Health Insurance News

Preventive health intelligence startup Cent has announced its launch with a focus on detecting life-threatening diseases such as cancer and cardiac conditions at an early, asymptomatic stage.

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Cent launches AI-driven early cancer detection platform

Founded by Shashank ND along with Arpit Garg and Anshul Khandelwal, the company combines expertise in healthcare, AI, and clinical radiology.

Cent has already begun operations and secured seed funding from OneFlow Holdings and South Park Commons. The clinical team is led by Dr Nandakumar, chief radiologist.

The platform leverages artificial intelligence to identify diseases earlier while reducing false positives and negatives. Shashank ND highlighted that delayed diagnosis remains a key challenge in India's healthcare system.

The company aims to shift healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive detection, using AI to improve outcomes and enable timely intervention before conditions become critical.

Health insurance premiums rise sharply over three years

The average health insurance premium for individuals has increased by 23 per cent between 2022-23 and 2024-25, raising affordability concerns for policyholders. Premium collections reached Rs. 11,188 crore in 2024-25, reflecting the growing cost burden.

Family floater policies have also seen a rise, with average per-person premiums increasing by over 18 per cent to Rs. 7,020 during the same period. The increase has been more pronounced after the Covid-19 pandemic, when claims surged.

However, recent trends indicate that lower claims are not necessarily translating into reduced premiums for customers. The government cited multiple factors driving the increase, including medical inflation, ageing policyholders, higher sum insured, and enhanced policy features.

The rise highlights ongoing challenges in balancing profitability and affordability within the health insurance sector.

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