Critical Illness Insurance Statistics 2024 By Plans, Coverage, Payments

Introduction

Critical Illness Insurance Statistics: Critical illness insurance is a form of coverage that provides a one-time payout when the policyholder is diagnosed with specific severe medical conditions like cancer, heart attack, or stroke.

Unlike regular health insurance which covers medical expenses, critical illness insurance offers financial support for non-medical costs related to the illness. Such as lost income or additional expenses not covered by standard insurance.

The lump-sum payment is given upon the diagnosis of a covered critical illness, offering flexibility in how the funds are used.

This type of insurance aims to ease financial burdens during a challenging period, allowing individuals to focus on recovery without the added stress of economic consequences.

It’s essential to carefully review policy details, as coverage can vary in terms of conditions covered, exclusions, and other specifics.

Editor’s Choice

• The global Critical Illness Insurance market was valued at USD 192.3 billion in 2022.
• The cancer segment contributed to 34% of the total revenue share in 2022.
• The premium mode of payment is the most preferred type of payment with 45% of the market share.
• North America is the largest market for critical illness insurance with a 40% market share.
• The U.S. market value was at $76.9 billion in 2022.
• 92.1% of Americans were insurance holders in 2022.
• Female Breast Cancer was the top cancer type in the U.S. in 2020 with around 239,612 cases.
• Among the insurance companies, AIG and Guardian were named the best in the U.S. and UK.

Global Critical Illness Insurance Market Statistics

• As of 2022, the global critical illness insurance market reached a value of USD 192.3 billion. With an expected growth of USD 541.4 billion by 2032. Over the period from 2023 to 2032, this market is predicted to experience a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.2%.
• The global critical illness insurance market was valued at 192.3 billion USD in 2022. In 2023, the market saw an increase to 213.8 billion USD.
• The trend continued with values of 234.7 billion USD in 2024, 267.9 billion USD in 2025, and 301.8 billion USD in 2026.
• Subsequent years showed a progressive rise, reaching 331.2 billion USD in 2027 and 354.1 billion USD in 2028.
• The values continued to climb, reaching 393.7 billion USD in 2029 and 432.1 billion USD in 2030.
• The positive trajectory persisted with values of 480.5 billion USD in 2031, and it peaked at 541.4 billion USD in 2032.
• This data indicates a consistent and positive outlook for the global critical illness insurance market during the specified period.

(Source: Market.us)

Modes of Payment for Critical Illness Insurance Statistics

• In the global critical illness insurance market, premium modes are divided into monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and yearly payment options.
• Among these, the monthly premium mode is forecasted to be the most lucrative segment in 2022. Accounting for a substantial 45% market share and demonstrating a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.4%.
• Premium mode, in this context, refers to how often policyholders make their premium payments. And insurers typically offer a range of choices to cater to diverse policyholder preferences.
• The monthly premium mode entails policyholders making monthly payments towards their premiums.
• When policyholders select their preferred premium mode, they consider factors such as their financial circumstances, budget constraints, and personal choices.

(Source: Market.us)

Diseases Covered Under Critical Illness Insurance Statistics

• The critical illness insurance market is categorized by the specific diseases it covers, such as cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and others.
• Among these, the cancer segment is projected to be the most profitable, with an expected annual growth rate of 11.4%.
• In 2022, the cancer segment holds a substantial 34% share of the total revenue.
• Heart disease, which can result from a combination of genetic factors, lifestyle choices, and aging, is another significant category.
• Insurance policies in this category may provide coverage for conditions like heart attacks or strokes and may include benefits such as bypass surgery, stenting, and angioplasty.

(Source: Market.us)

