For Individual Basic deduction – Mediclaim premium paid for Self, Spouse or dependant children. Maximum deduction Rs 15,000. In case any of the persons specified above is a senior citizen (i.e. 65 years or more as of end of the year up to F.Y. 2010-11 and 60 years from F.Y. 2011-12) and Mediclaim Insurance premium is paid for such senior citizen, deduction amount is enhanced to Rs. 20,000. Additional deduction: Mediclaim premium paid for parents. Maximum deduction Rs 15,000. In case any of the parents covered by the Mediclaim policy is a senior citizen, deduction amount is enhanced to Rs. 20,000.

Deduction U/s. 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961 in respect of Medical Insurance Premium (Mediclaim) paid, to keep in force insurance by individual either on his own health or on the health of spouse, dependent parents and children or paid by HUF on the health of any members of the family.

There have been several representations from consumer associations and policyholders for enabling portability of health insurance policies from one insurer to other insurer. Persons shifting from one region to other regions are many times put to disadvantage due to lack of insurers’ office providing necessary policy servicing at the new location. Further, employees shifting from one organization to another organization many times lose health insurance cover due to lack of portability of the health insurance policies. It is essential to protect the policyholders against discontinuity and consequential loss of Pre Existing Diseases (PED) cover by making the health insurance plans portable across the insurance companies. The portability will also ensure that the policyholder is not tied to one single insurer throughout his life for fear of losing the cover of PED.

The Public Sector General Insurance Companies have been incurring health insurance claims in excess of premium received and after factoring in acquisition costs, which are around 10%, and the management expenses which are over 25%, the Combined Ratio i.e. the total expenses for health portfolio exceed 140% of the premium income.

Statement in Response to Calling Attention Motion Notice on Unilateral Revision / Withdrawal of Medical (Cashless) Insurance Products by Public Sector Insurance Companies. The Minister of State for Finance Shri Namo Narain Meena made the following Statement in response to the Calling Attention Motion Notice regarding situation arising out of the unilateral revision / withdrawal of the Medical (cashless) Insurance Products by the Insurance Companies in the Public Sector, in Rajya Sabha, today:

Concerned over the plight of patients after withdrawal of the cashless treatment facility by some hospitals at the behest of PSU insurance firms, noted heart surgeon Naresh Trehan on Monday said all-out efforts are underway to resolve the issue.

Mediclaim policyholders, who are not satisfied with the service of their existing service providers, will be able to switch to another insurer soon without any change in the premium outgo.However, this facility will be available to those policyholders who are insured for a sum of Rs 1 lakh and above, to begin with.

Medical care at overseas hospitals could well be within your reach with a number of health insurance providers planning to launch a premium health cover shortly. Health insurance providers, both private and state-owned, are readying products targeted at high networth individuals that would provide a cover of about Rs 50 lakh.

Most of the chartered firms may have completed there bank audits or will be on the verge of completion of the same. As you may be aware that Income Tax department has notified the Income Tax Return for the A.Y. 2009-10 but not yet officially released the ITR for the same. I have uploaded the [...]

18 Additional deduction for health insurance premium paid for parents 18.1 Pre-amended section 80D of the Income-tax Act provides for a deduction of up to fifteen thousand rupees to an assessee, being an individual or a Hindu undivided family. The deduction is allowed for making a payment to effect or keep in force an insurance [...]