In the backdrop of concerns voiced by senior citizens and in order to study the issues involved as well as to make recommendations, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irda) has constituted a seven-member committee on health insurance for senior citizens.

The committee will be headed by KS Sastry, former chairman of National Housing Bank, and its members will include V Hariharan (former president of Sundaram Fasteners), AN Sood (president of the Delhi Federation of Association of Senior Citizens), KN Babdari (secretary general of General Insurance Council of India), BD Banarjee (former chairman and managing director of The Oriental Insurance Company Ltd), C Chandrasekhar (chief marketing officer of Apollo DKV Insurance Company Ltd), and Nimish R Parekh (chief executive officer of Parekh Health Management Pvt Ltd).

Irda stated on its website that it had received representations relating to entry barriers for the aged, refusal of renewals, imposition of harsh terms without justification, sharp increase in premium rates, delays in claims service, etc.

The terms of reference for the committee are:

• Suggest commercially viable health insurance schemes for senior citizens, taking care to see that they do not spiral into a high-cost healthcare system.
• Identify the problems in extending health insurance to senior citizens without age limit and at affordable cost and suggest possible solutions.
• Examine the pros and cons of separate health insurance schemes for senior citizens considering the profitability and claim ratios of different segments of health insurance.
• Examine the issues connected with 'portability' of health insurance by the senior citizens from one scheme to another and from one insurer to another, and suggest the manner and conditions in which such portability is achieved.
• Examine the feasibility of offering a menu of options to senior citizens in terms of the type of diseases (including "pre-existing diseases") to be covered, the proportion of expenses to be paid, and the quantum of "deductible".
• Suggest streamlining of procedures so that medical treatment is on a 'cashless' basis and rendered promptly.
• Suggest ways to incorporate alternative systems of medicine into the health insurance system.
• Suggest possible incentives to senior citizens for adopting healthier lifestyles.
• Examine the feasibility of incorporating the concept of a "family doctor" into the health insurance schemes for senior citizens.
• Examine the feasibility of integrating travel insurance such as "Overseas Mediclaim" policy into the health insurance schemes of senior citizens.