Critical Illness Insurance Universal Health Coverage Statistics

• Slow Progress Toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Achieving UHC, a goal set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, is facing obstacles. Improvements in health service coverage have come to a halt since 2015.
• Increasing Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Spending: The number of people experiencing catastrophic out-of-pocket health spending has been consistently growing since 2000. Indicating a global trend seen across regions and countries.
• Limited Growth in UHC Service Coverage Index: Although the UHC service coverage index went up from 45 to 68 between 2000 and 2021, recent progress has significantly slowed. Between 2015 and 2021, the index only increased by 3 points and has remained unchanged since 2019.
• Substantial Population Lacks Essential Health Services: There was a 15% reduction in the population without essential health services from 2000 to 2021. The progress has been minimal since 2015, leaving around 4.5 billion people without full coverage in 2021.
• Financial Hardship for Billions: About 2 billion people are facing financial difficulties due to health costs. This includes 1 billion dealing with catastrophic out-of-pocket health spending, leading to 344 million people falling further into extreme poverty.
• Impact of COVID-19 Disruptions: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted essential health services in 92% of countries in 2021, and as of 2022, 84% of countries still report ongoing disruptions.
• Recovery Through Primary Health Care (PHC) Approach: The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests reshaping health systems using a primary health care (PHC) approach. This approach, covering 90% of essential UHC interventions. This could potentially save 60 million lives and increase global life expectancy by 3.7 years by 2030.

(Source: WHO)

Regional Analysis of Critical Illness Insurance Statistics

• North America is the leader in the global critical illness insurance market, accounting for the largest share of 40%. During the forecast period, it is projected to experience a steady growth rate of 14.6%.
• The United States, in particular, plays a pivotal role in driving this growth within North America with a $76.9 billion market value.
• In Europe, the critical illness insurance market also holds substantial importance, ranking as the second-largest globally. Countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and France are the primary drivers of this market within the European region.

(Source: Market.us)

The United States of America

• In 2022, the majority of Americans had health insurance, with a slightly higher percentage (92.1%) compared to the previous year (91.7%), as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.
• Approximately 8.4% or 27.6 million American adults faced periods without healthcare coverage during the year.
• This disparity in coverage affected Hispanic and Black working-age adults more significantly than White/Non-Hispanic or Asian adults.
• Nearly 25% of adults revealed that they either skipped taking medicine, cut pills in half, or didn’t fill a prescription in the past year due to financial constraints.
• Moreover, about four in 10 adults (41%) reported having outstanding medical or dental bills, contributing to the issue of medical debt.
• When it came to managing expenses, dental services were the most frequently postponed type of healthcare (35%), followed by vision services (25%) and doctor’s visits (24%).
• These figures highlight the financial difficulties that many Americans encountered in accessing necessary healthcare services in 2022.

(Source: Forbes, Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) & US Census Bureau)

United Kingdom

• In 2021, the UK’s overall spending on healthcare reached $352.62 billion, which translates to an average of $5261 per person.
• In 2021, Government schemes accounted for 83% of total expenditure, totaling $202.82 billion.
• Voluntary health insurance contributed 2.4% or $8.67 billion to the overall expenditure.
• Non-profit institutions supporting households made up 1.7% of the total, amounting to $6.03 billion.
• Enterprise financing represented 0.2% or $0.75 billion of the total healthcare expenditure.
• Out-of-pocket expenditure comprised 12.7% of the total healthcare spending, which equals $44.72 billion.

(Source: Office of National Statistics)

India

• As per the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). India is anticipated to achieve the status of the sixth-largest insurance industry within the next ten years.
• In FY23, the Indian government allocated approximately 2.1% of the GDP for healthcare spending. Which slightly decreased from FY22 (2.2%) but is a significant increase from FY21 (1.6%).
• This reflects the government’s recognition of the importance of a strong healthcare system.
• The share of the budget dedicated to healthcare services has risen from 21% in FY19 to 26% in FY23.
• In 2021, health insurance plans in India covered about 514 million people, which represents only 37% of the total population in the country.
• Approximately 41% of households in India have at least one member covered by health insurance. lLeaving a significant portion of the population without adequate coverage.
• Only 30% of women aged 15-49 and 33% of men in the same age group have health insurance between 2019-2021.
• State health insurance schemes cover 46% of those with insurance, while 16% are covered by the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY).

More Insights

• A smaller percentage of women (3-6%) and men (4-7%) are covered by the Employee State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) or the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).
• Rajasthan (88%) and Andhra Pradesh (80%) have the highest proportions of households with health insurance coverage.
• In contrast, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Jammu & Kashmir have less than 15% coverage. Likely due to differences in government policies, awareness, and socio-economic factors.
• Government-sponsored health insurance programs like RSBY, ESIS, and CGHS play a significant role in expanding healthcare access in India. Aiming to provide financial protection to vulnerable populations and improve healthcare outcomes
• Some of the Best Insurance providers in India include Star Health Insurance, Niva Bupa Health Insurance, HDFC Ergo Health Insurance, TATA AIG Health Insurance, ICICI Lombard Health Insurance, Aditya Birla Health Insurance.

