The coronavirus pandemic bought along with many changes in the world – from the way we interacted to the way we worked. It also changed the way we were given healthcare. Telemedicine is the one those sectors that had been long ignored by investors, government, and healthcare organizations themselves. But during this pandemic, it rose like a hero and is now used to save hundreds of lives on a daily basis. To boost the support, and offer some relief to the policyholders and patients seeking care, The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued certain guidelines on telemedicine to all general and health insurers.
Now patients will be able to get health insurance benefits even if they consult doctors/hospitals using telemedicine. In the terms and conditions of medical insurance policies, IRDAI has asked insurers to allow telemedicine wherever regular medical consultation is permitted. Insurers have been asked to allow telemedicine as part of their policy’s claim settlement, as per a release issued today by the insurance regulator. All insurers offering an outpatient department (OPD) cover also have to pay for the telemedicine costs. Customers can check with their health plan to see if they have OPD cover because a few organizations do not include it in the basic cover. It’s available as an add-on cover where the consumer needs to pay an additional fee in order to receive their benefits.
These guidelines on telemedicine are particularly important when patients with moderate symptoms of coronavirus are recommended to take home and quarantine care for themselves. This is aimed at stopping the disease from spreading, as well as avoiding hospital overcrowding.
