Page 51 - The Insurance Times August 2022

Circular

IRDAI Circular

Use and File Procedure for Retail Products to the operation of this circular will be processed as per
the current provisions.
for Agriculture & Allied Activities
IRDAI/NL/CIR/PRO/146/07/2022 (D.S. Murthy)
General Manager (Non-Life)
Dated 14/07/2022
Standards and Benchmarks for the Hospi-
1. This is further Circular Ref: IRDAI/NL/CIR/MISC/107/06/
tals in the Provider Network
2022 dated 01/06/2022 with regard to Product Filing
Procedure. IRDAI/HLT/CIR/MISC/150/7/2022
2. In order to facilitate the insurance industry to promote 20th July, 2022
insurance penetration and enhance coverage in the
unserved and underserved areas by designing suitable 1. Reference is invited to IRDAI Circular ref: IRDAI/HLT/
and need-based products covering Agriculture and al- REG/MISC/199/07/2021 dated 23rdJuly, 2021 on the
lied activities, the Authority, in exercise of the powers captioned subject with respect to the standards and
conferred under Section 14(2)(i) of IRDA Act, 1999 benchmarks at clause (a)(i) and (ii) and clause (b) of
hereby permits the general insurers to file Retail prod- Chapter IV of the Guidelines on Standardisation in Health
ucts for Agriculture & allied activities under the Use and Insurance under Section I of Master circular (ref. IRDAI/
File procedure. HLT/REG/CIR/193/07/2020 dated 22nd July, 2020).
3. Accordingly, Para 7.2(I) and 7.2(III) of Guidelines on 2. In partial modification of the above guidelines, in order
Product Filing Procedures Guidelines, 2016 for General to enhance the scope for offering cashless facility across
Insurance products stands modified to the above effect the length and breadth of the country, the insurers are
(Para 2). now empowered to empanel the network providers
that meet the standards and benchmarks criteria as
4. All other Retail products under the Miscellaneous cat-
specified by their respective boards. While specifying
egory (other than the above as well as those permit-
the criteria, the board of insurers shall, amongst oth-
ted vide Circular ref: IRDAI/NL/CIR/MISC/107/06/2022
ers, consider especially the minimum manpower and
dated 01/06/2022), shall continue to be filed under the
healthcare infrastructure facilities.
File & Use procedure as stipulated in the extant Prod-
uct Filing Guidelines bearing Ref.IRDA/NL/GDL/F&U/ 3. The board approved empanelment criteria shall be pub-
030/02/2016 dated 18/02/2016. lished in the website of the insurers from time to time.
5. This circular shall come into effect from immediately. 4. While empaneling network providers for cashless facil-
ity, insurers are also advised to focus on the delivery of
6. New as well as revised products/add-ons covering Agri-
quality healthcare services.
culture and allied activities filed with the Authority prior
The Insurance Times, August 2022 51