Page 3 - Health Insurance

Centre brings elders over 70 years under ambit of Ayushman Bharat scheme

With this approval, all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, would be eligible to avail themselves of the benefits of AB-PMJAY

Govt gives nod to Ayushman health insurance to all citizens aged 70, above

In a move that will benefit 4.5 crore families, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of income under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. The coverage aims to benefit six crore senior citizens from 4.5 crore families with Rs five lakh free health insurance cover. Eligible beneficiaries will be issued a new distinct card under the scheme, the government said.

GST cut on key cancer drugs set to boost patient coverage, say experts

Move is part of ongoing initiatives to reduce financial burden for cancer patients

54th GST Council meet: New GoM to look into rate on life, health insurance

GST Council headed by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) on reducing tax rate on life and health insurance and cut GST on cancer drugs and namkeens. Briefing reporters on the outcome of the 54th GST Council meeting, Sitharaman said it has decided to have a Group of Ministers (GoM) to look into the GST rate on life and health insurance. The GoM will be headed by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who is currently heading the panel on GST rate rationalisation. Sitharaman said that new members would be joining the GoM to look into GST on health insurance. The GoM will be submitting its report by October end, she said. The issue of taxation of insurance premiums had figured in Parliament discussions with Opposition members demanding that health and life insurance premiums be exempt from the GST. Even Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari wrote to Sitharaman on the issue. Sitharaman in her reply to a discussion on the

GST Council moves closer to reducing GST on life, health insurance premiums

Shares of major insurance companies like Star Health, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, and Go Digit General Insurance traded in the red due to concerns over insurance premium GST rates

Usher in competition between EPF and NPS to boost formal job creation

The government needs to introduce competition between EPFO and NPS, and between ESIC and health insurance companies, while making contributions voluntary for low-paid workers

25 years of the Indian insurance industry: Here are the hits and misses

De-tariffing and portability are two milestones ahead of the Insurance Act amendment that made health insurance an independent line of business and raised FDI limits to 49%. The first of 2 part column

Star Health introduces braille insurance policy for visually impaired

The policy is designed to address the specific requirements of individuals with disabilities of 40% or more, including physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments

Mpox, dengue, Covid, & more: Does your health insurance cover outbreaks?

As outbreaks like Mpox increase, so do medical costs. But the question is: does your health insurance cover such diseases?

Is it a wise decision to bundle health and life cover plans?

Single policy reduces paperwork and simplifies premium payments

Medi Assist Insurance TPA to acquire Paramount Health for Rs 312 crore

Paramount TPA works with 30 insurers and more than 3,000 group customers and retail policyholders

Health insurance sublimit: A crucial factor for policyholders

Sub-limits are decided by the insurance company and the most you can do is thoroughly understand the sub-limits of a policy before making a purchase

Cashless health claim in just 15 mins at the time of discharge. Here's how

Policybazaar for Business, along with Paramount Health TPA and various insurance companies, has introduced the '15-Minute Express Discharge' service

What is the co-pay option in senior citizen health insurance

Health policies with copayment provisions tend to be more affordable since they lessen the insurer's responsibility by splitting losses between the insured and the insurer

Health insurance premiums are rising: Here is how to stay covered

Combine base policy with super top-up; buying a multi-year policy will also help

Oppn demands for caste census, tax on rich, GST removal on insurance in RS

Opposition members in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday pressed for a caste census, imposition of super rich tax, and removal of GST levy on life and medical insurance premiums. Participating in a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation No. 3 Bill, 2024 in the Upper House, Raghav Chadha of the Aam Aadmi Party expressed happiness at the indexation benefit being "partially restored". However, he said, this poses a "huge question mark" over the central government's tax policies. "... How confused is our country's taxation policy. On 23 July 2024, you say that you are taking away the indexation benefit from investors and exactly after two weeks, you say that you are not taking it away but restoring it. This shows that when you, without thinking, not acting on the advice of an economist, if you devise the Budget on the advice of those who do not have economic knowledge, these kind of flip flops will be witnessed," he said. Taking away indexation from an Indian investor is equivalent to

Oppn slams govt for not withdrawing GST on health, life insurance premiums

Opposition members in Lok Sabha on Wednesday slammed the government for not taking up an amendment in the Finance Bill to withdraw the 18 per cent GST levy on medical and life insurance premiums. Opposition MPs staged a walkout from Lok Sabha after an amendment moved by RSP member N K Premchandran seeking removal of 18 per cent GST on medical and life insurance premiums was not taken up by the House during the passage of the Finance Bill. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who piloted the Finance Bill, said any amendment in GST has to be approved by the GST council. "Specific demand of the entire opposition is to withdraw the 18 per cent GST on life and health insurance schemes for which I had given an amendment. Normal procedure of the House is that the amendment is circulated only if it is admitted," Premchandran told reporters outside Parliament after the walked out by the opposition MPs. "This was circulated yesterday itself. This gives a message that it has been accepted, or

Opposition's walkout on GST issue a 'face-saver', says FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday criticised the opposition parties for their walkout from the Lok Sabha after their amendment to withdraw GST levy on medical and life insurance premiums was not taken up and said they did so as a "face-saver" after she addressed all their issues in her speech. Speaking to reporters in Parliament House Complex, Sitharaman said the GST Council, which is a constitutional body, can take up any matter related to the GST and such an amendment could not be moved in Parliament as demanded by the opposition parties. "They were given appropriate response to all their issues. They were looking for a face-saver and picked on this to stage a walkout. It was an afterthought," she said. RSP member N K Premchandran had moved the amendment during the passage of the Finance Bill, seeking removal of 18 per cent GST on medical and life insurance premiums. Normal procedure of the House is that the amendment is circulated only if it is admitted, he told .

INDIA bloc stages protest against GST on health, life insurance premiums

INDIA bloc parties staged a protest in Parliament premises on Tuesday to press for the rollback of 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on life and health insurance premiums. MPs from various parties such as TMC, Congress, AAP and NCP (SC), among others, participated in the protest on the steps leading to the Makar Dwar of Parliament. Carrying placards reading "Tax terrorism", the protesting MPs raised slogans demanding that the GST on life and health insurance premiums be rolled back. Trinamool Congress MPs have raised the issue in Parliament and party president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the matter. Union minister Nitin Gadkari also wrote to Sitharaman and urged her to consider withdrawing the GST which, he said, amounted to taxing uncertainties of life and restricting the industry's growth.

Opposition slams government over 18% GST on life and health insurance

Sources in the TMC said that its MPs have raised the issue in Parliament and their party chief, WB CM Mamata Banerjee, has written to FM Nirmala Sitharaman on the matter