2 in 5 Indians with disabilities lack health insurance

Despite government intervention, many persons with disability are still left out of proper coverage.

The majority of persons with disabilities in India have no health insurance, with eight in 10 stating they don’t own and over half (53%) face rejection – often without being told why, according to a study by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP).

The study, conducted between 2023 and 2025, covered more than 5,000 respondents across 34 States and Union Territories. 

Furthermore, rejection rates were particularly high for applicants with autism, psychosocial and intellectual disabilities, and blood disorders such as thalassemia.

NCPEDP Executive Director Arman Ali said the findings highlight how roughly 160 million persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in both public and private insurance. 

The report points to discriminatory underwriting, high premiums, inaccessible digital platforms, and limited awareness of available schemes as the most common obstacles.

NCPEDP also released a white paper titled Inclusive Health Coverage for All: Disability, Discrimination and Health Insurance in India during a national roundtable with policymakers and industry representatives. 

Ali noted that whilst the government plans to expand Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) to all citizens aged 70 and above, persons with disabilities are still left out despite similar or greater health needs.

The white paper recommends that all persons with disabilities be included in PM-JAY without age or income limits. 

It also calls for stronger coverage for mental health, rehabilitation and assistive technologies, the creation of a disability inclusion committee within the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, and broader training on disability-sensitive services for insurers and healthcare providers.