Archive · 31 Jan 2026
Elderly Care Costs Push Indian Families into Debt
Many families in India are struggling to care for elderly relatives at home.
A recent study found that one in five households with chronically ill elderly members spends so much on healthcare that it becomes a financial crisis.
This is because health insurance often doesn't cover long-term care at home, and families have to pay for everything out of their own pockets.
As a result, many families are using up their savings, taking loans, or asking friends and family for help.
The costs are very high, especially for serious illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
The government has tried to help by reducing out-of-pocket expenses, but more needs to be done to support elderly care.
Different states in India also have different levels of this problem, with some states facing much higher financial strain.
The study highlights the need for better health insurance and government support to help families care for their elderly loved ones without going into debt.
21% of households with chronically ill elderly members face catastrophic health expenditure.
Families often exhaust savings, take loans, or seek financial help to cover care costs.
Most health insurance plans exclude palliative care, especially for home-based services.
Households bear 94% of outpatient treatment costs and 82% of hospitalization expenses.
Regional disparities exist, with Kerala (38%) and Bengal (23%) facing higher financial strain compared to Karnataka (6.5%).
- Who
- Households with chronically ill elderly members in India
- What
- Catastrophic health expenditure due to elderly care costs
- When
- Ongoing, with recent study findings published
- Where
- Across India, with notable regional disparities
- Why
- Gaps in health insurance and government support for long-term care
- Catastrophic Health Expenditure
- Health expenditure that equals or surpasses 25% of household income
- Households Affected
- 21% of households with chronically ill elderly members
- Financial Impact
- 24% exhausted savings, 27% borrowed money, 14% relied on friends/relatives
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses
- 94% of outpatient treatment costs, 82% of hospitalization expenses
- Average Hospitalization Costs
- ₹2.68 lakh for cancer, ₹93,000 for heart disease, ₹54,000 for stroke
- Regional Disparities
- 6.5% in Karnataka, 23% in Bengal, 38% in Kerala
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses Trend
- Fell from 62% in 2014-15 to 39% in 2021-22