Insurance market regulator Irdai is mulling an online national portal to settle health insurance claims.

“There are ongoing discussions on having an online health insurance forum that will allow settlement of claims. The idea is to bring all the stakeholders on a common platform. The Insurance Information Bureau is developing this. It could bring a paradigm shift in how claims are settled,” Irdai member (non-life) T. L. Alamelu said on the sidelines of an Assocham summit.

The forum once implemented would also allow for a timebound settlement of claims.

The insurance regulator also expressed concern over the rising tariffs in hospitals and is exploring ways to standardise charges.

“In this context, the General Insurance Council is in talks with the TPAs (third party administrators) to standardise charges for some procedures,” she said.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) is looking for standardisation of charges of medical procedures, she said, adding that it will take some time as this is a “tough challenge”.

At present, TPAs are being selected by the insurance companies, Alamelu said.

“We plan to introduce a system in which people will have the liberty to choose their TPAs,” she said, adding that the regulator is pursuing hospitals and TPAs for more disclosure on cashless treatments, costs and settlement performance.

Alamelu said there has been a good growth in the health insurance industry for the last 10 years.

“From Rs 3,342 crore in 2006-07, collection of health insurance premium has increased to Rs 44,873 crore in 2018-19,” she added.