Four factors that impacted health insurance industry in 2013

By Antony Jacob

The health insurance industry has witnessed consistent growth since its launch in 1986, more so after the liberalisation of the insurance sector in 2000. The growth has been especially magnificent in the last five years, following the advent of standalone health insurers and various government-sponsored health insurance schemes. In 2013, the health insurance industry got a great fillip, with several noteworthy events making the news headlines.

More awareness & relevance

Most people are yet to accept insurance as a tool for financing healthcare expenses. They usually procrastinate when it comes to buying health insurance unless faced with a challenging situation. To counter this, GIC and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irda) launched a comprehensive marketing media campaign aimed at boosting awareness across different segments of the population. This effort, we believe, will aid the growth of awareness in the long run, and help health insurance evolve as an important financial tool.

A step to boost penetration

Thanks to high medical inflation, paying for healthcare expenses out of personal funds is no longer viable for the common Indian. Unfortunately, only about 30% of Indian population has some kind of financial tool to cover its medical expenses either partially or wholly. The industry has been unable to expand its reach, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, with lack of effective distribution channels a cause of concern.

To improve health insurance penetration, I believe, the regulator has taken a step in the right direction by allowing standalone health insurers to distribute their products to bank customers. This will ensure wider reach for health insurance products, and it can happen at a very brisk pace.

For mono-line companies like us, it is not feasible to set up branches in locations with limited potential as it takes at least 5-7 years to break even. By partnering banks for distribution, we will get a shot in the arm as far as widening reach is concerned.

Boosting uniformity

Although the need for adoption of health insurance is obvious , people are hesitant to purchase medical covers due to the confusion they harbour. There are many products available in the market nowadays that