Buy Health Insurance Policy

Exclusive

Wellness Benefits

24*7 Claims

Support

Tax Savings

u/s 80D

9000+ Cashless Hospitals PAN India

Pincode

+91 Enter Mobile Number

Try agian later

I agree to the Terms & Conditions

Port My Policy

Download Policy

(Incl 18% GST)

Medical Inflation in India & the Factors Influencing This Rise

India has witnessed a significant price hike in the healthcare sector in the past few years. The situation worsened with the global health care crisis prevalent since the end of 2019. Due to this and other causes, medical inflation has overpowered the country.

Want to know about medical inflation in India? Read along!

Team Digit

What Is Medical Inflation?

There are several ways to define medical inflation. It can refer to a situation where there is an increase in average and unit cost of healthcare services over a period. Alternatively, it can refer to an increase in both unit cost and utilisation cost of services.

Factors Driving Medical Inflation in India over Short and Long Periods

There are several driving factors of medical inflation in India. To understand this better, we have discussed utilisation and changes in unit cost. These are as follows -

Change in Cost Per Person

Change in cost per person points to the change in the unit cost of a particular ongoing medical treatment or procedure. This change primarily occurs due to the change in the following areas,

Hospital consumable costs
Hospital staff and consultant’s fees
Other expenses, such as utilities, technology, rent or property costs

Change in Utilisation of Services Per Person

This points to the change in the entire utilisation of services. However, the utilisation may vary over time, i.e., it can move towards newer and costly treatments and drugs. This change can happen for the following reasons,

Medical advancements such as the launching of new drugs and technologies that can treat the disease, which was earlier untreatable, can increase the ultimate cost. Additionally, new-age diagnostic technology that can detect diseases with more perfection can also cause medical inflation.
Consumer behaviour is another driving factor for change in the utilisation of services per person. This refers to the shift in perspective among individuals, such as more healthcare benefits or increased health awareness to consumers.
Change in access and availability of healthcare (such as supply and demand) can be attributed as one of the primary reasons for rising medical inflation.

Now that the analytical portion of the discussion of medical inflation is clear let’s focus on more generic factors of medical inflation.

Growing and ageing population
Increase in chronic diseases
Higher health insurance premiums
Reduced number of qualified experts in the medical field

What Are Current Medical Inflation Rates in India?

As per the data published in The Economic Times, Medical Inflation in India is currently at ~14%, which is the highest among Asian countries.

The above discourse was about medical inflation in India. Understanding these factors is crucial to identify the change in medical costs over the past few years and to find ways to ensure optimum healthcare facilities at a minimal cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

All

What was the medical inflation rate in India in January?

In January, the medical inflation rate in India was around 6%.

Is a shortage of healthcare professionals a driving factor of medical inflation?

Yes, a shortage of healthcare professionals is a driving factor of medical inflation.

Important Tips Related to Health Insurance

Health Tips for Women

How to Choose a Health Insurance Policy in India?

Right Age to Buy a Health Insurance Policy

Benefits of Group Health Insurance

Right Time to Buy a Health Insurance Policy

How to Choose the Best Health Policy for Senior Citizens?

Staying healthy during the quarantine

Risks of Not Buying a Health Insurance Plan

Factors That Affect Health Insurance Premium

How Does Age Affect Your Health Insurance Premium?

What Happens if You Don’t Renew Your Health Insurance Policy on Time

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Purchasing Health Insurance

Myths About Health Insurance for Senior Citizens

Why Do Women Need to Buy a Separate Health Insurance?

Important Terms to Know Before Buying Health Insurance

Role of Artificial Intelligence in Health Insurance

What to Check When Porting Your Health Insurance Policy?

Do's and Don'ts of Buying a Health Insurance Policy

Pros & Cons of Having Multiple Health Insurance Policies

Secure Your Savings by Investing in Health Insurance

Can You Renew Expired Health Insurance Policy Online?

Why Is Health Insurance Important for Low and Middle-Income Groups?

How to Increase Your Health Insurance Cover Without Paying a Higher Premium?

How to Review Health Insurance Policy Document?

Benefits of Upgrading Your Health Insurance Policy

Important Changes to Make in Your Health Insurance Plan After Marriage

What to do When Your Health Insurance Claim is Rejected?

Medical Inflation in India

What to Keep in Mind When Adding Your Children to Health Insurance?

How to Choose Between Long-Term and Short-Term Health Insurance?

Pros & Cons of Family Floater Health Insurance

Benefits of Porting Health Insurance Policy

More articles related to Health Insurance

Domiciliary Hospitalization Cover

Group COVID Insurance for SME's Industries & Companies | Digit

Health Insurance Tax Benefits for Senior Citizens

Mental Health Insurance

Air Ambulance Cover in Health Insurance

Benefits of Critical Illness Cover

Health Insurance Glossary India: Terminology, Terms and Definitions

Senior Citizen Health Insurance

GMC and GPA in Health Insurance Policy

Coinsurance vs Copay vs Deductible

Myths about Health Insurance

Increase of Health Insurance Premium on Renewal

What is ABHA Card

What is Health Insurance?

