On February 3, 2021 Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) issued guidelines on Standard Vector Borne Disease Health Policy to encourage all general and health insurers to offer this product. They can offer this product by 1st April, 2021.
i.The product will offer a policy tenure of a year (12 Months).
ii.The nomenclature of the product should be in the name of the insurance company followed by “Mashak Rakshak”
Purpose– To make available Vector Borne Disease specific health insurance product for the public
What are Vector-borne diseases?
These are diseases that result from an infection transmitted to humans and other animals by blood-feeding animals, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
The vector-borne diseases include Dengue fever, West Nile Virus, Lyme disease, and malaria.
Guidelines on Standard Vector Borne Disease Health Policy
Regulations
The product will comply with all the provisions of IRDAI (Health Insurance) Regulations, 2016, all other applicable Regulations and other applicable Guidelines.
Amount
- Insurers will determine the Price of the policy on the basis of the mentioned above regulation and guidelines.
- During a policy period, the total amount to be paid in respect of coverages offered must not exceed 100% of the Sum Insured.
Minimum & Maximum Sum Insured
Under the standard product, the minimum sum insured will be Rs 10,000 and maximum will be Rs 2,00,000.
Age Category
- Minimum– 18years(for principal insured)
- Maximum– not less than 65 years of age( for all the insured members including principal insured)
Nomenclature
The insurer must also mention the meaning of “Mashak” in vernacular based on the region where the policy is sold.
Coverage
i.Hospitalization Benefit
- When positively diagnosed with the vector-borne disease(s), that requires hospitalisation for a minimum continuous period of 72 hours, a lump sum benefit equal to 100% of the Sum Insured (excluding the amount paid under-diagnosis cover) will be paid.
- The diseases include Dengue fever, Malaria, Filaria (Lymphatic Filariasis), Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis and Zika Virus.
Diagnosis Cover
- On the 1st diagnosis during the Cover Period, 2% of the sum insured will be paid on positive diagnosis (through laboratory examination and confirmed by the medical practitioner) of every covered vector-borne disease.
- Under this cover the Policyholder has to pay for each disease only once in the policy year.
Termination
If payment has been made on 100% of sum insured, the policy will be terminated.
Recent Related News:
On October 15, 2020, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) released Guidelines for Standard Life Insurance Product ‘Saral Jeevan Bima’.
The insurance scheme should be mandatorily offered by All Life Insurance Companies from January 1, 2021.
About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI):
Chairman – Subhash Chandra(C.) Khuntia
Headquarters – Hyderabad, Telangana