(Source: PIB Government Press Release, Statista & National Family Health Survey India report)

Brazil

• The SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde), Brazil’s healthcare system, had its beginnings in the 1980s as part of the movement for the country’s re-democratization. It was officially established in 1988 through the adoption of the new Brazilian constitution.
• In 2015, Brazil allocated 9.1 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) towards healthcare, with public spending contributing 42.8 percent of this total.
• Notably, the SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde) offers healthcare coverage to all residents and even visitors. Including undocumented individuals, encompassing a wide range of healthcare services.
• Around 27% of total healthcare expenses come from out-of-pocket payments. Which can pose a significant financial burden, especially for lower-income households.
• In 2014, about 5.3% of households had to prioritize healthcare expenses over non-health-related spending due to high costs, with medication expenses being a major factor.
• This is because only specific drugs are available for free under the Unified Health System.
• The percentage of private health plans requiring copayments has risen from 22% to 52% over the past decade.

(Source: Commonwealth Fund & National Library of Medicine)

Recent Developments

Acquisitions and Mergers:

The critical illness insurance sector has witnessed a wave of acquisitions and mergers, totaling 15 transactions globally in the past quarter. Notable among these was Prudential Financial’s acquisition of Assurance IQ, a digital insurance marketplace, for $2.35 billion, aimed at expanding Prudential’s customer reach and digital capabilities in the insurance market.
Additionally, Aflac’s merger with Continental American Insurance Company for $582 million strengthened its position in the supplemental health insurance segment, particularly critical illness coverage.

New Product Launches:

• Critical illness insurance providers introduced 30 new products and policy enhancements in the previous quarter, offering expanded coverage options and benefits for policyholders. Noteworthy among these was MetLife’s launch of its Critical Illness Health Protector Plus, providing comprehensive coverage for a wide range of critical illnesses, including cancer, heart attack, and stroke.
• AIG’s introduction of the AIG Critical Care Plus insurance policy, featuring customizable coverage levels and additional benefits such as rehabilitation services and caregiver support, aimed at addressing evolving customer needs in critical illness protection.

Funding and Investments:

• Venture capital funding in critical illness insurance startups amounted to $120 million in the last quarter, reflecting investor confidence in innovative insurance solutions. Key investments included a $25 million funding round secured by Ladder Life for its digital life insurance platform, which offers critical illness riders as part of its product offerings.
• Moreover, private equity investments in established insurance providers specializing in critical illness coverage reached $750 million, supporting growth initiatives and expansion into new markets to meet the growing demand for insurance protection against critical illnesses.

Policyholder Trends:

• There has been a 20% increase in the adoption of critical illness insurance policies among individuals aged 35-54, driven by growing awareness of the financial impact of critical illnesses and the need for additional financial protection beyond traditional health insurance.
• Additionally, there has been a 15% rise in policyholders opting for comprehensive critical illness coverage, including riders for loss of income, medical expenses, and recovery support services, indicating a shift towards more holistic insurance solutions to mitigate financial risks associated with critical illnesses.

Market Growth and Penetration:

• The global critical illness insurance market has experienced a steady growth rate of 8% annually, reaching a valuation of $25 billion in premiums. This growth can be attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, rising healthcare costs, and heightened awareness of the financial risks associated with critical illnesses.
• Regionally, Asia-Pacific has emerged as a key market for critical illness insurance, accounting for 40% of global premiums, driven by rapid urbanization, aging populations, and expanding middle-class demographics in countries like China and India.

Conclusion

Critical Illness Insurance Statistics – Critical illness insurance provides a lump-sum payout upon diagnosis of a severe medical condition, helping with treatment costs. It’s important to know that critical illness insurance isn’t a replacement for regular health insurance.

Instead, it complements it by covering things that health insurance might not fully handle. It complements regular health insurance by covering additional expenses.

Policyholders can use the payout as needed, but it’s crucial to consider factors like age and health history when getting it and review the policy regularly to ensure it aligns with changing circumstances. This insurance offers financial support during health crises.

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