New Delhi, The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) today unveiled its white paper titled “Inclusive Health Coverage for All: Disability, Discrimination and Health Insurance in India” at a national roundtable bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and media representatives. The report exposes the deep systemic inequities that continue to deny approximately 16 crore Indians with disabilities equitable access to health insurance, both public and private.
Drawing on a nationwide survey, conducted between 2023 and 2025, of over 5,000 persons with disabilities across 34 states and UTs, along with case studies, policy reviews, and stakeholder consultations, the white paper reveals a stark reality: 80% of persons with disabilities have no health insurance, and 53% of those who apply face rejection, often without any explanation. Despite constitutional guarantees, directives issued by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), and the mandates of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016), the report finds that persons with disabilities continue to encounter discriminatory underwriting practices, unaffordable premiums, inaccessible digital insurance platforms, and a widespread lack of awareness of available schemes.
Many applicants are refused insurance solely based on their disability or pre-existing conditions, with particularly high rejection rates among persons with autism, psychosocial disabilities, intellectual disabilities and blood disorders like thalassemia.
“This whitepaper comes at a crucial moment. Even as the government expands Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above, persons with disabilities remain conspicuously excluded despite facing equal, if not greater, health vulnerabilities. There is no principled or policy justification for this gap. The continued exclusion of persons with disabilities from affordable and comprehensive health insurance is more than a systemic failure. It is a violation of rights. As India advances toward universal health coverage, extending equitable protection to the country’s 16 crore people with disabilities and their families is not optional. It is a moral imperative, a constitutional responsibility and essential for a truly inclusive healthcare system. India cannot be burdened with the generational ‘cost of exclusion’ of people with disabilities.,” said Arman Ali, Executive Director, NCPEDP
To address these systemic gaps,the white paper outlines several key recommendations:
- It calls for immediate inclusion of all persons with disabilities under Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY)- without age or income criteria, aligning with the 2024 order that expands coverage to senior citizensabove the age of 70.
- Enhanced coverage for mental health, rehabilitation, and assistive technologies
- Creation of a dedicated Disability Inclusion Committee within IRDAI
- Awareness among all stakeholders- of insurers and healthcare staff on disability-sensitive service delivery
- Standardised premiums for disability-inclusive policies under all private insurance companies, with accessibility ensured for mandatory process and mechanisms
NCPEDP also urges policymakers, regulators and the media to drive a national dialogue on disability-inclusive health insurance, shifting the narrative from charity-based approaches to rights-based healthcare access.NCPEDP is going to continue this campaign, and anyone who wants to get associated with, shall reach out at 91-9958955744.
About NCPEDP
The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) is a non-profit organization in India that advocates for the rights of people with disabilities by focusing on policy, employment, accessibility, education, and awareness. Founded in 1996, it serves as an interface between the government, industry, and voluntary sector to empower individuals with disabilities. NCPEDP has played a key role in policy advocacy, including contributing to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016, and runs various programs like fellowships and scholarships.
