While heart attacks and neurological disorders continue to be the top life-threatening ailments across the country, kidney related disorders are on the prowl and on a steady rise, particularly amongst the millennials, reveals a study conducted by SBI General Insurance. The study comes out on the occasion of World Kidney Day, with the objective of spreading awareness around the rising incidences of renal impairments within the country.

As per the data released by SBI General Insurance, kidney ailments continue to shoot up for millennials. The study also throws light on the fact that from the overall kidney related claims, the total number of claims made by males is higher as compared to women. In FY 15-16, the percentage of claims for women were 39% whereas for men were 61%, in FY16-17, it stood at 43% for women and 57% for men, in FY 17-18, it stood at 44% for women and at 56% for men. In the last year, FY 18-19, the percentages stood at 44% for women and 49% for men. So, it is interesting to note that year on year, the percentages have gone down for men whereas they have increased for women.

Metro cities have reported majority percentage of claims – 69% whereas non-metros have reported 31% claims only. This may be due to specialized treatment and dialysis facility available at metros and a lack of health resources within access in smaller cities.

Appended are a few interesting trends that emerged: 

• 4% of the total health insurance claims paid are for kidney-related claims
• Second highest disease settled for renal Diseases usually associated with Heart related complaints with one of the complications with renal diseases
• 70% of claims settled for kidney-related ailments over the last four years are under the non-surgical category, where most of the diseases are managed with dialysis. There has been a year-on-year increase in this since FY 15-16 to FY 18-19
• Majority of the claims – 69% are paid from metropolitan cities while 31% are from non-metro cities. This could be due to the specialized treatment and dialysis facilities available in metropolitan cities

 

Mr. Sukhesh Bhave, Head, – Accident & Health Claims, SBI General Insurance said, “In its early stages, chronic kidney disease can lurk silently in the body, showing fewer or no symptoms at all. However, as time passes, it starts affecting vital organs leading to impairment and failure. The end stage renal disease may result in renal failure or kidney failure and can be life threatening.” 

He added, “Most women often tend to hesitate in getting a health check-up done as they fear the cost of treatment that may come with a possible diagnosis and tend to ignore the symptoms. We are aiming to encourage women to change this behavior by offering products like SBI General’s Simple Health Insurance Policy has an affordable premium of Rs. 1,300 per year and offers a wide coverage from Rs. 50,000 up to Rs. 5,00,000. Furthermore, the policy offers free medical check-ups for every four claim-free years up to a maximum limit of Rs. 2,500.”

World Kidney Day, celebrated in March every year, is a valuable platform to spread awareness about kidney-related ailments to educate people on the importance of keeping these ailments at bay to live a healthy and wholesome life.