Be mindful of sub-limits on mental illnesses in your insurance cover

OPD covers compensate for counselling sessions, but these always have a sub-limit

In a recent case, the Delhi High Court asked the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India to explain the basis on which it has approved insurance policies that have sub-limits on the coverage of mental health conditions.

A person had purchased a policy from Max Bupa Health Insurance with a sum insured of Rs 35 lakh. When he made a claim, he was informed that the policy has a sub-limit of Rs 50,000 for m­ental health conditions. Clearly, buyers need to scrutinise policies at the time of purchase to avoid unpleasant surprises.

What the regulations say

According to the Mental Healthcare Act