IRDA to make health cover for HIV patients mandatory

HIV/AIDS patients, doctors and nurses who are vulnerable to the infection can look forward to health insurance cover soon.

At present, health insurance cover is not being provided to these categories of customers.

In an exposure draft released on Friday, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has asked all life and general insurers to put in place an underwriting policy on health insurance coverage for persons suffering from HIV.

“The Authority has received representations from various stakeholders, including public bodies and the Government, to provide insurance cover to people living with HIV and to those who are vulnerable to it in health insurance policies,'' Mr J. Hari Narayan, Chairman, IRDA, said.

The insurers should indicate the general eligibility criteria for extending health cover under this category by specifying the stages of infection and compliance with treatment protocols.

They should also identify all possible risks and those risks which would be denied.

All the product designs would be examined and approved by the regulator in accordance with file and use procedures.

IRDA proposes to implement this order from October 1, 2012.

nagsridhu@thehindu.co.in