Lok Sabha Question No. 196 (STARRED), answered on 2017-07-28
Subject: Health Insurance Coverage among Senior Citizens
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SATYA PAL SINGH, SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *196

TO BE ANSWERED ON Friday, July 28, 2017/ Shravana 6, 1939 (Saka)

## Health Insurance Coverage among Senior Citizens

## *196. DR. SATYAPAL SINGH: SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the health insurance scheme exclusively for senior citizens in the country;
- (b) whether the health insurance coverage among senior citizens is very low in the country, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the percentage of senior citizens covered under health insurance schemes of public and private sector companies in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has received any complaints against public/ private sector insurance companies for their reluctance/denial of health insurance coverage to senior citizens during the last three years and the current year and if so, the details thereof, company-wise along with the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure health insurance coverage to each senior citizen in the country?

## ANSWER

THE FINANCE MINISTER (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  to  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *196  FOR  28 th   July,  2017  REGARDING  'Health Insurance Coverage among Senior Citizens' TABLED BY DR. SATYAPAL SINGH AND SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE, M.P.s

(a)  to  (c)  and  (e): As  per  the  information  provided  by  Insurance  Regulatory  and Development  Authority  of  India  (IRDAI),  following  are  the  names  of  some  health insurance products offered exclusively for the senior citizens of the country.

|   Sl. | Name of the Insurance Co.                         | Name of the Insurance Product               |
|-------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
|     1 | United India Insurance Company Limited            | Individual Health Senior Citizen Policy     |
|     2 | Tata AIG General Insurance Company Limited        | Wellsurance Senior Policy                   |
|     3 | Star Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd.         | Senior Citizens Red Carpet Insurance Policy |
|     4 | Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Limited | Senior Citizen Health Insurance Policy      |
|     5 | Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Limited | CSC - Sr Citizen Health Insurance Policy    |

Further,  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  is  also  implementing  Senior  Citizen's Health  Insurance  Scheme  (SCHIS)  providing  insurance  cover  to  senior  citizens  as  a top-up  over  the  existing  Rashtriya  Swasthya  Bima  Yojana  (RSBY)  Scheme  w.e.f. 1.4.2016 to  cater  to  the  unique  health  treatment  requirements  of  senior  citizens.  The Scheme being implemented in eight states at present covers senior citizens aged 60 years  and  above.  It  provides  an  enhanced  coverage  of  upto  Rs.  30,000  per  senior citizen in the eligible family. This package is over and above the annual package per family  provided  under  RSBY. This  additional  benefit  can  be  used  only  by  Senior citizens of the family which is enrolled in RSBY.  If in any RSBY enrolled family there is more than one senior citizen, then the additional cover will be in multiple of Rs. 30,000 per senior citizen and it will be provided on a floater basis among the senior citizens of the RSBY enrolled family.

IRDAI does not maintain  data  regarding  percentage  of  senior  citizens  covered  under health insurance schemes of public and private sector companies in the country.

(d): Government / Authority have not received any significant complaint. IRDAI's (Health Insurance) Regulations, 2016 stipulate that every health insurance product shall allow entry age for all citizens (including Senior Citizens) for the purpose of insurance shall be at  least  up  to  65  years.  Further,  where  a  person  has  taken  a  health  insurance  policy before he/she attains age 65 years, renewal of such policy shall not be denied based on the  age.  Also,  the  premium  charged  for  health  insurance  products  to  senior  citizens shall be fair, justified, transparent and duly disclosed upfront.

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