General insurers to settle claims for black fungus treatment

General insurers have said that they will settle claims on the health policies of individuals undergoing treatment for mucormycosis or black fungus, the incidence of which has increased as a result of COVID-19 infections.

Individuals with comprehensive health covers that include pre and post hospitalisation expenses, critical illness covers, preventive health checkups among other benefits, will stand to benefit from the policy, reported The Telegraph.

“All our health indemnity policies cover hospitalisation expenses arising out of various infections. mucormycosis, which is also known as black fungus, is one such infection that is covered under our health policies. In fact, we have settled claims pertaining to this condition. We have been working towards swiftly settling such claims,” said Mr Bhaskar Nerurkar, head – health claims, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.

Mr Sanjay Datta, chief of underwriting and claims at ICICI Lombard, says that most patients with the disease are being treated in hospitals. The hospitalisation expenses as per the policy terms are being covered whenever claims are raised.

“All comprehensive policies cover black fungus. The claim process is normal like any other policies and there is no differentiation,” said Mr Amit Chhabra, head of health insurance, Policybazaar.com. He added that certain policies which offer only specific treatments only may not cover the disease.

Uncontrolled diabetes, weakening of the immune system because of the use of steroids, prolonged hospital stay, co-morbidities are among the conditions that can elevate the risk of fungal infection in COVID-19 patients.

Source: Asia Insurance Review