With over ₹15,000 cr worth of claims, FM sends message to insurers to prioritise covid claims

As hospitals deny cashless insurance benefits and covid claims surge, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam has directed the insurance regulator IRDAI to direct companies to prioritise authorisation and settlement of Covid-19 claims.

“It is clarified where insurers have an arrangement with hospitals for providing cashless facility, such network hospitals are obligated to provide cashless treatment for all treatments, including treatment for Covid-19,” IRDAI stated. 

As on April 20, a total of 900,000 Covid-19 health claims worth ₹8,642 crore were settled by insurance companies. General insurers have received close to ₹15,000 crore health insurance claims pertaining to the Coronavirus treatment.