Central Idea

• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) in India aims to implement ambitious plans to improve the insurance sector.
• The key objectives include offering affordable bundled policies that cover multiple risks and providing expedited claim settlements with value-added services.

“Bima Trinity” – A Comprehensive Plan

• The IRDA is collaborating with general and life insurance firms to develop a comprehensive plan called “Bima Trinity.”

1. Bima Sugam
2. Bima Vistar
3. Bima Vaahaks

 (1) Bima Sugam – One-Stop Shop Platform

• The IRDA is developing the Bima Sugam platform, which will integrate insurers and distributors onto a single platform.
• This platform will serve as a one-stop shop for customers, simplifying the process of purchasing policies and accessing services.
• Customers will be able to pursue service requests and settle claims through the same portal, enhancing convenience and efficiency.

(2) Bima Vistar

• The IRDA is working on the development of Bima Vistar, a bundled risk cover that encompasses life, health, property, and casualties or accidents.
• This bundled policy aims to provide comprehensive protection against a wide range of risks.
• Policyholders will have defined benefits for each risk, allowing for faster claim payouts without the need for surveyors.
• Bima Vistar will offer defined benefits for each risk category, ensuring clarity and ease of understanding for policyholders.
• If a loss occurs, the defined benefit will be promptly transferred to the policyholder’s bank account, eliminating unnecessary waiting periods.

(3) Bima Vaahaks: Women-Centric Workforce

• As part of the Bima Trinity plan, the IRDA envisions a women-centric workforce known as Bima Vaahaks.
• Bima Vaahaks will operate at the Gram Sabha level and engage with women heads of households.
• Their role will be to educate and convince women about the benefits of a comprehensive insurance product like Bima Vistar.
• They will emphasize the usefulness of a composite insurance product like Bima Vistar during times of distress.
• By highlighting the advantages and addressing concerns, these Bima Vaahaks will play a crucial role in empowering women and ensuring their financial security.

Other developments

• Leveraging Digitized Registries for Faster Claims: With the increasing digitization of birth and death registries in many states, the IRDA plans to integrate its platform with these registries. This integration would allow for seamless sharing of data and facilitate faster claim settlements.
• Streamlined Claim Settlement Process: Policyholders can access the platform, retrieve their policy from the insurers’ repository, and provide the necessary documents, such as the death certificate. This swift claim settlement process revolutionizes the insurance industry by significantly reducing the time taken for policyholders to receive their claims.

Expansion of Insurance Penetration

(1) Legislative Amendments for Increased Investments

• The IRDA plans to introduce legislative amendments to attract more investments into the insurance sector. These amendments would allow for differentiated licenses for niche players, similar to the banking sector.
• The objective is to encourage more participation, ultimately making insurance more accessible and affordable for citizens.

(2) Making Insurance Available, Affordable, and Accessible

• The IRDA is focused on adopting a multi-level approach to make insurance available, affordable, and accessible to a larger population.
• The aim is to address the low insurance penetration in the country and double the number of jobs in the sector.
• The regulator believes that by implementing these changes, insurance can become more inclusive and reach citizens at the Gram Sabha (village council), district, and state levels.

(3) Identifying Significant Protection Gaps

• The IRDA acknowledges the existence of significant protection gaps in various lines of insurance, including life, health, motor, property, and crops.
• These gaps highlight the need for comprehensive coverage and prompt claim settlements.

Proposed Amendments for Regulatory Reforms

The IRDA has proposed amendments to insurance laws to enable regulatory reforms that encourage increased investment and innovation.

• Differentiated capital requirements: These amendments aim to introduce differentiated capital requirements for niche insurers, attracting more investment into the sector.
• Other value-added services: Additionally, the proposed amendments will allow insurers to offer value-added services alongside policies, catering to the evolving needs and preferences of customers.
• Encouraging new players and services: The proposed amendments will pave the way for the entry of new players in the insurance sector. Micro, regional, small, specialized, and composite insurers will have the opportunity to operate and cater to different geographical areas and population segments.

Comparison with Banking Sector

• The IRDA draws parallels between the proposed changes in the insurance sector and the existing diversity in the banking sector.
• Similar to the banking sector, which includes various types of banks addressing different needs and geographies, the insurance sector can benefit from a diverse range of insurers.
• Payment banks, small finance banks, cooperative banks, and other specialized institutions serve specific purposes and cater to distinct segments of the population.

Way Forward

The IRDA’s initiatives, including bundled policies and expedited claim settlements, have the potential to significantly enhance insurance accessibility and affordability in India. To move forward effectively, the following steps can be considered:

• Collaborating with Insurers: The IRDA should work closely with insurance companies to refine and implement the Bima Trinity plan, ensuring the success of bundled policies and integrated platforms.
• Technological Integration: Prioritizing the integration of birth and death registries with the IRDA platform to expedite claim settlements. Emphasizing technological advancements and partnerships for seamless data sharing and processing.
• Awareness and Education: Launch a comprehensive awareness campaign in collaboration with insurers and stakeholders to educate the public, especially women, about the benefits of bundled policies and comprehensive insurance coverage.
• Regulatory Reforms: Expediting proposed amendments to insurance laws to enable differentiated capital requirements and value-added services. Active engagement with relevant government bodies to ensure smooth implementation.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Establishing a robust framework for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of bundled policies, claim settlement processes, and insurance penetration in different regions.
• Continuous Innovation: Encouraging insurers to continuously innovate and develop new products and services that address emerging risks and meet evolving consumer preferences in the rapidly evolving insurance landscape.

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