IRDAI delists 10 medical treatments for health cover from optional list

The insurance regulator, in a circular on Monday, delisted 10 specific medical treatments from its list of optional covers, that can be offered by health insurance companies.

Through its guidelines on the standardisation of health insurance, the Insurance and Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI) lists various medical procedures, medical equipment like alcohol swabs and administrative charges amongst others, that can be offered as part of a health insurance policy.

Health insurance companies have the option to offer customers a cover for the items or procedures listed in chapter 3 of the guidelines. These are part of the ‘non-payable’ aspects of a standard health insurance policy.

Health insurance policies mainly cover hospitalisation charges, while the costs of other treatments and ancillary equipment have to be borne by the customer or policyholder themselves.