SC issues Notice over health insurance for Mental Illness

On June 16, 2020, the Supreme Court of India issued notice to the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) and the Union Government on providing Health Insurance for mental illness.

Highlights

• In 2018, the IRDA had issued a circular asking all insurance companies to comply with the Mental Healthcare Act. 
• According to the act, the mental illness is included under Health insurance. 
• Also, it is mandatory for the insurance companies to include mental illness under their health insurance policies.
• The act had made it mandatory for all the insurance companies to stick to its legislation provisions. 
• This has been included under Section 21 of the Mental Healthcare Act. 
• However, it has still not been implemented widely. 
• The petitioner brought up this particular argument to which the SC has issued notice.

Background

• The issue of mental illness is being brought up after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. 
• The actor committed suicide in his apartment.