New Delhi, Oct. 29 -- The General Insurance Council has proposed a mandatory 10% co-payment for retail health insurance policies. The insured would bear 10% of the admissible healthcare expenses, and the insurer the remaining 90%. The proposal's details are not yet in the public domain.

The apparent rationale is to give the insured 'skin in the game'. Sharing expenses may discourage unnecessary tests, procedures, prolonged hospitalization and expensive rooms, reducing insurers' outgoings and potentially premiums.

Health insurance accounted for 43% of the general insurance market in April-September 2026. Excluding government-sponsored schemes, the data distinguish group insurance, individual family floater, and other individual policies....