IRDAI has reprimanded insurance companies in this matter and said that all insurance products will provide cover related to mental illness and follow the provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
If you are going to take or have taken a health insurance policy, now mental illnesses will also be covered in it. Insurance regulator Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has directed insurance companies to include mental illness under the health insurance policy. Also said that this rule will apply to all insurance companies. In such a situation, while taking the policy, you must also see whether mental illnesses are covered in it or not?
The law came in 2017 to cover mental health
Explain that the law came in 2017 to include diseases related to mental health in the insurance policy. But due to arbitrariness, many insurance companies did not include mental illnesses in this.
At the same time, the insurance regulatory body IRDAI also told all insurance companies in August 2018 that they should not discriminate between physical and mental illnesses. Along with this, instructions were given to follow the provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 with immediate effect. But still mental illnesses were not brought under the insurance policy.
IRDAI reprimanded insurance companies
Now IRDAI has reprimanded the insurance companies in this matter and said that all insurance products will provide cover related to mental illness and follow the provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. Insurance companies are requested to confirm this compliance before 31 October 2022. Now claims related to mental illness cannot be rejected in the new policy, as well as it has been implemented in old insurance policies as well.
Also know the condition of mental insurance cover
The cover for mental illness will be applicable only if the mental illness has occurred after taking the insurance policy. In such a situation, the cost of hospitalization and treatment of the patient will have to be borne by the health insurance company. In mental diseases, diseases like depression and Alzheimer’s will also be covered. But if the person is already mentally ill before taking the policy, then his illness will not be covered in the policy.
What is Mental Healthcare Act 2017
The Mental Healthcare Act 2017 aims to bring people suffering from mental illness under the ambit of the policy so that patients can get the right health care and services. According to the IRDAI circular, for this, by October 31, 2022, all insurance companies will have to make all insurance products in such a way that they can cover mental illness or mental illnesses. Accordingly, this rule has now come into force from 1 November.
