Critical Illness Insurance Market Summary
As per Market Research Future Analysis, the Critical Illness Insurance Market was valued at USD 233 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to USD 418.39 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 6.00% from 2024 to 2032. The market is driven by increasing awareness of critical illness insurance benefits, rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and the need for additional financial protection against high medical costs. The growing geriatric population and sedentary lifestyles further contribute to market demand. Major insurance companies are expanding their product offerings to include a variety of critical illnesses, enhancing market growth opportunities.
Key Market Trends & Highlights
Key trends driving the Critical Illness Insurance Market include rising chronic disease prevalence and innovative product offerings.
- Market Growth: Projected to reach USD 418.39 billion by 2032.
- CAGR: Expected growth rate of 6.00% from 2024 to 2032.
- Product Innovation: Major players are launching tailored insurance plans to meet diverse consumer needs.
- Geriatric Demand: Increasing elderly population suffering from chronic diseases boosts insurance uptake.
Market Size & Forecast
2023 Market Size: USD 233 Billion
2024 Market Size: USD 247 Billion
2032 Market Size: USD 418.39 Billion
CAGR: 6.00% from 2024 to 2032.
Major Players
Key players include AEGON Life Insurance Company Ltd., AXA Hong Kong, Legal & General Group plc, Ping An Insurance, Prudential, AIG, and Cigna.

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, Market Research Future Database and Analyst Review
Critical illness insurance offers additional protection for illnesses like cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), shifting employer benefit goals, and new distribution strategies are just a few reasons for increased interest in critical illness insurance. A further factor anticipated to fuel market expansion is the rising prevalence of chronic disorders. It is predicted that the market for critical illness insurance will expand profitably. The primary reason for this growth in knowledge has been the rise in severe illnesses like heart attacks, cancer, kidney failure, and stroke. Untapped markets and developing nations have considerable growth prospects because they have low critical illness insurance awareness and uptake rates.
The need for insurance protection for critical illnesses is anticipated to expand as these markets develop and public awareness of healthcare issues grows. The market for critical illness insurance is anticipated to develop due to increased critical illness cases, higher costs for insurers, and a rise in the number of people without insurance. The market for critical illness insurance is predicted to be driven by rising medical costs. These policies give out cash to assist in covering those overruns whenever regular health insurance can come in short because such emergencies or illnesses frequently incur higher than normal medical costs. In addition, if a covered condition is discovered, critical illness insurance gives out a lump payment to the insured. This payout can cover anything from financing costs to medical expenditures.
The costs that health insurance does not cover, such as deductibles or out-of-network doctor fees, can also be covered by critical illness insurance. One of the main drivers of the growth of the critical illness insurance industry is the increase in the number of illnesses safeguarded by critical illness insurance policies. Major insurance companies are focusing on covering a variety of new ailments. The increasing prevalence of serious diseases like malignancy, heart disease, and stroke significantly fuels the market for critical illness insurance. The desire for insurance coverage to lessen medical care and rehabilitation costs rises as people become more cognizant of the financial strain connected with these conditions. Insurance companies can create unique, tailored critical illness insurance plans. Insurers can meet the varied needs and interests of those seeking critical illness coverage by providing flexible coverage options, specialized packages, and extra benefits.
After receiving clearance, HDFC Life might concentrate on critical illness products as it enters the health insurance market. The life insurance company will likely concentrate on critical illness products with IRDAI's approval. The business also wrote to the insurance authority to request permission to offer additional financial goods such as bank deposits, loans, and mutual funds.
Critical Illness Insurance Market Trends
Increasing geriatric population and sedentary lifestyle to boost the market growth
The growing geriatric population is one of the key driving factors fueling the market. A large number of the aged population is suffering from other chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and arthritis, further increasing the demand for HI policies among this age group. Moreover, adopting sedentary lifestyles among the adult population leads to an increased patient pool living with different chronic diseases. The National Cancer Institute estimated that around 1,806,590 new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2020, and 606,520 people died from the disease in the US.
Further, with the rising number of health issues among people due to unhealthy lifestyles, there is an increase in serious critical illnesses such as cancer, heart attacks and others. However, health insurance does not cover a range of such critical illnesses for which consumers are purchasing critical health insurance to cover the cost of medical bills, hospitalization fees and other related costs. In addition, the rise in instances of several diseases, such as brain tumors and cardiovascular diseases, further increases the demand for critical illness policy. Therefore, the rising number of critical health issues among people is one of the major driving factors of the critical illness insurance market revenue.
Additionally, Critical illness coverage provides a smooth experience to the insured regarding cashless medical treatment for their illness. In addition, it offers peace of mind to the insured without worrying about paying the high cost of medical bills out of their pockets. The reimbursement process is very smooth, and can the insured can even be eligible for cashless treatment at the best hospital and receive the best possible treatment. Therefore, the peace of mind and the smooth process of reimbursement and cashless treatment offered under the critical illness insurance coverage will provide major lucrative opportunities for critical illness insurance market growth in the upcoming years.
However, an increase in the number of critical illness cases such as stroke, cancer, renal failure and heart attack has proved to be the main cause of awareness among people. The increasing cases of critical illness and more expenditure for the insurer and uninsured population are expected to drive the critical illness insurance industry.
