New Delhi: Insurance regulator IRDA has taken important steps to increase health insurance coverage in the country. In the standard health insurance policy ‘Arogya Sanjeevani’, it has reduced the minimum limit to Rs 50 thousand and the maximum limit further to Rs one million.
IRDA had issued guidelines regarding Arogya Sanjeevani Standard Health Insurance Policy in July last year. In this, insurance companies were asked to provide compulsory insurance cover up to a minimum of Rs 1 lakh and up to a maximum of Rs 5 lakh. The minimum age to choose this standard health policy is 18 years and maximum age is 65 years.
IRDA has now said in a circular issued to general and health insurance companies, “Insurance companies are now mandated under Arogya Sanjeevani Standard Product from May 1, 2021, while partially improving the existing guidelines to increase the coverage available under the Arogya Sanjeevani Policy.” As a minimum, an insurance cover of at least 50 thousand rupees and a maximum of ten lakh rupees will have to be given. ”
However, IRDA has said that the new reform guidelines will not be applicable to the two specific government general insurance companies ECGC and AIC. The Agricultural Insurance Company of India Limited (AIC) is for the agricultural sector. Whereas ECGC is an export credit guarantee company that supports exporters.
Arogya Sanjeevani policy covers the cost of hospitalization, before and after admission, AYUSH treatment and cataract treatment. It is a standard health insurance policy. In this, the basic needs of the policyholder have been kept in mind.
Experts believe that insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh is not enough. This can be said especially for Tier-1 cities. But, this product is good at the entry-level.
There are all methods available for payment of premium. That is, you can pay the insurance premium on an annual, half-yearly, quarterly or monthly basis. There is uniformity in premium pricing. The premium under this health insurance plan is the same across the country.
