**New Delhi, 10th February, 2026:** The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Ministry of AYUSH has signed a Common Empanelment Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the General Insurance Council (GIC) for providing cashless treatment to the eligible patients availing Ayurveda based healthcare services.
This agreement makes AIIA a part of the provider network of all 32 general insurance companies under the General Insurance Council, which is a major development in the integration of Ayurveda with India’s health insurance ecosystem.
The scheme is expected to make insurance-backed Ayurveda treatment more accessible and reduce the immediate financial burden on eligible patients availing the institute’s services. Cashless treatment is, however, subject to the terms and conditions of the patient’s insurance policy and the applicable coverage criteria.
The Way Forward: Mainstreaming Ayurveda in Health Insurance
“The agreement will allow the institute to provide cashless treatment facilities under all 32 insurance companies associated with the General Insurance Council,” said AIIA Director Professor (Vaidya) P. K. Prajapati talking about the development.
The initiative is expected to boost patient confidence in insurance-backed Ayurveda care and enhance affordability and access to institutional treatment.
The agreement also represents a step toward stronger administrative and financial ties between traditional systems of medicine and the organised health insurance sector.
Actual availability of cover is subject to the benefits, exclusions, treatment eligibility, pre-authorisation and other terms and conditions of the policy. Patients are therefore advised to check with their insurer about coverage prior to admission or treatment.
# Launch of dedicated AYUSH Health Insurance Helpline
Apart from the MoU, the Ministry of AYUSH also launched a dedicated **AYUSH Health Insurance Helpline** to help beneficiaries with insurance-related queries and to enhance awareness about the coverage available.
The helpline is designed to help patients understand the insurance process, answer questions about eligibility, and support them in accessing benefits to which they are entitled.
The initiative could be of great help to patients who are not aware of the administrative formalities involved in getting AYUSH treatment under insurance.
Increased access to information and assistance may also help mitigate procedural challenges faced by patients, healthcare institutions and insurers during the empanelment and claims process.
Improving Ayurveda’s Role in India’s Healthcare System
The pact reflects the ongoing efforts to increase the visibility and accessibility of Ayurveda within India’s healthcare financing framework.
AIIA has entered into a common empanelment arrangement with the General Insurance Council to make insurance-supported Ayurveda treatment available to the eligible beneficiaries.
It could also lead to more engagement between AYUSH institutions and insurance providers, in areas like standardised treatment packages, documentation, reimbursement procedures and patient support.
Active engagement in the health insurance ecosystem for Ayurveda institutions will require clear treatment protocols, appropriate clinical documentation, transparent billing practices and compliance with applicable regulatory and insurance requirements.
The AIIA-GIC agreement is a major institutional development in the effort to increase access to Ayurveda through health insurance.
