Post lockdown medical insurance for workers made mandatory

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home affairs in its directive has made it mandatory for all employers to provide health insurance to its employees, as and when they resume functioning post the lockdown.

However, some employees already have been providing health cover to their employees and their families. These companies have been buying a 'group health insurance' which generally covers hospitalisation expenses for the employee and family members up to a prescribed limit. In a statement recently the insurance regulator said: "reference is invited to Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I (A) dated 15th April 2020 issued as part of the Consolidated Revised Guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI. As per the said order, inter alia; the following are stipulated:

i. All industrial and commercial establishments, workplaces, offices etc. shall put in place arrangements for the implementation of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) before starting their functioning. ii. As per clause no. 5 of Annexure-II of the said SOP for social distancing for offices, workplace, factories and establishments, medical insurance for the workers to be made mandatory."

In its circular, the government said that all Insurance companies may offer comprehensive health insurance policies either to individuals or groups in order to enable the listed organisations/employers/establishments to comply with the stated directive.

The IRDAI further stated that this health cover is just not limited until the pandemic and companies may take up policies with suit their budgets and are tailored according to their needs.

"The above-referred organisations should be able to continue the Medical Insurance Policy offered by insurers not only for the present situation but for all time," it added.

Source: ET Now