Now, exclusive insurance for Jains

Put together and subsidised by a community body, and offered by National Insurance, it has had about 100,000 applications

The country’s first insurance policy restricted to a particular faith is ready.

From this month, the Jain community has access to an exclusive insurance policy called Jain Shravak Arogyam, being organised by the Jain International Organisation (JIO). Under this scheme, all Jains can buy an individual mediclaim or a family floater policy. It is being offered by government-owned National Insurance Company and the process is being managed by the Jain Doctors Federation.

An individual can purchase an insurance plan for Rs 2 lakh under mediclaim. Also, a Rs 10-lakh personal accident policy for an earning member and Rs 5 lakh for a non-earning member for personal accidents. There is also a family floater scheme available. A family can purchase an insurance plan for Rs 5 lakh against mediclaim for self, spouse and two dependent children up to 25 years of age. It includes  Rs 10 lakh for an earning member or Rs 5 lakh for a non-earning member under personal accident cover. Under a family floater, either the proposer or any nominated family member can avail of the benefit.

Insurance executives said as it was optional for people, it could be a risky proposition. “There could be a need to revise pricing yearly, depending on claims. If there are anti-selection trends, costs might go up,” said a public sector executive.

JIO has enabled presentation of filled forms, both online and offline. Under this policy, all pre-existing diseases are covered from the outset. The only exception is total knee replacement, covered only after a year from the date of enrolment in the policy. JIO said it had launched this initiative to insure the health of all Jain shravaks & shravikas (male and female disciples).

According to officials, a little more than 100,000 have applied for the scheme across the country. Officials are engaged in collecting the forms, to begin the process of offering the cover.

A Jain religion certificate is compulsory for each person applying for the insurance policy. The word 'Jain' should be mentioned in the school leaving certificate or a letter from the Jain Sangh/S-abha/Samaj/Gyati/Bhavan should validate one as a Jain to be eligible for this cover.

The age limit is from infancy to 80 years, with a sum insured at Rs 2 lakh per individual member. It covers daycare procedures and hospitalisation expenses (excluding cost of organ) on a donor during the course of organ transplant to the insured person. Expenses incurred for ayurvedic or homeopathic treatment are admissible, if the hospital in question is recognised by the government.

Accidental death, permanent total disability and terrorism covers are also included. The premium for a group individual policy is Rs 1,800 (yearly) for a Rs 2-lakh coverage per individual. The room rent restricted to Rs 2,500 a day for a normal room and Rs 4,000 for ICU/ICCU. For a family floater, the yearly premium is Rs 7,200.

Officials said the premiums had been subsidised and the cover would otherwise cost as much as Rs 6,000 for an individual cover and Rs 22,000 for a family floater.

This policy covers 30 days pre-hospitalisation and 60 days post-hospitalisation expenses. While regular individual health insurance products do not offer maternity claim benefits, this scheme offers the benefit after completion of nine months from the date of enrolment in the policy. For normal delivery, maternity benefit of Rs 30,000 is offered; for a C-Sec delivery, it is Rs 35,000. Also, the new-born baby is covered from Day 1, subject to timely enrolment in the policy and this covers reimbursement cases.

Till now, there has not been any exclusive insurance available for any religious community. Individual gurudwaras do take covers specific to its members but large-scale covers for any community are not offered by any insurer in India.

Abroad, there is takaful insurance available for Muslims. This is termed as cooperative insurance, where members contribute a certain sum of money to a common pool. Eeach participant contributes into a fund that is used to support one another, with each participant contributing sufficient amounts to cover expected claims. In India, the current Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority regulations do not have specific provisions for takaful insurance.