Super Top-up Health Insurance for Corporate Employees - Check Prices

Difference between Mediclaim and Health Insurance

Copay in Health Insurance

Pre & Post Hospitalization Expenses in Health Insurance

Health Insurance with Cancer Cover

Health Insurance for Vector Borne Diseases & COVID-19 Online

Life Insurance vs Health Insurance

Health Insurance for Vector Borne Diseases & COVID-19 Online

Indemnity Health Insurance

Health Insurance Plans for Family

Cooling-off Period in Health Insurance

Add-Ons in Health Insurance Policy

Consumables Cover in Health Insurance

Waiting Period vs Survival Period in Health Insurance

TPA in Health Insurance

Types of Health Insurance Plans

Health Insurance for Parents

Reimbursement Claims in Health Insurance

What to do if you are tested Positive for COVID-19?

Health Insurance Non-Medical Expenses

Critical Illness Health Insurance Cover

Grace Period in Health Insurance

Waiting Period in Health Insurance

Road Ambulance Health Insurance

Nominee in Health Insurance

Health Tips & Guides

Anywhere Cashless Hospitals - Hassle Free Hospitalization Anywhere in India

Day Care Treatment in Health Insurance

Health Insurance Premium Calculator

Health Insurance for Disabled Person

Yoga Asanas & Exercises for Better Lifestyle

Is Dental Covered in Health Insurance?

Zone Based Health Insurance in India

Health Insurance for Government Employees

Health Insurance for Smokers

Restoration Benefit in Health Insurance

Check Health Claim Status Online Instantly

Comprehensive Health Insurance

Compare Health Insurance

Coronavirus Cover: Health Insurance for Coronavirus Treatment

Healthy Lifestyle

Health Insurance for Self Employed/Freelancer

Types of Health Insurance Claims

Benefits of Health Insurance

Reason to Buy Seperate Health Insurance for Parents

Daily Hospital Cash Benefit in Health Insurance

Health Insurance on EMI

Health Insurance for Mother

PED in Health Insurance

Cashless Health Insurance

How to Port Health Insurance?

Health Insurance Tips

Moratorium Underwriting vs Full Medical Underwriting

Government Insurance Schemes

Loading in Health Insurance

AYUSH Health Insurance Benefits

Health Insurance Tax Benefits

Super Top-up Health Insurance for Employees Retiring Soon

Personal Accident Insurance

Super Top-up Health Insurance for Senior Citizens in India - Check Prices

Saral Suraksha Bima Policy | Go Digit Insurance

Sum Insured in Health Insurance

What is Long-term Health Insurance? Features & Benefits Explained

Individual Health Insurance

Term Insurance vs Health Insurance

Health Insurance for Diabetes Patients

Corona Kavach Policy: Buy COVID Kavach Health Insurance Online

File Health Claims Online on Digit App

Health Insurance After Retirement

Organ Transplant Cover in Health Insurance

List of Excluded Hospitals

Family Floater vs Individual Health Insurance

How to Choose the Right Sum Insured in Health Insurance?

Room Rent Capping in Health Insurance

How to Reduce your Health Insurance Premium?

Check Digit Health Insurance Claims Status on Digit App

Family Floater Health Insurance

Cumulative Bonus in Health Insurance

Download your Health e-Card

Wellness Benefits with Digit Health Insurance

City

Inpatient vs Outpatient Hospitalisation

Health Insurance with Free Medical Check Up

Deductible in Health Insurance

List of Excluded Hospitals

Maternity Health Insurance

Indemnity Based vs Fixed Benefits Health Insurance

Maternity Coverage with No Waiting Period

GHC

Health Insurance Bariatric Surgery Cover

Super Top up Health Insurance

Cataract Health Insurance

Best Health Insurance Policy

Corona Rakshak Policy Online: Health Insurance for COVID-19 in India

Arogya Sanjeevani Policy

Health Insurance OPD Cover

Coronavirus Health Insurance: COVID-19 Insurance Policy in India

Government Health Insurance Scheme

Health Insurance for NRI Parents

Exclusions in Health Insurance

Sub Limit in Health Insurance

Health Insurance for Disabled & HIV/AIDS Patients: Check Coverage and Benefits

Terminal Illness vs Critical Illness

Health Insurance Plan that Covers Infertility Treatments

Health Insurance Options for Retirees

Check Pending Challan only on Digit App

Install

Check Pending Challan only on Digit App

Latest News

Currently there are no news to show.

Renew & Download Policy Document, Check Challan, Credit Score, PUC & more

51K+ Reviews

4.8

Rated App

51K+ Reviews

10K+ Reviews

4.3

Rated App

10K+ Reviews

Download the App

CIN: U66010PN2016PLC167410, IRDAI Reg. No. 158.

Go Digit General Insurance Limited (formerly known as Oben General Insurance Ltd.) - Registered Office Address - 1 to 6 floors, Ananta One (AR One), Pride Hotel Lane, Narveer Tanaji Wadi, City Survey No.1579, Shivaji Nagar, Pune-411005, Maharashtra | Corporate Office Address - Atlantis, 95, 4th B Cross Road, Koramangala Industrial Layout, 5th Block, Bengaluru-560095, Karnataka | Trade logo of Go Digit General Insurance Ltd. displayed above belongs to Go Digit lnfoworks Services Private Limited and is provided and used by Go Digit General Insurance Ltd. under license.