My Health Insurance
Health insurance is insurance that covers the
whole or a part of the risk of a person incurring medical expenses, spreading
the risk over a large number of persons. By estimating the overall risk of health care and health system expenses over
the risk pool, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a
monthly premium or payroll tax, to provide the money to pay for the health care
benefits specified in the insurance agreement.
The benefit is administered by a
central organization such as a government agency, private business, or
not-for-profit entity. According to the Health Insurance Association of America,
health insurance is defined as "coverage that provides for the payments of
benefits as a result of sickness or injury. It includes insurance for losses
from accident, medical expense, disability, or accidental death and
dismemberment"
The Commonwealth Fund, in its annual survey, "Mirror, Mirror on the
Wall", compares the performance of the health care systems in Australia,
New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and the U.S. Its 2007 study
found that, although the U.S. system is the most expensive, it consistently
under-performs compared to the other countries. One difference
between the U.S. and the other countries in the study is that the U.S. is the
only country without universal health insurance coverage
The Commonwealth Fund completed its thirteenth annual health policy survey
in 2010. A study of the
survey "found significant differences in access, cost burdens, and
problems with health insurance that are associated with insurance design". Of the countries
surveyed, the results indicated that people in the United States had more
out-of-pocket expenses, more disputes with insurance companies than other
countries, and more insurance payments denied; paperwork was also higher
although Germany had similarly high levels of paperwork
Health insurance in India is a growing segment of India's economy. In 2011, 3.9% of India's gross domestic product was spent in the health sector. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), this is among the lowest of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) economies. Policies are available that offer both individual and family cover. Out of this 3.9%, health insurance accounts for 5-10% of expenditure, employers account for around 9% while personal expenditure amounts to an astounding 82%. In the year 2016, the NSSO released the report “Key Indicators of Social Consumption in India: Health” based on its 71st round of surveys. The survey carried out in the year 2014 found out that, more than 80% of Indians are not covered under any health insurance plan, and only 18 % (government funded 12%) of the urban population and 14% (government funded 13%) of the rural population was covered under any form of health insurance.
For the financial year 2014-15 Health Insurance premium was Rs.20,440 crores
Launched in 1986, the health insurance industry
has grown significantly mainly due to liberalization of economy and general
awareness. According to the World Bank,
by 2010, more than 25% of India’s
population had access to some form of health insurance. There are standalone
health insurers along with government sponsored health insurance providers.
Until recently, to improve the awareness and reduce the procrastination for
buying health insurance, the General Insurance Corporation of India and the
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
had launched an awareness
campaign for all segments of the population
Tax benefits
Under the Income Tax Act, under Section 80D, the insured person who takes out the policy can claim for tax deductions.
Rs.25,000 for self, spouse and dependent children.
Rs. 30,000/- for parents
Life insurance companies
- Aviva India
- Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance
- Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Limited
- Exide Life Insurance
- HDFC Standard Life Insurance
- ICICI Prudential Life Insurance
- IDBI Federal Life Insurance
- IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company
- Life Insurance Corporation of India
- Max Life Insurance
- Peerless Group
- PNB MetLife India Insurance Company
- SBI Life Insurance Company
- Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance
General Insurance Companies
- Agriculture Insurance Company of India
- Apollo Munich Health Insurance
- Cholamandalam MS General Insurance
- Bajaj Allianz General Insurance
- Bharti AXA General Insurance
- Cigna TTK
- Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India
- GIC Re
- HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company
- ICICI Lombard
- IFFCO Tokio
- L&T General Insurance
- Liberty Videocon General Insurance
- National Insurance Company
- New India Assurance
- The Oriental Insurance Company
- Reliance General Insurance
- Religare
- Royal Sundaram General Insurance
- Star Health and Allied Insurance
- Tata AIG General
- United India Insurance Company
- Universal Sompo General Insurance Company
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