Health hazard: Children file 43% of pollution-related health insurance claims; Delhi, Bengaluru lead cases

Children have emerged as the most vulnerable group to India’s worsening air pollution, with nearly half of all pollution-related health insurance claims coming from those under the age of ten, according to a new report by Policybazaar.As cited by news agency ANI, the report revealed that 43 per cent of all pollution-linked insurance claims were filed for children aged between 0 and 10 years, making them five times more affected than any other age group. It warned that air pollution, once seen primarily as an environmental issue, has now escalated into a full-blown public health emergency.Adults aged 31 to 40 accounted for 14 per cent of such claims, while those above 60 made up only 7 per cent, reflecting how younger and more outdoor-active populations face the greatest exposure. Pollution-related illnesses now represent 8 per cent of total hospitalisation claims, driven mainly by respiratory and heart complications.Delhi topped the country in pollution-linked insurance claims, followed by Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Tier-2 cities like Jaipur, Lucknow, and Indore are also witnessing a surge, showing how air quality concerns are spreading beyond metros. The study noted a sharp 11 per cent rise in treatment costs, with the average claim amounting to Rs 55,000 and hospitalisation expenses touching Rs 19,000 per day.The report also showed a seasonal pattern, with pollution-related claims jumping 14 per cent after Diwali, coinciding with India’s steep spike in Air Quality Index (AQI) levels due to stubble burning, fireworks, and stagnant winter air.The findings came as Delhi’s air quality hit emergency levels, with the AQI soaring to 428, its worst in nearly 11 months. Authorities enforced Stage III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region, halting construction activities and curbing movement of certain petrol and diesel vehicles.Experts said that calm winds and falling temperatures had trapped pollutants near the surface, forming a thick layer of smog that reduced visibility to as low as 600 metres at Safdarjung. The Delhi Directorate of Education ordered schools to conduct classes for students up to Class V in hybrid mode, while the Commission for Air Quality Management advised staggered office timings to ease congestion.The report added that pollution-linked ailments now extend beyond the lungs, including asthma, COPD, hypertension, pregnancy complications, and skin and eye allergies. The proportion of such claims has risen steadily from 6.4 per cent in 2022 to 9 per cent in 2025, signalling a growing health crisis.As India braces for another smog-laden winter, experts warn that the country faces not just an environmental challenge but a severe health emergency — one that is hitting children the hardest.