular dialysis, stroke with permanent symptoms, major organ/bone marrow transplant, multiple sclerosis with persisting symptoms, paralysis of limbs, motor neuron disease, primary pulmonary hypertension, aplastic anaemia, end-stage liver failure, coma of specified severity, major head trauma, deafness, blindness, loss of limbs, and 19 others. Always read your policy wordings — "cancer of specified severity" excludes early-stage (stage 0) and some in-situ cancers.
Is there a survival period before payout?+
Yes — most CI policies require a survival period of 14-30 days post-diagnosis before paying out. If the insured dies within that window, the CI claim is rejected (term insurance would still pay, which is why the two are separate). Some insurers now offer no-survival-period on premium plans.
What is the tax treatment?+
CI premiums are deductible under Section 80D (old regime only), sharing the health insurance cap: ₹25,000 self (₹50,000 if 60+), ₹25,000 parents (₹50,000 if parent 60+). Lump-sum payout on claim is tax-free under Section 10(10D). The new tax regime eliminates the deduction but keeps tax-free payout. Worth claiming if you're in 30% slab — effective CI premium drops by 30%.
Standalone CI plan or CI rider on term insurance?+
Prefer standalone CI. Rider plans typically REDUCE your term sum assured by the CI payout (defeats the purpose of having both). Standalone CI lets your term cover stay intact for death benefit while you use the CI lump sum for treatment/recovery. Standalone plans also cover more illnesses and have clearer claim conditions. Premium difference is small (10-15% more).
Does the policy continue after one claim?+
Most CI policies terminate after a single claim — once you claim for cancer, the policy ends and you can't claim for a subsequent heart attack. Some 2026 plans offer "multi-claim" CI where up to 3 illnesses across different illness groups can be claimed independently (cardiac, cancer, nervous system, etc.) — costs 40-60% more but strongly recommended for family history of multiple conditions.
What is the entry age and renewability?+
Typical entry age: 18-65 years. Renewability up to 70-75 years in standard plans; some plans offer lifetime renewability. Always check renewability — non-renewable plans stop covering you at 65-70 when risk is highest. Medical underwriting is required at entry; once accepted, no re-underwriting at renewal.