The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the General Insurance Council (GIC) to facilitate cashless treatment for eligible Ayurveda-based healthcare services under 32 general insurance companies. The announcement was made on February 10, 2026, marking a step towards improving access to insurance-backed Ayurveda care in India.
AIIA Partners with the General Insurance Council
The MoU was signed on February 10, 2026, in New Delhi between the General Insurance Council and the All India Institute of Ayurveda, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Ayush.
According to the Ministry of Ayush announcement, the agreement enables AIIA to be empanelled with all 32 general insurance companies associated with the Council.
Insurance empanelment means that a hospital is included in an insurer’s recognised hospital network. This can allow eligible patients to receive covered treatment through a cashless claims process rather than paying the entire eligible hospital bill upfront and subsequently seeking reimbursement.
The agreement aims to strengthen the connection between Ayurveda-based healthcare services and India’s health insurance system.
Main Points of the AIIA–GIC Agreement
The key developments include:
- Empanelment with 32 insurance companies: AIIA has been empanelled with all 32 general insurance companies associated with the General Insurance Council.
- Cashless treatment facility: Eligible patients may access cashless treatment for covered Ayurveda-based healthcare services, subject to policy terms and approval requirements.
- Improved access to insurance: The agreement aims to make covered Ayurveda services more accessible to eligible patients.
- AYUSH insurance helpline: The Ministry of Ayush has also announced a dedicated helpline to help beneficiaries with insurance-related queries and raise awareness about available coverage.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve access to AYUSH healthcare through insurance mechanisms.
Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding
The MoU was formally signed by Professor (Vaidya) P. K. Prajapati, Director of AIIA, and Shri Segar Sampathkumar, Director (Health) of the General Insurance Council.
Professor Bejon Kumar Misra, Chairman of the Core Group of Experts on AYUSH Health Insurance, witnessed the signing.
Other dignitaries present included Professor Mahesh Vyas, Dean (Ph.D.); Professor R. K. Yadav, Dean (PG); Dr Alka Kapoor, Director of Medical Services; and other senior AIIA faculty members.
Commenting on the agreement, AIIA Director Professor P. K. Prajapati said the institute had become eligible to provide cashless treatment services under the 32 insurance companies associated with the Council. He expressed the expectation that the initiative would improve patient access, affordability and trust in Ayurveda-based healthcare.
Professor Bejon Kumar Misra stated that, according to the official release, this was the first formal empanelment agreement between an AYUSH institution and the General Insurance Council.
Potential Benefits for Patients
The agreement may help eligible patients access insurance-covered Ayurveda treatment more conveniently.
1. Reduced Upfront Payments for Eligible Treatment
Under cashless treatment arrangements, the insurer settles approved expenses directly with the empanelled hospital, subject to policy terms and claim authorisation. Patients may still need to pay deductibles, co-payments, non-covered items or expenses exceeding approved limits.
2. Improved Access to Ayurveda Healthcare
The empanelment provides another option for patients whose health insurance policies cover eligible Ayurveda services at AIIA.
3. Greater Awareness of AYUSH Insurance
The Ministry’s dedicated AYUSH Health Insurance Helpline provides another channel for beneficiaries to seek information about insurance coverage and related queries.
4. Improved Coordination Between Hospitals and Insurers
Formal empanelment may support coordination in insurance verification, documentation and claims handling. The specific procedures and timelines will depend on the arrangements established by the hospital and the relevant insurer.
These are potential benefits. Actual patient experiences, coverage and savings will depend on policy conditions and implementation.
What Patients Should Know Before Choosing Cashless Treatment
The MoU does not mean that every Ayurveda treatment or hospital expense will automatically be covered.
Patients planning to receive treatment at AIIA should take the following steps:
- Check their insurance policy: Confirm whether the proposed treatment and hospitalisation are covered.
- Verify cashless eligibility: Contact the insurer or its authorised claims administrator to confirm current empanelment and the cashless process.
- Obtain pre-authorisation where required: Some treatments or admissions may require approval in advance.
- Ask about exclusions and additional costs: Deductibles, co-payments, non-covered items and expenses above approved limits may remain payable by the patient.
- Confirm documentation requirements: Ask the hospital and insurer which records and identification documents are needed.
- Contact the official helpline: The Ministry of Ayush has announced the toll-free AYUSH Health Insurance Helpline at 1800-11-0008 for insurance-related assistance.
Patients should verify the latest arrangements before admission because policy conditions and cashless approval procedures may vary.
AIIA’s Healthcare and Research Infrastructure
The official announcement describes AIIA as a referral hospital with 200 beds, 25 speciality departments, 12 clinical units and eight interdisciplinary research laboratories.
The institute also has an International Collaborative Centre for the global promotion and research of Ayurveda.
This infrastructure provides the institutional setting for the empanelment agreement, connecting patient care with teaching and research. However, the MoU does not establish that every treatment offered by the institute is insurance-covered or confirm the clinical effectiveness of any particular therapy.
Why This Development Matters for Ayurveda Insurance
Insurance coverage is an important consideration for patients deciding how to finance healthcare. Through this agreement, AIIA has joined the network associated with 32 general insurance companies under the General Insurance Council, providing another route for eligible patients to access covered Ayurveda services.
The development also comes amid broader regulatory efforts to make AYUSH treatment options available through health insurance. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued requirements concerning insurance products covering AYUSH systems of medicine. The actual extent of coverage, however, depends on the applicable regulations and the terms and conditions of each policy.
For Ayurveda practitioners and healthcare institutions, the initiative highlights the importance of insurance documentation, hospital empanelment, transparent billing and effective coordination with insurers.
The broader benefits will depend on implementation, patient awareness, policy coverage and the practical handling of claims.
Conclusion
The MoU signed between AIIA and the General Insurance Council on February 10, 2026, enables the institute to facilitate cashless treatment for eligible Ayurveda-based healthcare services through arrangements with 32 general insurance companies. The AYUSH Health Insurance Helpline provides an additional channel for insurance-related queries.
Patients should confirm their policy coverage and cashless eligibility before beginning treatment. While the agreement may improve access to insurance-backed Ayurveda care, coverage remains subject to policy terms, exclusions and approval procedures.