Critical Illness Insurance Market Segment Insights
Critical Illness Insurance Product Type Insights
The critical illness insurance market segmentation, based on product type, includes medical insurance, disease insurance, family insurance, and income protection insurance. The medical insurance segment held the majority share in 2023 of the Critical Illness Insurance market revenue. This is primarily owing to the growing development of new products by health insurance companies. Evolution in the market with the launch of new products by health insurers is creating a new trend in the market. Several companies are providing different policies, such as single disease packages that cover only one disease, which includes high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer, that can be added to the regular critical illness insurance. However, family insurance is the fastest-growing category over the forecast period due to its cost-effectiveness as it provides cover to every family member on a single premium, driving the market growth of the critical illness insurance.
Critical Illness Insurance Market Developments
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Q2 2024: MetLife Launches Enhanced Critical Illness Insurance Product for U.S. Market MetLife announced the launch of an enhanced critical illness insurance product in the United States, featuring expanded coverage for additional conditions and new wellness benefits aimed at addressing evolving customer needs.
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Q1 2024: Aflac Partners with Telehealth Provider to Integrate Virtual Care into Critical Illness Policies Aflac entered a partnership with a leading telehealth provider to offer policyholders access to virtual medical consultations as part of its critical illness insurance plans, enhancing value-added services for customers.
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Q2 2024: Prudential Appoints New Head of Critical Illness Insurance Division Prudential Financial announced the appointment of a new executive to lead its critical illness insurance division, signaling a strategic focus on product innovation and market expansion.
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Q1 2024: Sun Life Launches Digital Claims Platform for Critical Illness Insurance Customers Sun Life introduced a new digital claims platform designed to streamline the claims process for critical illness insurance policyholders, aiming to improve customer experience and reduce processing times.
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Q2 2024: Allianz Expands Critical Illness Insurance Offerings in Asia-Pacific Allianz announced the expansion of its critical illness insurance products in several Asia-Pacific markets, introducing new coverage options tailored to regional health trends and regulatory requirements.
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Q2 2024: Cigna Receives Regulatory Approval for New Critical Illness Insurance Product in the UK Cigna secured approval from UK regulators to launch a new critical illness insurance product, which includes coverage for a broader range of conditions and enhanced support services.
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Q1 2024: Chubb Launches Critical Illness Insurance for Small Businesses in Latin America Chubb introduced a new critical illness insurance product specifically designed for small businesses in Latin America, aiming to provide affordable coverage for employees facing major health events.
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Q2 2024: AXA Partners with HealthTech Startup to Offer Personalized Critical Illness Coverage AXA announced a partnership with a HealthTech startup to develop personalized critical illness insurance policies, leveraging data analytics to tailor coverage and pricing to individual risk profiles.
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Q1 2024: Manulife Launches Critical Illness Insurance with Mental Health Coverage in Canada Manulife unveiled a new critical illness insurance product in Canada that, for the first time, includes coverage for select mental health conditions, reflecting growing recognition of mental health in insurance.
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Q2 2024: Zurich Insurance Wins Major Corporate Contract for Critical Illness Coverage in Europe Zurich Insurance secured a significant contract to provide critical illness insurance to a large European multinational, expanding its footprint in the corporate benefits sector.
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Q1 2024: Legal & General Launches Critical Illness Insurance with Early Cancer Detection Benefits Legal & General introduced a new critical illness insurance policy in the UK that offers early cancer detection benefits, aiming to support early intervention and improved outcomes for policyholders.
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Q2 2024: Ping An Insurance Announces $100 Million Investment in Critical Illness Product Development Ping An Insurance committed $100 million to the development of new critical illness insurance products, focusing on digital innovation and expanded coverage for emerging health risks.
Critical Illness Insurance Market Segmentation
Critical Illness Insurance Product Type Outlook
- Medical Insurance
- Disease Insurance
- Family Insurance
- Income Protection Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance Application Outlook
Critical Illness Insurance Regional Outlook
North America
Canada
Europe
Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific
Rest of Asia-Pacific
Rest of the World
Latin America
Report Attribute/Metric |
Details |
Market Size 2023 |
USD 233 billion |
Market Size 2024 |
USD 246.98 billion |
Market Size 2032 |
USD 418.38 billion |
Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) |
6% (2024-2032) |
Base Year |
2023 |
Market Forecast Period |
2024-2032 |
Historical Data |
2018 & 2022 |
Market Forecast Units |
Value (USD Billion) |
Report Coverage |
Revenue Forecast, Market Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends |
Segments Covered |
Product Type, Application, and Region |
Geographies Covered |
North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World |
Countries Covered |
The U.S, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil |
Key Companies Profiled |
China Life Insurance Company (China), Allianz (Germany), Ping An Insurance (China), Aviva (UK), Prudential (UK), Aegon (Netherlands), AXA (France), Sun Life Financial (Canada), Aflac Incorporated (US), Huaxia Life Insurance Co. (China), AIG (US), MetLife Services and Solutions, LLC (US) |
Key Market Opportunities |
growing awareness amongst the people and patients regarding the benefits of critical illness insurance |
Key Market Dynamics |
Various strategies by key players Increasing geriatric population and sedentary lifestyle |
Critical Illness Insurance Market Highlights:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
The critical illness insurance market size was valued at USD 233 Billion in 2023.
The critical illness insurance market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period, 2024-2032.
North America had the largest share of the market
The key players in the market are China Life Insurance Company (China), Allianz (Germany), Ping An Insurance (China), Aviva (UK), Prudential (UK), Aegon (Netherlands), AXA (France), and Sun Life Financial (Canada).
The medical insurance category dominated the market in 2023.
The heart attack had the largest share in the market.