India plans to tighten oversight of claims portal to curb rising healthcare costs, source says
NEW DELHI, - India plans to bring an existing health insurance claims portal under the finance ministry and insurance regulator to curb overcharging by healthcare providers, a government source told Reuters.
Healthcare costs in India are projected to rise by 13% in 2025, exceeding the global average of 10%, and up from 12% recorded a year earlier, according to professional services firm Aon's Global Medical Trend Rates Report.
An analysis by the government and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India found that hospitals are inflating treatment costs for patients and overcharging those with higher covers, the source said earlier this week.
This has driven insurers to charge higher health premiums, making coverage less affordable for some, the source said, requesting anonymity as they are not authorised to speak to the media.
India's finance and health ministries did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.
"Strict supervision" of the National Health Claims Exchange - the platform that acts as a gateway between insurers, healthcare providers and patients - will improve the "collective bargaining power" of insurance companies to set treatment rates, the source said.
Currently, the exchange is overseen by the health ministry's National Health Authority and was developed in "consultation" with the insurance regulator, according to the authority's website.
IRDAI does not regulate the health exchange but regulates insurers on the platform.
Annual growth in health insurance premium income has slowed to 9% in 2024-25 from over 20% a year ago, according to industry data, as premiums become unaffordable for many, leading to fewer policy renewals.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
13 dead, 21 blind after drinking tainted alcohol in Kuwait; Indians among victims
A spate of methanol poisoning from contaminated alcohol in Kuwait has left 13 people dead and 21 others blind or with impaired vision, the country's health ministry said. According to Reuters and AFP, 63 people, all from Asian nationalities, have been hospitalised since Saturday after consuming illicit liquor. Of them, 51 required urgent kidney dialysis, while 31 needed mechanical ventilation. The Embassy of India in Kuwait, on August 13, confirmed that around 40 Indian nationals have been admitted to various hospitals in recent days. 'There have been some fatalities, some are in a critical condition while others are recovering,' the embassy said in a statement posted on X, adding that it is seeking further details from authorities. 🔔 Press Release — India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) August 13, 2025 Kuwait has not officially disclosed the victims' nationalities, but unconfirmed reports suggest that some of the deceased may be Malayalis and Tamilians, along with nationals from Nepal. Kuwait has enforced a strict ban on alcohol imports since 1964, criminalising its consumption in the 1980s. Despite this, illicit alcohol is often brewed in secret facilities lacking any safety oversight, making drinkers vulnerable to methanol contamination, as per Reuters . The Gulf state has a large expat workforce, including many from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, particularly in construction, domestic work, and retail. (With inputs from Reuters, AFP)
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
COVID cases on rise in these US states as new variant ‘stratus' spreads. Here's what to know
COVID-19 cases are once again rising across the United States, and health experts believe a new variant, called XFG or 'stratus,' may be to blame. The increase is happening earlier than expected, just before schools reopen, raising fears of more spread in classrooms, Axios reported. The Stratus variant (XFG) of COVID-19 was first detected in January in Southeast Asia,(REUTERS) The variant was first detected in January in Southeast Asia. The World Health Organization had classified it as a 'variant under monitoring' by June, due to its global spread. XFG was given its cloud-themed nickname "Stratus" by evolutionary biologist T. Ryan Gregory. Also read: Trump to meet Putin in Alaska airbase tomorrow: All you need to know about the summit Experts warn of possible summer wave Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 12 states have much higher COVID-19 test positivity rates than the rest of the country. Arizona is among the worst hit, with a positivity rate above 11 per cent. Other states in the southern US, and along the West Coast, are also seeing cases rise or are likely to rise soon. Here is the list of states with the highest COVID test positivity. New Mexico (12%) Texas (12%) Oklahoma (12%) Arkansas (12%) Louisiana (12%) Nevada (11.3%) Arizona (11.3%) California (11.3%) Alaska (11.1%) Washington (11.1%) Oregon (11.1%) Idaho (11.1%) It has been observed that the US faces two distinct waves of COVID, one in the winter and another in the summer, as per USA Today. New variants, peaks in travel and decreasing immunity from prior infection and vaccination can lead to the surge, experts note. Stratus COVID variant: Symptoms The symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, headache, fever or chills, cough, congestion or runny nose, shortness of breath, new loss of sense of taste or smell, muscle aches, and nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Also read: Prince William once spent a night sleeping on London streets, and here's what happened Stratus COVID variant: How to stay safe? People can take simple steps to be cautious, stay home if unwell and immediately get tested if symptoms appear. Wearing masks in crowded and indoor spaces can help as well, reported. Officials have encouraged people to check the eligibility for updated COVID-19 vaccines or boosters. "Currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease," the WHO stated in its June report. For now, the CDC continues to monitor the situation closely, urging Americans to stay informed and take precautions. FAQs Q1. What is the 'stratus' variant? It's a new COVID-19 variant suspected to be driving recent case surges in the US. Q2. Which states are most affected? Arizona and 11 other states have the highest test positivity rates in the country. Q3. What precautions are recommended? Stay home if sick. Get tested if symptoms appear, wear masks in crowded indoor areas, and check eligibility for updated vaccines or boosters.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Why are Americans avoiding alcohol than ever before? Survey claims percentage hits record low
Fewer Americans are drinking alcohol than ever before, according to new Gallup data, and experts say growing awareness of alcohol's health risks is a major reason why. According to Gallup, alcohol consumption among Americans has reached a historic low of 54%. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo(REUTERS) 'For quite some time, there's been this heavy focus on [the effects of] heavy drinking or binge drinking,' Sarah Dermody, a psychology professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, told NPR. This year, just 54% of U.S. adults reported that they drink alcohol, the lowest since Gallup began tracking the habit in 1939. The previous low, recorded in 1958, was only one percentage point higher. ALSO READ| Gastroenterologist explains how drinking alcohol for only one night could also harm your body, trigger leaky gut Notably, older research once suggested moderate drinking, like a daily glass of red wine, could have health benefits, but researchers found the earlier 'benefits' were linked to correlation, not causation. 'For example, people who don't drink could have negative health outcomes because of a preexisting condition, while those who do drink may not have other health problems,' Dermody said. So that means any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer, depression, and anxiety. Alcohol use drops among American women and Gen Z Only 50% of Americans ages 18 to 34 said they drink, compared to 56% of those 35 and older. And 66% of young people believe even moderate drinking is harmful, compared to about half of older adults. 'They grew up with that safe-level messaging, whereas a lot of us did not,' Sara McMullin, a psychology professor at Webster University, told NPR. McMullin notes that not drinking is more socially acceptable now, with alcohol-free challenges like Dry January and Sober October. 'Alcohol can be perceived as something that's more of a luxury and not a necessity,' she explained. ALSO READ| Extreme heat grips US Southwest, health experts recommend ditching caffeine and alcohol The Gallup survey also found Women's drinking dropped 11 percentage points since 2023, compared to a 5-point drop for men. Wine remains more popular with women (44%) than men (14%), while men overwhelmingly favour beer (52% versus 23% for women). However, Gallup reported no evidence that Americans are replacing alcohol with marijuana.
