September 11, 2018
Many multinational corporations (MNCs) have approached insurance companies seeking a group health policy that will cover partners of those in same-sex relationships. The requests are aimed at their global diversity policy that aims to provide equal benefits to all employees. Many progressive organisations are providing this cover, but it has not happened in India because the underlying relationship was not considered legal’’ said an official.”
Globally, there are policies that cover same-sex partners. As there is no prohibition on providing such a cover as it is between the company and the insured. Now with the section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) being struck down, such covers can be provided here too.
According to an ex-official of a public sector insurance company, who headed the company’s health business for several years, there are complexities surrounding insurance in terms of relationships and identification of the beneficiary. What this means is that there is a risk that an outsider requiring medical treatment might be brought in to avail of the group policy benefits. Unlike individual policies, many group health covers do not exclude pre-existing conditions. Therefore, insurers might be more open to providing this cover to multinationals since they document the relationship in advance and there is a high level of compliance in these organisations.