Insurance regulator IRDAI has issued direction to all insurance companies to cover AYUSH treatment just as other treatments. The IRDAI circular mentions that the insurance companies must have board approved insurance policies for providing Ayush treatment at par with other treatments for the purpose of health insurance.
IRDAI's directive will provide an option for the policyholders to choose treatment of their choice. The regulator further mentions that the insurance policy must contain procedure to enroll Ayush hospitals/ day care centres as network providers for the purpose of providing cashless facilities.
The IRDAI circular says, “the insurance companies will have a board approved policy for providing AYUSH coverage which will include their approach towards placing AYUSH treatments at par with other treatments for the purpose of health insurance so as to provide an option for the policyholders to choose treatment of their choice."
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The circular also mentions that the insurers will have adequate controls as well as standard operating procedures for enrolling hospitals in their network, placing necessary clauses in their health services agreements with Ayush hospitals/ day care centres, standard treatment protocols and dealing with the possible frauds and abuse of the system, if any.
Insurance companies are also asked to actively engage with Core Group of Experts for Insurance Sector in order to develop required modalities for providing Ayush coverage. The Core Group of Experts for Insurance Sector was set up by the Ministry of Ayush Oct 4, 2023 for bringing AYUSH Treatment under health insurance cover
AYUSH refers to the treatment given under alternative therapies of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.