Why do hospitals charge different rates for patients with insurance, CGHS, and those paying cash? The government is now closely monitoring this issue.
To stop hospitals from billing patients unfairly, the Finance Ministry has proposed setting up a healthcare regulator.
Hospitals will no longer be allowed to bill patients with mediclaim insurance as they please. The government is getting strict with hospitals that charge high and unfair fees.
CNBC-Awaaz reporter Alok Priyadarshi shared that soon hospitals won’t be able to behave arbitrarily when it comes to billing mediclaim policyholders.
Health Insurance May Become Cheaper for the Public
To stop hospitals from inflating bills, the government is planning to bring the insurance claim portal under the control of the Finance Ministry.
This step will give insurance companies more power to negotiate rates, which will help keep treatment costs in check. As a result, health insurance premiums may become more affordable for ordinary people.
Bringing Uniformity in Medical Charges
The government wants to know why treatment costs vary between insurance, CGHS, and cash payments. To address this, the Finance Ministry has sent a proposal to the Health Ministry to form a regulator that will oversee medical billing.
The aim is to bring uniformity in treatment costs across all Indian states and create standardized medical charges. Both the public and the insurance industry are suffering due to the current high and inconsistent charges.
Healthcare Costs in India to Rise 13% by 2025
According to the Global Medical Trend Rates report by professional services firm Aon, India’s healthcare expenses are expected to rise by 13% in 2025.
This increase is higher than the global average of 10%. In 2024, the increase was 12%.
