A Rights Crisis: 80% of Disabled Indians Have No Health Cover
A new national white paper has revealed a significant health insurance crisis affecting people with disabilities in India, with 80% remaining without health cover. The report, titled "Inclusive Health Coverage for All: Disability, Discrimination and Health Insurance in India," was released on Thursday by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP). It is based on a survey of over 5,000 people with disabilities across 34 states and Union Territories. The study highlights that nearly 16 crore disabled Indians are blocked from accessing both public and private insurance schemes due to deep systemic inequities.
The white paper exposes that over half (53%) of those with disabilities who applied for health insurance were rejected. A staggering 60% of those rejected did not receive any explanation for the denial. This lack of transparency and the high rate of rejection underscore the discriminatory practices prevalent in India's insurance ecosystem. According to the report, many rejections are based solely on disability status or pre-existing conditions. Applicants with autism, psychosocial disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and blood disorders like thalassemia face particularly high rejection rates.
These practices persist despite constitutional mandates, judicial interventions, directives from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016). The report highlights that insurers often reject applications without citing medical grounds or providing formal explanations, which violates the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and IRDAI guidelines. Some applicants are subjected to excessive medical tests or charged unaffordable premiums, while others are excluded through policy terms that are difficult to contest.
The lack of health insurance coverage has significant financial implications for people with disabilities. Disability rights groups have pointed out that the absence of insurance forces families to use their savings, take out loans, or forgo essential care. In addition to outright rejections, people with disabilities face other hurdles, including inaccessible digital platforms and limited awareness of available schemes.
The findings have sparked concerns among disability rights advocates, policymakers, and regulators. Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP, described the scale of exclusion as "a rights crisis hidden in plain sight," stating that it is a national inequity India can no longer ignore. He also questioned the exclusion of persons with disabilities from schemes like Ayushman Bharat, which is expanding to cover all senior citizens above 70.
To improve access to health insurance for people with disabilities, a multi-pronged approach is needed: * Government schemes must remove income and age barriers and include disability-specific provisions. * Extensive education and outreach are needed to inform people with disabilities about their rights and options. * Private insurers must be encouraged and regulated to offer affordable and inclusive products. * Application processes should be simplified, and reasons for rejection must be communicated clearly.
The lack of health insurance for the vast majority of disabled Indians is not merely a healthcare issue but a human rights issue. Addressing the systemic barriers and discriminatory practices is crucial to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to essential financial safeguards and healthcare services.
