“Health insurance penetration in India is currently limited, even with the increasing expense of health care services. Encouragement of health insurance through greater penetration of health insurance products in India, particularly by middle-income and elderly people, will be critical in the Union Budget of 2026–27 to enhance the ways in which healthcare is financed and accessed through expansion and support of health insurance.
Providing additional tax benefits on premiums paid for health insurance policies may create an economic incentive for many families to obtain and retain comprehensive health insurance coverage. Providing pre-emptive incentives for users of health insurance policies through the creation of preventative wellness programs and preventative healthcare services for health insurance policyholders may shift the focus of many healthcare policyholders from treatment to prevention of illness. Focusing on prevention of illness may lead to lower, long-term overall claims costs and greater overall community health.
Investment into the digital health infrastructure for quick access to healthcare services, including the digitalisation of historical claims processing, digital health records, and the ability to share health information electronically, will enhance customer experience and increase trust within the health insurance sector in India. As such, any and all policy-related support provided to develop low-cost health insurance products for older adults and people with chronic diseases will support them to access quality healthcare without the burden of high financial costs.
Finally, partnerships between private insurers, public health care providers, and government agencies will assist in expanding coverage for all individuals in India, in improving the quality and availability of healthcare services in India, and in providing more sustainable funding for healthcare services.”
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