Health insurers witness significant rise in non-Covid claims

• Follow

Despite a drop in Covid-related hospitalisations, the trouble for health insurers seems far from over. While the Covid-19 related insurance claims have been inching down, insurance companies are seeing a large increase in non-Covid claims, according to a report in The Times of India. Although there is a gap in capturing trends, insurers believe there has been a considerable increase in non-Covid hospitalizations since September.

“Hospitalizations due to dengue, respiratory infections, and other non-Covid claims are on the rise. The size of these claims has also increased, possibly as a result of the extra precautions that hospitals must take. Following the company’s findings, ICICI Lombard General Insurance MD & CEO Bhargav Dasgupta remarked as per the report, “We’ll keep an eye on this to determine if the increase is transitory or structural.”

The rate of non calls has been increasing at Policybazaar, one of the leading marketers of individual health insurance. Infectious diseases, such as dengue and other viral fevers, are on the rise. “We’re also witnessing an uptick in accidental injuries,” said Amit Chabra, Policybazaar’s chief of health business.

Acute coronary syndrome, sudden heart attacks, and cardiac arrest have increased by 40% in the last six to eight months, according to Dr Dev Pahlajani, chief of interventional cardiology at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. “There has been an increase in circulatory problems, which necessitates a thorough examination,” he stated.

Even patients who have been stable for years are now presenting with sudden heart problems, according to him. According to him, the tendency can be seen in most cardiac departments.

Covid reduced health claims last year, according to Niva Bupa director Health Insurance (underwriting, products & claims), Bhabatosh Mishra, because individuals were locked in, avoided hospitalisation, and postponed elective procedures. “The number of emergency procedures like appendicitis hasn’t changed significantly,” Mishra added, “but situations like gall bladder surgery, which can be delayed, are increasing.” Dengue fever has been on the rise in places like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, as well as Mumbai and Delhi, due to the higher-than-normal rainfall.