Section 80D Mediclaim- Allow Pro-rata deduction of single premium paid

Issue/Justification

Currently, deduction of mediclaim premium is allowed in the year in which the payment has been made.

There are many mediclaim policies available in the market for which a single premium is payable in year one but the policy cover is for more than one year. These policies are more economical compared to traditional yearly policies.

Suggestion

Pro-rata deduction of single premium paid in year one should be allowed over the term of the policy. E.g. if the premium paid is Rs. 42,000/- for a 3-year policy, Rs. 14,000/- should be allowed each year starting from the year in which the payment has been made

Source-  ICAI Pre-Budget Memorandum–2018 (Direct Taxes and International Tax)