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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | 58% smokers in the country without health insurance -Preeti Kulkarni

58% smokers in the country without health insurance -Preeti Kulkarni

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published Published on May 31, 2013   modified Modified on May 31, 2013
-The Economic Times


MUMBAI: Despite being exposed to perils of heavy smoking, a majority of smokers (58%) in India do not have any form of health insurance, a survey conducted by private non-life insurer ICICI Lombard has found.

Further, a city-wise break-up shows that the percentage of smokers with a health cover is significantly lower in Delhi (34%) and Bangalore (28%). This, despite 85% of the respondent smokers across the country admitting to smoking more than once daily. Mumbai (59%) and Kolkata (45%) fare much better in this regard. According to the survey findings, health insurance is primarily purchased by self in Delhi (68%) and Mumbai (50%), whereas most Bangalorean respondents (52%) seemed to rely on their parents or family for the purpose.

Conducted ahead of the No Tobacco Day on May 31, the ICICI Lombard-Gfk Mode survey polled 914 habitual smokers - that is, those who smoke at least once a day - across these four cities. The country's financial capital earned the dubious distinction of topping the average consumption list, with 32% of Mumbai's respondents saying that they smoked 7-10 cigarettes in a day, on an average. Kolkata was the next on the list, with 29% of those polled admitting to smoking 4-6 cigarettes a day. Influence of friends or peers (87%) and work pressure (31%) emerged as the chief factors that prompted respondents to take up smoking. ""Shockingly, a large portion of smokers (77%) feel that smoking or limited smoking will not have any adverse impact on their health,"" the study added.

However, the numbers point to the contrary, belying their confidence. ICICI Lombard's internal analysis of its last two years' claims showed that 5% of the total cancer claims were directly related to tobacco consumption. ""Out of these,75% claims were made by male customers and 25% by female customers. The most affected age-group for tobacco-related claims was 46-55 years, with 31% male and 41% female customers contributing to this age bracket,"" the study said.

Moreover, 65% of the respondents were not aware of the concessional premiums for non-smokers. At the moment, only life insurers offer discounts to non-smokers in their term insurance policies."" However, going forward, health insurers too could take this parameter into account and start incentivising the non-smokers. Even today, it is factored into our underwriting process. For instance, a smoker over the age of 45 may be asked to go through more rigorous health check-ups compared to a non-smoker,"" said Shankar Nath, head, marketing and direct, ICICI Lombard.


The Economic Times, 30 May, 2013, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/personal-finance/insurance/insurance-news/58-smokers-in-the-country-without-health-insurance/articleshow/20353086.cms


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