Insurance regulator IRDAI has directed insurers to approve COVID-19-related cashless claims within 60 minutes of receiving appropriate documents from the claimant.
IRDAI announced the new rules after Delhi High Court directed it to inform insurers to hasten the process of cashless claims so that hospital beds can be freed quickly for new patients.
IRDAI also said that the decision on authorization for cashless treatment for COVID-19 claims shall be communicated to hospital within a period of 60 minutes from the time of receipt of authorization request.
Decision on the final discharge of patients covered in COVID-19 claims shall be communicated to the network provider within a period of one hour from the time of receipt of the final bill along with all necessary requirements from the hospital.
It was earlier reported that network hospitals are turning back COVID-19 patients with cashless insurance.