Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
Circular
Ref. No:IRDAI/HLT/MISC/CIR/129/06/2020
Date:02-06-2020
To
All Insurers (Except ECGC and AIC)
Sub: Disclosure of underwriting philosophy of offering Insurance coverage to Persons with Disability (PWD) and people affected with HIV/AIDS and Mental Illness diseases.
1. Reference is drawn to the provisions of IRDAI (Health Insurance) Regulations, 2016 in accordance to which every insurer shall evolve a health insurance underwriting policy covering approach and aspects relating to offering health insurance coverage not only to standard lives but also to substandard lives. Further insurance companies shall also comply with various provisions of HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act, 2017 and Mental healthcare Act, 2017.
2. Notwithstanding the above provisions, it is considered essential that the targeted population of every insurer shall have complete information on the philosophy that insurers adopt while complying with the above referred provisions.
3. In furtherance to above, all Insurers are instructed to publish on their respective websites the underwriting philosophy and approach with regard to offering insurance coverage to the following category of population:
a. Persons with Disabilities ( PWD)
b. Persons affected with HIV /AIDS
c. Persons affected with Mental Illness diseases.
4. All Insurers (Life, General and Health Insurers) are here by directed to comply with the aforesaid instruction by 01st October, 2020.
5. This has the approval of the competent authority.
(DVS RAMESH )
GENERAL MANAGER (H)
Disclose underwriting philosophy of offering Insurance coverage to PWD and people affected with HIV/AIDS and Mental Illness diseases.
The word “sub standard lives” could have been avoided. Instead “differently able” or
“specially enabled” could have been used.
The word “Terms and Conditions” is apt in insurance parlance than the word “Philosophy”.
Of course Philosophy meant “gudiling pinciple”still practical and settled words in insurance parlance would better serve the purpose of circular.