Besides, from July 1, companies will have to reimburse at least 50 per cent of the cost incurred by the insured in pre-insurance medical examination, in cases where the risk is accepted.

“Insurers will also enlist (or empanel, as the case may be) government medical institutions from which such pre-insurance reports will be accepted by them. Where the risk is accepted, copies of such medical examination reports should also be made available to the insured if requested for,” the circular said.

Further, it has asked all insurers to ensure adequate information dissemination of product information on all their health insurance products on their websites. The circular also said that insurers would have to work towards evolving mechanisms for action against medical establishments, TPAs and policy-holders guilty of making or supporting fraudulent claims and for sharing of such information among themselves.

This is the second such directive by the regulator. In April, IRDA had mandated that no company would be able to deny claim to insured on the basis of the past claim history.

All these steps are being taken to bring insurance industry to the next level, when medical portability will be allowed.