Will there be a hike in health insurance premium without COVID-19 vaccine? certificate?
With the on-going mass vaccination drive for the senior citizens (60 years and above) and people between the age of 45-59 years, there has been a surge of fake news on various topics including vaccine tourism, morphed images among others. Case in point being, there is a viral post on social media claiming that health insurance companies will hike the premiums for those without an acknowledgment or certificate of COVID-19 vaccinations. Let us verify the claims in the post.
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Source: Facebook post
Health insurance policy has been one of the most convoluted and complex process in terms of coverage, beneficiaries, eligibility criteria for reimbursements.
Given the increasing number of COVID-19 cases across states, the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI) has mandated all general and health insurers to offer individual COVID-19 health policies to people known as ‘Corona Kavach Policy’. Under Section 34(1) (a) of the Insurance Act, 1938, the IRDA has said that all general and health insurers must provide one basic mandatory cover.
Under the IRDAI guidelines, the base cover under COVID standard health policy shall offer the following:
- COVID-19 Hospitalization expenses
- Home care treatment expenses
- AYUSH treatment
- Pre-hospitalization
- Post-hospitalization
The “Corona Kavach Policy” is available with a policy term of three and half months (3 ½ months), six and half months (6 ½ months) and nine and half months (9 ½ months) including waiting period with a minimum sum insured of Rs. 50,000 and a maximum sum of Rs. 5,00,000.
However, in the recent guidelines, there has been no mention of issues like hike in premium without the proof of COVID-19 vaccine certificate or that it is a requisite to travel both domestic and international. Upon clarification to Mumbai Midday fact-check, Mumbai-based IRDA office clarified and confirmed that it is false news and no such notification has been floated or communicated by the concerned IRDA authorities.
In summary, it is imperative that people should not blindly believe forwarded messages and make sure to verify such information from concerned authorities in this case, the IRDA website for the correct information on the recent guidelines.
