Page 12 - Insurance Times JUNE 2022

Health Insurance

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Health insurance premi- by 14 percent on one of its products - The scientist added that genome se-
ManipalCigna ProHealth. "We have quence analysis demonstrated that the
ums on the rise increased prices after three years. This case had a breakthrough infection with
Health insurance premium is set to rise will ensure the overall portfolio is man- Delta derivative AY.112 and reinfec-
this fiscal on the back of rising medical aged better," Sikdar explained. tion with the Omicron sublineage BA.2.
costs and high Covid-19 claims. While "The clinical specimens of the first bout
a number of insurers have already an- Covid warrior gets in- of infection couldn't be characterized
nounced hikes in their retail health in- but the probability of B.1 (Wuhan
fected thrice even after 2
surance products, others are expected strain) as the infecting variant is higher
jabs
to raise in the coming months. as the infection occurred in October
A healthcare worker who contracted
"High Covid-19 claims have impacted 2020," the expert said.
Omicron after two bouts of Covid and
many insurers in the last year. A few
a round of vaccination may be India's
are looking at increasing the premium
first case of reinfection despite natu- Centre extends insurance
by 15 percent to 20 percent on retail
ral- and vaccine-induced protection,
health covers," said an executive with scheme for health workers
investigators from the ICMR-National
a private sector non-life insurer. Insur- The Central government's insurance
Institute of Virology (NIV) have said.
ers also point out that the rising medi- scheme for health workers fighting
The individual first got Covid in Octo-
cal inflation along with new protocol Covid-19 has been extended for an-
ber 2020, then experienced a break-
post the Covid 19 pandemic has added other period of 180 days.
through infection with Delta (after two
to costs. "The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan
doses of Covishield) and was again hit
"Premium increase is predominantly Package (PMGKP): Insurance scheme
by Omicron during the third wave this
linked with medical inflation, which in for Healthcare Workers Fighting Covid-
year. The time between recovery from
turn is a function of several factors 19 has been extended for a further
Delta and the Omicron reinfection was
such as rising hospital costs, new ad- just about two months, ICMR scientists period of 180 days from 19th April,
vances in medical technology and told, adding that the case demon- 2022. It has been decided to extend
treatment. These factors are ever- strates Omicron's significant immune- the policy so as to continue to provide
present in a growing economy like In- escape abilities. the safety net to the dependents of
dia where healthcare is advancing in a health workers who are deputed to
"An extensive search of the scientific
big way. The pandemic has also take care of Covid-19 patients," the
database so far has not revealed any
brought a multitude of changes in the government said in an order.
reports of a primary infection, followed
treatment protocol, impacting the
by a breakthrough infection and rein- The PMGKP was launched on March
cost of claims," said Prasun Sikdar,
fection in India. So the healthcare 30, 2020 to provide comprehensive
Managing Director and CEO,
worker is, presumably, the first such personal accident cover of Rs 50 Lakh
ManipalCigna Health Insurance.
case from the country," an ICMR sci- to 22.12 lakh healthcare providers, in-
The insurer has increased the premium entist said. cluding community health workers and
12 The Insurance Times, June 2022