Even as the count of those infected by H1N1 virus is increasing, insurance agents in the city are confused as to whether swine flu is included in the general health insurance policy or not.

“I am assuming that swine flu is included in the policy although none of the companies have categorically conveyed this,” said Pramod Pathak, an insurance agent from Kothrud.

Agents Amit Kumar Jha and Satish Sawant, however, said since swine flu has come about as a new illness, it is not covered by default. “The companies need to specifically include it in the medical policy,” Jha said.

Manoj Agarwal, manager of Finance and Insurance solution firm in Chinchwad, said only two companies — Reliance General Insurance and Bajaj Allianz — have categorically declared that they would cover swine flu. “Bajaj Allianz is charging an extra premium for general insurance to cover swine flu,” he said.

Agarwal said he has been receiving inquiries from his clients on the issue over the past week.

“Although there is no exclusion of swine flu from our general insurance policy, all conditions applicable for ‘epidemics’ will be applicable even for swine flu-related claims,” said regional manager of New India Assurance Company Limited S Venkatachari. He, however, said the government should send clear instructions about the same.

Dr K C Mishra, director of National Insurance Academy, said there are two major conditions to know whether one’s insurance policy covers swine flu or not. “First, if a disease is declared a global epidemic or pandemic (which swine flu is), it is excluded from insurance cover. A disease is included only if it is declared an epidemic locally. Secondly, the insurance cover works only if the policy was taken at least 30 days before the person is infected by H1N1 virus,” he said.

... contd.