. NEW DELHI: A new national white paper has exposed a sweeping health-insurance crisis for persons with disabilities in India, revealing that 80% still have no health cover, while 53% of those who applied were rejected by insurers — and 60% of them were given no reason at all. Based on a survey of over 5,000 people across 34 states and UTs, the report warns that millions remain locked out of basic financial protection despite clear legal safeguards.Despite constitutional mandates, judicial interventions, directives by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016), the white paper notes persistent challenges in current insurance products. Many cases of denial are based solely on disability status, compounded by pre-existing conditions, with evidence of such practices often failing to reach regulators or the insurance ombudsman.Released on Thursday by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), the report calls the scale of exclusion “a rights crisis hidden in plain sight,” affecting nearly 16 crore Indians with disabilities. Applicants with autism, psychosocial disabilities, intellectual disabilities and blood disorders such as thalassemia face some of the highest rejection rates. Even those who attempt to navigate the system encounter inaccessible digital platforms, unaffordable premiums and limited awareness of available schemes.Arman Ali, executive director of NCPEDP, said the findings expose a national inequity India can no longer ignore. “Ayushman Bharat is expanding to cover all senior citizens above 70. Yet persons with disabilities — who face equal or greater health vulnerabilities — remain conspicuously excluded,” he said. “If India can include all senior citizens above 70, there is no justification to exclude persons with 21 types of disabilities without income and age criteria. India cannot afford the generational cost of this exclusion.”To close this gap, the white paper recommends immediate inclusion of all persons with disabilities under Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) without age or income criteria. It also calls for stronger coverage of mental health, rehabilitation and assistive technologies; a Disability Inclusion Committee within IRDAI; standardised premiums; and fully accessible digital and offline insurance processes. A national awareness drive is urgently needed to shift the narrative from charity to rights-based healthcare.Experts warn that the consequences of this exclusion are severe — from delayed treatment and catastrophic out-of-pocket spending to deeper poverty among already vulnerable families. As India moves toward universal health coverage, the report argues, the country cannot continue leaving millions outside the safety net.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia And Israel Launch FTA Talks; Piyush Goyal, Nir Barkat Sign Terms Of ReferenceDelhi’s Pollution Forces Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong To Cough, Stop Her Speech MidwayJaishankar Meets Afghan Commerce Minister Azizi In Delhi; Trade, Connectivity DiscussedMEA Outlines Agenda For PM Modi’s South Africa Visit For G20 Summit In JohannesburgPenny Wong’s Cricket Banter With Jaishankar Highlights Warm, Confident India-Australia PartnershipJaishankar, Penny Wong Send A Strong India-Australia Message To China And The World on Indo-PacificIFFI 2025 Opens With A Surprise As Korean Minister Sings Vande Mataram And Wins Standing OvationPiyush Goyal’s 10 D’s Pitch in Israel Recasts India As Future-Ready for Worldwide InvestmentsDelhi Student Suicide Case: Massive Protest Outside School After Note Alleges Harassment By TeachersPiyush Goyal Links India, Israel Through Shared Adversities, Predicts 7% Percent GDP Growth For FY26123Photostories10 Indian etiquette every child should learnReplace this with avocado: 7 local fruits that provide the same nutrients for less5 Japanese mindset shifts for a happier, lighter, less stressful lifeMeet the actress who once outshone Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit but saw her career collapse after a relationship with a star kid5 animals that made an epic comeback from the edge of extinctionRekha to Sharmila Tagore: 5 best celebrity-inspired saree styles for the modern mother-in-law10 nuts for kids for brain health and overall growthAkkineni Nagarjuna Rao shaping Telugu cinema with iconic performances and a magnetic presence on screenHow top Bollywood actresses are embracing a life changing new lifestyleFrom better brain function to stronger heart: 5 reasons why backward walking is excellent for you123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingTravis KelceSavannah JamesGiannis AntetokounmpoTrevon DiggsJeanie BussAdin RossCandace OwensKona TakahashiKatie JohnsonOlivia Dunne
NEW DELHI: A new national white paper has exposed a sweeping health-insurance crisis for persons with disabilities in India, revealing that 80% still have no health cover, while 53% of those who applied were rejected by insurers — and 60% of them were given no reason at all. Based on a survey of over 5,000 people across 34 states and UTs, the report warns that millions remain locked out of basic financial protection despite clear legal safeguards.Despite constitutional mandates, judicial interventions, directives by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016), the white paper notes persistent challenges in current insurance products. Many cases of denial are based solely on disability status, compounded by pre-existing conditions, with evidence of such practices often failing to reach regulators or the insurance ombudsman.Released on Thursday by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), the report calls the scale of exclusion “a rights crisis hidden in plain sight,” affecting nearly 16 crore Indians with disabilities. Applicants with autism, psychosocial disabilities, intellectual disabilities and blood disorders such as thalassemia face some of the highest rejection rates. Even those who attempt to navigate the system encounter inaccessible digital platforms, unaffordable premiums and limited awareness of available schemes.Arman Ali, executive director of NCPEDP, said the findings expose a national inequity India can no longer ignore. “Ayushman Bharat is expanding to cover all senior citizens above 70. Yet persons with disabilities — who face equal or greater health vulnerabilities — remain conspicuously excluded,” he said. “If India can include all senior citizens above 70, there is no justification to exclude persons with 21 types of disabilities without income and age criteria. India cannot afford the generational cost of this exclusion.”To close this gap, the white paper recommends immediate inclusion of all persons with disabilities under Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) without age or income criteria. It also calls for stronger coverage of mental health, rehabilitation and assistive technologies; a Disability Inclusion Committee within IRDAI; standardised premiums; and fully accessible digital and offline insurance processes. A national awareness drive is urgently needed to shift the narrative from charity to rights-based healthcare.Experts warn that the consequences of this exclusion are severe — from delayed treatment and catastrophic out-of-pocket spending to deeper poverty among already vulnerable families. As India moves toward universal health coverage, the report argues, the country cannot continue leaving millions outside the safety net.
