Does Critical Illness Cover Heart Attack?

Does Critical Illness Insurance Cover Heart Attacks?

Learn whether critical illness covers heart attacks, including conditions, claim process, waiting periods, and financial support for treatment.

Written by : Knowledge Centre Team

2025-10-07

3482 Views

10 minutes read

In India, a heart attack is one of the leading causes of death. It is responsible for nearly one in every four deaths in the country. What exactly is a heart attack, and does critical insurance cover the cost of treating a heart attack? A heart attack is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. This can cause the heart muscle to become damaged and not be able to pump blood effectively. Heart attacks can be fatal, so it is important to seek medical help immediately.

Many risk factors may contribute to a person having a heart attack. Some of these include: 

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Smoking, 
  • Diabetes,
  • Obesity,
  • Family history of heart disease, 
  • Sedentary lifestyle and Stress. 

In this blog, we explore how critical illness insurance plays a crucial role during a heart attack, what it covers, and how it alleviates financial stress during emergencies.

Key Takeaways

 

  • Critical illness insurance covers heart attacks and offers a lump sum payout, helping you manage medical expenses, lost income, and recovery costs without financial strain.
  • Heart-specific covers provide tailored protection, with low premiums and early-stage benefits, making them a practical choice for managing lifestyle-related heart risks.
  • Canara HSBC Life Insurance offers minimal survival period clauses and waives future premiums after diagnosis, easing financial pressure during recovery.
  • A separate heart cover ensures clarity in claims and benefits, giving you confidence and control during emergencies and planned treatments.
  • Combining heart and critical illness cover prepares you better for rising cardiac cases, ensuring both immediate and long-term financial security for your loved ones.

What is Critical Illness Insurance?

Critical illness insurance is a type of insurance that pays out a lump sum benefit if the policyholder is diagnosed with a specified critical illness. The benefit can be used to cover medical expenses, pay off debts, or replace lost income. Covered illnesses typically include cancer, heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

Heart Attack under Critical Illness Insurance

Under some critical illness insurance plans, heart attacks are covered, but the definition of a heart attack can vary from one plan to another. You have to make sure you fully understand the definition that is used by the plan you are considering.

If a heart attack is covered under your critical illness insurance policy, you will be eligible to receive a lump sum payment from your policy. The amount of the payment will depend on the specific policy that you have, and the percentage of the total death benefit.

Key Features of Heart Attack Under Critical Illness Insurance:

A critical illness policy with a heart attack helps you handle medical and lifestyle costs during health emergencies. It offers financial protection but also eases the treatment and recovery process. Here are the  features of heart attack coverage under such insurance plans:

  1. Lump Sum Benefit on Diagnosis: Upon the confirmed diagnosis of a heart attack, you receive a lump sum payout. This amount can be used for treatment, post-hospitalisation expenses, or even to replace lost income. It offers immediate financial relief when you or your family need support the most.
  2. Minimal Survival Period Clause: Most critical illness policies require you to survive a specific period after diagnosis. However, with heart attack benefit, the survival period is usually minimal, sometimes as short as 14–30 days. This makes the claim process quicker and less restrictive for your loved ones.
  3. Health Check-up Reimbursement: You are entitled to reimbursement for routine health check-ups every policy year. This feature promotes regular monitoring of your health and encourages early detection, helping you stay ahead of life-threatening conditions like cardiovascular disease.
  4. Waiver of Future Premiums: If you’re diagnosed with a heart attack, all future premiums for the policy are waived. This means you stay covered without paying anything further. It allows you to focus entirely on your treatment and recovery without financial stress.

Benefits of Having a Separate Heart Cover

Heart-related conditions often require specialised care and long-term financial planning. Having a dedicated heart cover policy ensures you are well-prepared to face such medical situations without draining your savings. Here are the top benefits of choosing a separate heart insurance cover:

Peace of Mind with Dedicated Coverage:

Knowing you have a policy that focuses entirely on heart-related conditions gives you peace of mind. It ensures you’re financially covered in case of emergencies, reducing the stress and emotional toll that comes with sudden heart complications.

Better Budgeting for Heart Care:

With a heart-specific insurance policy, you’ll have clarity about what expenses are covered. This helps you plan and budget for future medical care, including procedures, hospital stays, and medications, without relying solely on your general health insurance.

Access to Specialised Care:

A dedicated heart cover often gives you access to a network of cardiac care specialists and hospitals. You benefit from tailored support and advanced treatment options, which can lead to better recovery outcomes and more effective management of chronic conditions.

Hassle-Free Claims for Heart Treatments:

When you have a heart-specific cover, you eliminate confusion during claims. You’ll know exactly which heart conditions and treatments are included, which streamlines the claim process and gives you confidence when you need to access benefits quickly.

How to Get Critical Illness Cover?

There are a few ways to get critical illness coverage:

  • Buying it as an Add-On to Your Life Insurance Policy: If you already have a life insurance policy, you can buy critical illness insurance as an add-on. This is useful if you want to increase the level of coverage. You can also buy critical illness cover as an add-on to your health insurance policy. This can be a good option if you don’t have a life insurance policy.
  • Taking Out a Standalone Critical Illness Policy: You can buy a critical illness cover on its own, but it will usually be more expensive than buying it as an addition to life/health insurance. If you are buying critical illness cover as a standalone insurance policy, you will need to make sure that you are covered for the full amount of the critical illness cover that you need.
  • Separate Heart Cover Vs Critical Illness Cover: Critical illness cover pays out a lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness listed in your policy. It can help you with the financial costs of treatment and make life a little easier while you recover.
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Did You Know?

Many term policies are also “convertible,” as they can be converted into a permanent life insurance policy.

 

Investopedia

 

Young Term Plan - 1 Crore
Critical Illness CoverSeparate Heart Cover

Covers the last stages of more than 40 critical health conditions

Covers only heart ailments arising out of lifestyle habits

Higher premium cost

Low premium

One-time claim

Covers early stages of the illness.

Lump sum + regular income benefit

Lump sum + regular income benefit

Premium waiver for life cover when bought as a rider

Premium waiver in case of early-stage diagnosis

Option to receive a second opinion and consultation

Option to get a second opinion and consultation

The cover will increase if bought as an individual policy

Cover continues to increase up to 100% of the original sum assured or until a claim is made

Conclusion

Heart-related illnesses are becoming increasingly common, and the cost of treatment can be overwhelming. Relying on basic health insurance may not be enough during such critical times. A dedicated heart cover or critical illness plan offers timely financial support, premium waivers, and peace of mind. It helps you stay prepared for medical emergencies while ensuring your loved ones do not face financial stress during your recovery.

Canara HSBC Life Insurance offers specialised plans that provide comprehensive protection for critical illness, timely payouts, and peace of mind. Choose the right plan today and safeguard your future health and finances.

Glossary

  1. Sum Assured: The guaranteed amount paid to the nominee in case of the policyholder’s demise.
  2. Rider: An additional benefit that enhances a term insurance plan, like critical illness coverage.
  3. Term Insurance: Term insurance is a type of life insurance that offers financial protection for a set period.
  4. Mutual fund: A mutual fund is a pool of money that is invested in stocks, bonds, and other securities.
  5. Financial Dependents: Family members who rely on the policyholder’s income for their financial well-being.
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Disclaimer - This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited or any affiliated entity. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the blog or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in the blog for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. You should consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific circumstances before taking any action based on the content provided herein.

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