Corona-Kavach policies cross 1 crore milestone – Times of India

BENGALURU: The market for Corona-Kavach policies has grown 10-fold in a month to 1.1 crores from 15 lakh. A record sales figure that makes it the hottest selling insurance product in decades.
Irdai chairman S C Khuntia announced the figure while addressing a CII meeting on Thursday. While there have been a few group health purchasers, the overwhelming majority of sales is coming from individual retail customers. “Growth in corona-specific policies are driven by rising Covid-19 cases, with continuous uncertainty and a surge in related medical expenses,” said Subrata Mondal, EVP and head underwriting, IFFCO Tokio General Insurance.
Media reports on hospitals’ bills have played a role, say insurers. “About 75% of customers are preferring to take sum insured of Rs 2-5 lakh. Only a quarter are taking coverage below Rs 2 lakh,” said Gurdeep Singh Batra, head – retail underwriting, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.
Insurers also say that many customers are first-time buyers. “More than half the customers who have approached us for Corona Kavach are new to insurance. Since Corona Kavach only has a maximum sum insured of Rs 5 lakh, if people feel that is not sufficient then they take a comprehensive family plan,” says Batra.
As Corona Kavach policies have a maximum sum insured, most people were buying it as an individual cover and not family floater (as only one person’s hospital bill could exhaust Corona Kavach). But with heightened insecurity, people are now turning to comprehensive insurance plans with family floater option, said insurers.