IRDAI directs hospitals to provide cashless treatment for COVID-19 to policyholders

In a big relief to the policyholders, IRDAI has recently directed all the hospitals to provide cashless treatment if mentioned in the contract. This clarification came in the backdrop of reports that some hospitals have refrained themselves in providing cashless facilities for the treatment of COVID-19 patients despite the policyholders being entitled to it.

IRDAI stated, “Hospitals who have signed Service Level Agreement (SLA) with general and health insurers have to mandatorily provide cashless facility for any treatment to the policyholders including COVID-19 treatment in accordance with the agreed provision of SLA and terms and conditions of policy contract.”

In the event of denial of the cashless facility at any such hospital, the policyholder may send a complaint to the concerned insurance company. It also mentioned that the details and e-mail IDs of grievances redressal officers of insurance firms can be accessed from the IRDAI’s official website by clicking on ‘Grievances’ and then on ‘functions’.

It further directed all the insurance companies to ensure smooth availability of a cashless facility with all hospitals empanelled with them by actively interacting with the hospital.