Over 80% of Indians with disabilities remain without any health insurance, while more than half of those who apply are denied coverage—often without clear reasons—according to a new white paper by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP).
Despite constitutional safeguards, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and IRDAI guidelines, nearly 16 crore persons with disabilities continue to be excluded from both public and private health insurance options. The findings are based on a nationwide survey of over 5,000 respondents, with especially high rejection rates among individuals with autism, psychosocial or intellectual disabilities, and conditions such as thalassemia.
The report identifies key barriers such as high premiums, inaccessible digital platforms, and poor awareness of available schemes. During a policy roundtable, officials stressed the need for stronger inter-ministerial coordination and improved oversight, including linking the Unique Disability ID database to insurance applications. NCPEDP’s executive director called the persistent exclusion a “systemic failure” and a violation of fundamental rights.
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