PIL alleges bias against people with mental illness in insurance coverage; SC issues notice to Centre, IRDA

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, June 16

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, asked the Centre and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) to respond to a PIL alleging bias against people with mental illness in insurance coverage.

A Bench headed by Justice RF Nariman issued notice to the Centre and the IRDA on the PIL filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, who sought a direction to all insurance companies to extend medical insurance for treatment of mental illness.

Bansal contended that the insurance companies violated Section 21 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which talks of non-discrimination against persons with mental illness. The bias hampered the rehabilitation process of thousands of persons suffering from mental illness, he submitted.

The law mandated that mental illness should be treated on a par with other kinds of illnesses for insurance coverage.

“Despite having specific provisions under the law, the IRDA is reluctant in taking immediate action. The biased attitude of the IRDA is in itself discrimination against persons with mental illness and as such is causing immense hardship for persons with mental illness,” the petitioner submitted.

Instead of taking action against the insurance companies, the IRDA was abdicating its responsibilities, Bansal alleged.

Citing a 2019 RTI filed, the petitioner alleged that none of the insurance companies had complied with the IRDA circular asking them to act in accordance with the Mental Healthcare Act.