Insurer must cover hospital expenses for adverse events: IRDAI

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) on Thursday clarified that any hospitalization on account of adverse events due to the coronavirus vaccination has to be covered under the health insurance policy of the patient.

“It is clarified that in the unlikely event of hospitalisation following adverse reaction to Covid-19 vaccination, hospitalization is covered under the health insurance policies subject to the specific terms and conditions of the policy,” IRDAI said on Thursday.

Earlier, several healthcare workers had approached the insurance regulator regarding the ambit of coverage of their respective health policies in the treatment of vaccination-related adverse events which though have been documented, but are far and few.


The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization has granted authorizations for two vaccines for emergency use.

“For some time, customers have been approaching their respective health insurers seeking clarity if their existing health policy will cover hospitalisation due to vaccine’s adverse reactions,” said Amit Chhabra, business head, health, PolicyBazaar. “This is a customer-centric move and will even encourage more people to take vaccine before worrying about after-effects which are hardly any.”