NEW DELHI: The government is preparing to bring the National Health Claims Exchange currently managed by the health ministry under the joint supervision of the finance ministry and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in a bid to curb overcharging by hospitals and make health insurance more affordable, a source told Reuters. The move is aimed at tightening regulatory control on healthcare billing practices , which officials say are inflating insurance premiums and pushing coverage out of reach for many.
The proposed changes follow an internal review by the government and IRDAI, which revealed that hospitals routinely inflate treatment costs for patients, especially those with high-value insurance covers. This has led insurers to increase premiums to cover losses, the source told Reuters, adding that “strict supervision” of the portal would enhance the bargaining power of insurance companies and ensure more consistent pricing across healthcare providers.
Currently, the National Health Claims Exchange a digital platform connecting insurers, hospitals, and patients is overseen by the health ministry’s National Health Authority. While IRDAI regulates insurers that use the platform, it does not regulate the portal itself. The portal was initially built in consultation with IRDAI.
Healthcare costs in India are projected to rise by 13% in 2025, outpacing the global average of 10%, according to Aon's Global Medical Trend Rates Report cited by Reuters.
As reported earlier by The Times of India, health insurance premiums in India crossed the Rs 1-lakh-crore mark in the first 10 months of FY 2024-25, registering a 10% growth from the previous year. Individual health insurance premiums, which now comprise 38% of the total market, saw the highest growth at 13.5%. However, affordability remains a major concern. Some policyholders have seen premium hikes exceeding 10% after recent rate revisions, leading to calls for a waiver of the 18% GST on health policies.
The proposed changes follow an internal review by the government and IRDAI, which revealed that hospitals routinely inflate treatment costs for patients, especially those with high-value insurance covers. This has led insurers to increase premiums to cover losses, the source told Reuters, adding that “strict supervision” of the portal would enhance the bargaining power of insurance companies and ensure more consistent pricing across healthcare providers.
Currently, the National Health Claims Exchange a digital platform connecting insurers, hospitals, and patients is overseen by the health ministry’s National Health Authority. While IRDAI regulates insurers that use the platform, it does not regulate the portal itself. The portal was initially built in consultation with IRDAI.
Healthcare costs in India are projected to rise by 13% in 2025, outpacing the global average of 10%, according to Aon's Global Medical Trend Rates Report cited by Reuters.
As reported earlier by The Times of India, health insurance premiums in India crossed the Rs 1-lakh-crore mark in the first 10 months of FY 2024-25, registering a 10% growth from the previous year. Individual health insurance premiums, which now comprise 38% of the total market, saw the highest growth at 13.5%. However, affordability remains a major concern. Some policyholders have seen premium hikes exceeding 10% after recent rate revisions, leading to calls for a waiver of the 18% GST on health policies.
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