A few months ago, I met a 38-year-old person who had just survived a heart attack. He was a young professional, thriving in his career, with a young family depending on him. By all appearances, he was in his prime. Yet his sudden cardiac event turned his life upside down. With his medical condition, the emotional shock his family carried and the financial uncertainty they faced as hospital bills piled up was truly unsettling. Unfortunately, this is the reality of heart disease in India today.
A heart attack is never only about blocked arteries or emergency procedures. It disrupts every aspect of life including emotional stability, physical well-being, and financial security. And as cases rise among younger adults, the old assumption that heart problems only arrive later in life is no longer true. Industry reports show that heart-related insurance claims in India have doubled over the past five years (1).
The Indian Context: A Global Outlier
The urgency of this issue in India is magnified when viewed through a global lens. Public health estimates indicate that India accounts for approximately 60 per cent (2) of the world’s heart disease burden, despite having less than 20 per cent of the world’s population.
Heart disease amongst Indians is striking at an earlier age (almost 33 per cent earlier) than other demographics. Furthermore, 50 per cent of all heart attacks in Indian men occur under 50 years of age and 25 per cent of all heart attacks in Indian men occur under 40 years of age.
This early onset of heart conditions highlights why preparedness is very critical. In my opinion, preparedness begins with protection through strong health coverage, followed by prevention through healthier living. One secures you when the unexpected happens, the other helps ensure it happens less often.
Protection: Your first line of defense
Medical science has given us extraordinary ways to save lives through procedures such as angioplasties, bypass surgeries, stents, and pacemakers. But they come at staggering costs in India which would be difficult for an average Indian to endure. A bypass surgery may cost ₹3–6 lakh, a pacemaker ₹7–10 lakh (3), and with ongoing medicines, tests, and rehabilitation, bills often cross into double-digit lakhs.
Without sufficient insurance, these expenses can cripple a family’s finances. Even those with basic health coverage sometimes discover that inadequate limits or missing critical illness riders leave them nearly as exposed as having no policy at all.
Comprehensive health insurance with critical illness cover is therefore the first shield against uncertainty. It ensures treatment is not delayed because of cost, and it allows families to make decisions based on medical need rather than financial pressure. Modern policies even go further, offering wellness programs, preventive screenings, and rewards for healthy behaviour, blending financial security with proactive care.
Prevention: Building everyday strength
While protection secures your future, prevention strengthens your present. Healthy lifestyle choices such as regular exercise, balanced diets, adequate sleep, and stress management can dramatically reduce the risk of heart disease. Preventive approaches such as annual health check-ups and early screenings can catch silent warning signs long before they turn into emergencies.
Prevention also has the power to improve recovery outcomes. Patients who adopt healthier habits after treatment often heal faster, experience fewer complications, and spend less on long-term care. One can say that, prevention complements protection. While insurance shields you from the financial blow, lifestyle choices reduce the chances of facing one in the first place.
Therefore, the conversation around heart disease in India must evolve. It is not enough to simply fear rising numbers or soaring costs. What we need is a proactive strategy that gives families both security and strength.
Healing beyond the crisis
A heart attack affects far more than arteries. Survivors often live with fear of recurrence, while families juggle the stress of caregiving and financial uncertainty. Rehabilitation, counselling, and long-term support are just as important as the emergency treatment itself.
When families have strong financial protections and healthy habits in place, they can put their time and energy toward healing rather than worrying about resources. That is the moment where true healing can begin.
The true cost of a heart attack is not just measured in hospital bills, but also in the upheaval of lives and futures. Fortunately, we are not powerless in the face of an attack by heart disease. Protection in the form of strong health insurance gives families peace of mind, and prevention in the form of healthier choices gives them a sense of agency.
I advise young individuals to not wait until a crisis reveals how high the stakes are. Get protection now and make a prevention commitment every day. That’s how we protect not just life, but peace of mind for ourselves and the people we care about the most.
References:
https://www.business-standard.com/finance/personal-finance/heart-insurance-claims-double-in-5-years-treatment-costs-surge-53-report-124101800706_1.html
https://indianheartassociation.org/why-indians-why-south-asians/overview/
https://www.business-standard.com/finance/personal-finance/heart-insurance-claims-double-in-5-years-treatment-costs-surge-53-report-124101800706_1.html