Recognizing the opportunities to integrate the Ayush sector with insurance benefits, the Kerala branch of the National Ayush Mission has established a dedicated division to promote insurance coverage within the state’s Ayush sector.
This initiative was sparked following a recent meeting in Chennai with core insurance sector experts under the Ministry of Ayush, led by Prof. Bejon Kumar Mishra.
A team from NAM, Kerala, will identify potential institutions for insurance association and work in tandem with the Ministry of Ayush, insurance enterprises, Third Party Administrators (TPAs), and other stakeholders to ensure comprehensive insurance solutions are accessible.
They will also oversee activities related to awareness and capacity building, liaision with different parties, and establish necessary Standard Operating Procedures to streamline the inclusion of Ayush institutions in cashless insurance schemes.
In October 2023, a nine-member core group was formed by the Ministry of Ayush to provide advice and oversee insurance issues within the Ayush sector, organize sensitization sessions for stakeholders, and analyze the current status of Ayush systems under health insurance to develop a comprehensive report.
Following a January 2024 evaluation, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) mandated insurance coverage for Ayush sectors, effective from April 2024, acknowledging the growing acceptance and establishment of Ayush treatments within the medical field.
IRDAI instructed insurers to confer with the core group to adapt their policies to incorporate Ayush facilities, enabling people to access cashless Ayush treatments with ease, similar to traditional medical treatments, as observed by officials at NAM, Kerala.
Kerala, known for its Ayush hospitals, with each Local Self Government Institution hosting at least two Ayush centers, has already begun integrating public hospitals into the cashless treatment network. This move promises significant growth potential for the state’s Ayush sector through insurance integration, according to a recent correspondence from NAM, Kerala.