Age old concerns
Though 76 per cent of Indians worry about developing a chronic disease in old age, only 38 per cent have bought health insurance. These are some of the findings of a Bupa Health Pulse survey.
How are you preparing for old age?
More than 60 per cent of the respondents believe they will need to draw from their liquid assets to meet healthcare costs. Almost 25 per cent say they have done nothing to assess their health risk.
Who will take care of you in your old age?
An overwhelming majority depend on their families for support in old age. They have more faith in the insurance they buy rather than in the government.
What is the standard of healthcare for old people?
The older generation does not have a good perception about the quality of healthcare, with 56 per cent of the 55-64-year-old respondents rating it as fairly poor.
Have you purchased a health insurance cover?
Indians are optimistic, or fatalistic, about their health, with 47 per cent of the respondents saying they don't worry about it. A high percentage of respondents hasn't bought any health insurance at all.
Do you believe that certain changes in your lifestyle can help you stay healthy?
Nearly one-third of the Indians do not believe in taking any action to keep healthy, with a majority confident that they have control over their health.
How do you assess the risk to your health?
Though most respondents (37 per cent) believe they will die of old age, concerns over developing a heart disease and obesity propel the majority to go for regular health check-ups.
Which disease do you worry about contracting when you are old?
India is the diabetes capital of the world, but people worry more about heart disease. Cancer, which has a low incidence, but involves costly treatment, is also a cause for concern.
63 years
is the life expectancy in India, and it is lower than the international average of 67 years. However, Indians are living longer than before, up from 45 years in 1960-65.
All figures don't add up to 100 because of multiple responses.
