Pollution after Diwali drives up health insurance claims by 14%
Right after Diwali, health insurance claims for pollution-related illnesses jumped 14% across India, Policybazaar reports.
The data highlights how bad air quality during festivals and winter months is taking a real toll on people's health—especially kids.
Kids hit hardest; Delhi tops the list
Children aged 0-10 made up a huge 43% of pollution-related hospitalizations, making them five times more likely to land in the hospital than other age groups.
Adults aged 31-40 accounted for 14%, and seniors over 60 made up just 7%.
Delhi saw the most claims (38%), and Bengaluru and Hyderabad also report high pollution-claim ratios above 8%.
With average claim sizes around ₹55,000 and daily hospital costs at ₹19,000, it's clear that poor air isn't just uncomfortable—it's expensive too.
Why this matters to you
If you live in or near big cities—or have younger siblings or family—this spike is a reminder that air pollution isn't just about smoggy skies.
It's hitting wallets and putting kids' health at risk right now.