Women hardly covered for critical illness

Only six per cent of women have critical illness cover in cities says a survey done in India’s metros Women in the metros are more cautious about health than their counterparts in the non- metros but only six per cent of a survey have critical illness cover against 22 per cent who have a health insurance.

This is despite the fact that as much as 88 per cent of the 1,000 respondents in the survey believe that critical illness is increasing because of lack exercise. Also, only 33 per cent of the respondents pay attention to their own health even though over two-thirds of the respondents feel physical activity is important, says an ICICI Lombard survey among 1000 women in the 22-45-year age bracket in eight cities, both metros and non-metros conducted online.

When it comes to health check-ups though 79 per cent do it, the frequency is only once in two years, while 29 per cent feel such check-ups are not needed. According to the study, 68 per cent of women in the metros feel that any physical activity/exercise is important to stay healthy. However, only 33 per cent of them pay attention to their health, with women in metros having a major share.

Significantly, the survey finds that most women believe that regular health check-ups are not very important and as much as 79 per cent of them do medical checkups only once in two years. Busy lifestyle is a key excuse for the metro women to not take care of their health, while, women in non-metros are under a pre-conceived notion that they are fit.

The survey enumerates one important fact about the rise in critical illnesses. Sedentary lifestyle, heavy work pressure, late working hours and poor eating habits are few among the many reasons for this.