IRDAI reinforces mental health cover

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), in a circular, has directed insurers to comply with provisions of the Mental Health Care Act 2017 and place its provisions in their underwriting policies.

The circular also specifies that all the insurance products that are in force on or after the date of MHC Act, 2017 coming into force shall be deemed to provide cover for mental illness diseases without any deviation.

The Mental Health Act, 2017 says that every insurer will have to make provision for medical insurance for treatment of mental illness on the same basis as is available for treatment of physical illness.