Round Table
A Billion Dollar Market – India’s Health Insurance Market Is At A Precipice Of Change
Context
Health insurance is not a luxury but a necessity today. Given the propensity and range of diseases that man is prone to, having a healthcare premium is imperative. India has more than 60 insurance companies, of which nearly 40 are dedicated to health insurance.
There are a plethora of needs in the healthcare sector, which require insurance intervention. By 2021, health insurance is expected to reach US$3.5bn, representing growth of more than 12% annually since 2006. Moreover, the increase of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India such as diabetes, cardiac issues and cancers require cost-heavy intervention. A sound healthcare premium will go a long way in safeguarding citizens from skyrocketing costs.
Due to imminent changes in the eco-system, the sector is constantly in a state of flux. While Government spend is increasing with various schemes announced by Central and State Governments, the healthcare insurance market is challenged with process compliance, fraudulent practices, skewed claims ratio, low coverage, increased out-of-pocket expenses and policy support.
The healthcare insurance market is dynamic, offering myriad opportunities for innovators, investors, enterprises and policy makers. Yet, it is imperative to address existing challenges, identify high-opportunity areas and chart a roadmap for future success.
At the BioAsia Conference 2019 in Hyderabad, an industry roundtable led by NASSCOM Center Of Excellence iot india flagship healthcare initiative Lifesciences & Healthcare Innovation Forum (LHIF), where industry participants comprehensively discussed the opportunities & challenges around healthcare insurance market and role of technology and policy in easing the situation for the public.
Challenges
- Delays in claims processing is a major concern not only for the patients but also for the hospitals. Any extra day spent by the patient occupying a bed waiting for a discharge due to delays in insurance paperwork, may not result in higher returns to the hospitals.
- Health Insurance companies are not able to assess the risk exposure from their customers. Many of them do not disclose pre-existing ailments and no sooner they take health insurance, these customers start availing the claims. As the risk profile and historical medical records are not available for the insurers, they have no option but to offer same policy to all.
- Policy provisions are neither clear on the websites, nor do the customers read and understand the available terms and conditions. Many of them realize the inclusions and exclusions once they start using the claims process.
- Inflation in the healthcare delivery costs is steadily increasing the claims, however there is a challenge in increasing the insurance premiums. As the affordability of the premiums is reducing, it is difficult to acquire new customers. Increased competition and untenable provisions offered by some companies, is putting pressure on other companies in this space. Customers only see the cost of the premium without realizing the provisions within.
- There is no regulatory body, which controls the health insurance procedures at Hospitals. Some providers tend to overuse the facilities for the customers having health-insurance.
- Due to inadequate staff to monitor the enrolled hospitals and also due to some unscrupulous individuals, there is 15% incidence of abuse.
- 60-70% of the populations living in rural India. Many of them are illiterate to Health Insurance. They only know abouthealth cards issued by government and not sure the provisions there under.Despite large penetration of PM-JAY, the insurance companies are yet to see a viable financial model for them to succeed in enrolling into the Ayushman Bharat. The cost of the packages fixed by government may impede the quality of care.
- Though Ayushman Bharat equally emphasises on wellness, the Health Insurance companies do not see a possibility of participation in preventive health compared to curative health, mainly due to no incentives provided to them on preventive health.
- There is no clarity or clear guidance from either regulatory or the government on the same day procedures – Out-Patient Surgeries, that can be covered under health insurance. As a result, individuals prefer to get admitted for at least a day to claim the insurance. This increases the cost of the claim. Also, many individuals lack awareness on the same-day procedures. Though some hospitals are offering same day procedures, it is not clear if the insurance companies are accepting these claims.
- Smaller bills are cleared fast without necessarily checking for the potential frauds, whereas large bills need to go through more diligence for validation and verification. This results in genuine customers switching the insurer due to dissatisfaction.
- Non-payment of claims arises from three factors. (a) Lack of proper documentation, (b) Lack of awareness of inclusion and exclusion criteria in the policy and (c) difference in costs from the same hospitals for the same procedures.
Opportunities
- A uniform platform for sharing the health profile of individuals (similar to the credit profile) will really help Insurance Companies to customize the insurance products based on individuals. Those will better health profile tend to get lower premiums.
- Nearly 60% of the population do not have health insurance coverage, even 10% of them buying the health insurance policies, will dramatically increase the revenues for the Insurers and they may be able to provide better services.
- Government is increasing the focus on wellness and with the help of regulatory. We can see positive guidelines & directions in this space.
- Insurance companies provide health-check coupons to their customers, but only 7-8% of them are utilized. But a push in wellness from government and corporates can increase the utilization. More utilization of these coupons may result in better data for Insurance companies to customize their premiums.
- Hospitals and Health Insurance companies can work together to provide a better customer experience.
Role of Technology
- Technology can play a major role in prevention campaigns in the local language (due to increased mobile penetration). Insurance companies are willing to push customized content through these campaigns on basic problems like nutrition, sanitation, stress and prevention measures.
- Technology can help Third Party Administrators (TPAs) with the documentation process and the aggregate data on the ailments and the procedures. This helps in customizing the offerings and speeding up the claims process.
- A well-implemented EHR/PMR Systems at Government and Private Hospitals can provide a lot of insights for both the insurers and hospitals. PMR data can help in understanding the customer well before offering a suitable insurance product.
- Integration of Hospital Billing systems to TPA claims processing system can ease out on the time for processing a claim. Technology can also help in discharge process automation within the Hospital environment to reduce the time for discharging a patient.
- AI can play a significant role in the fraud detection process and disease predictions.
- Affordable wearables can help monitor the customer's data by the Insurers and their empanelled doctors and provide timely advise on preventive health.
- Insurance companies can work with telemedicine platform providers to engage with their customer to reduce the hospitalization through early interventions.
- There is an increased opportunity for Health Insurers to engage with Healthcare iot startups india.
- Managing NCDs is the biggest opportunity for wellness and preventing potential complications arising out of NCDs. Use of technology in engaging with the customers on managing NCDs will help the Insurers in avoiding future hospitalization.
Better pricing, continuous engagement with the customer and preventive measures to help the health insurance sector can boost the sector’s organic and robust growth.
