Corona Kavach: Is Your Group Health Insurance Ready for the COVID-19 Comeback?

It’s 2025, and COVID-19 is making headlines again. With cases rising and hospital admissions increasing across several states, health preparedness is once again in sharp focus for individuals, employers and HR Teams. As COVID-19 cases rise again, with hospitalization costs increasing, new variants coming, and employees raising concerns about their health coverage, insurance providers have started revisiting pandemic-era policies. 

One such policy is the Corona Kavach, a standardized COVID-specific insurance plan introduced by the IRDAI in 2020.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has allowed the general and standalone insurers to offer Corona Kavach policy as a product of Group health insurance amid covid surge in the country. Following this order, many insurers have included  Covid 19 insurance as an add-on to the existing insurance.

India is currently experiencing a resurgence of COVID‑19, with active cases climbing from around 257 in mid‑May to nearly 4,900 by early June

The IRDAI order for Corona Kavach Policy

The IRDAI press  release issued on July 21, 2020, states:Insurers are allowed to offer Corona Kavach Policy as a group product. The insurer needs to comply with the norms specified below for this product:

• Insurers are allowed to use the standard product name for the group policy after adding the word “group”, provided all terms and conditions as applicable to the standard individual policy remain the same except premium rate and specification on operation of group policy.

• The insurers shall determine the price keeping in view the cover proposed to be offered subject to compliance with the norms specified in the IRDAI (Health Insurance) Regulations, 2016 and Guidelines notified there under.

• The product shall be filed on use and file basis by duly complying with the norms specified in Chapter IV of Guidelines on product filing in health insurance business as modified from time to time.

• This group product shall comply with all the other applicable norms stipulated under “Guidelines on Product filing in Health Insurance business”.

What is the Corona Kavach policy?

The Corona Kavach Policy is a short-term, health insurance product. It reimburses actual expenses incurred during treatment of COVID-19 including hospitalization,diagnostics, AYUSH treatment, and PPE usage for a defined term (3.5 to 9.5 months).
It can be purchased as a group cover by employers, ideal for seasonal or pandemic-specific protection.
Unlike most Group health insurance plans which may not include specific COVID-related clauses (home care, AYUSH, PPE), Corona Kavach is structured to ensure COVID-19 coverage is fully addressed. 

What’s Covered Under Corona Kavach?

• Coverage for minimum 24-hour COVID-19 hospitalization
• Home care treatment up to 14 days (with doctor monitoring)
• Pre- and post-hospitalization expenses (15 and 30 days respectively)
• Coverage for AYUSH-based hospitalization in authorized centers
• Coverage for diagnostic tests, PPE kits, gloves, oxygen support, and oximeters
• Availability as a Group Policy for employees and dependents, with pricing based on risk profile

Terms and conditions

• The policy’s term ranges from three-and-a-half months to nine-and-a-half months. The maximum sum insured is 5 lakhs.
• People aged from 18 years to 65 years are covered under the policy.
• The dependent children up to 25 years of age are covered from day 1.
• People above 65 years of age may be covered as per the product design and underwriting policy of the company.

In India around 30 companies offer the Corona Kavach policy and mostly they do not extend the policy’s coverage to people above 65 years of age. And these insurers cover hospitalization costs, home care treatment, medical expenses towards Ayush treatment, pre-hospitalisation medical expenses and post-hospitalisation medical expenses.


For the detailed list of insurance providers, benefits and other terms and conditions on Corona Kavach policy, click here

How to claim the Corona Kavach policy?

1. As soon as you know you know you are positive for Covid-19, inform the insurer with a valid RT-PCR test report.
2. Check for the policy’s waiting period if there are any, because if you have taken a new policy you will be eligible for the claim after the waiting period. Say 15 to 30 days in most cases.
3. If the hospital you opt for is under the network hospital in your insurance plan, opt for a cashless claim.
4. Once the cashless claim is initiated after verifying the details, then the hospital will submit the bills directly to the insurer.
5. In case the cashless claim is unavailable in the hospital you opt for, then opt for a reimbursement claim after verifying the details with your insurance provider.
6. Covid-19 medical treatments bills, diagnostic reports, discharge summary, valid identity proof and health insurance card are some of the documents that have to be kept before / while applying for an insurance claim.

What is Corona-Rakshak policy?

Unlike the Corona Kavach policy the Corona Rakshak policy covers only one individual and  covers treatment costs, provided the policy holder has been hospitalised for a minimum of 72 hours continuously. It also covers costs for purchasing necessary equipment like  PPE kits, masks, oxygen cylinders, oximeters and gloves for an individual.  Just like the Corona Kavach policy it covers individuals aged between 18 to 65 years and the sum insured is between Rs.50000 to 5 lakhs.

Why Employers and HR Teams Should Offer Corona Kavach ?

With COVID-19 cases rising again, employers have a responsibility to protect their workforce not just with words, but with support also. While Group Health Insurance covers general medical needs, it often misses specific COVID-related expenses. Corona Kavach acts as a dedicated safety net that fills these gaps without increasing the load on your base health insurance.

For HR teams, offering this policy shows proactive care, builds trust, and sends a strong message: “We’re prepared.”

COVID Safety Checklist for HRs: How to Protect Your Workforce

Here’s how HR teams can proactively safeguard employee health and build trust:

 1. Revisit Health Coverage

• Ensure your group health policy covers COVID-related hospitalization, home care, PPE, AYUSH, and post-COVID treatment.
• Consider adding Corona Kavach for focused, short-term COVID protection.
  

 2. Strengthen Hygiene Protocols

• Partner with facility teams to regularly sanitize common office areas.
• Ensure masks and hand sanitizers are readily available in high-traffic zones.
• With Pazcare, you can host on-site health checkups and flu/cold screenings via our wellness partners.

3. Offer Remote Work Flexibility

• Enable remote/hybrid work policies, especially for symptomatic employees or those at higher risk.

4. Encourage Testing & Early Reporting

• Communicate clear guidelines for reporting symptoms or positive cases.
• Partner with clinics or diagnostic labs for subsidized testing access.
• Run short sessions on immunity, stress, post-COVID care, or vaccination updates.

Want to offer Corona Kavach to your team?

The Corona Kavach policy remains a powerful financial shield against treatment expenses and is easy for companies to roll out as a short-term group plan.

Pazcare can help you design and implement a customized COVID protection plan in under 48 hours.
👉Reach out now to get started.

Being Informed

The coverage for Covid-19 health insurance varies from one insurer to another. Always read the policy brochure and policy wordings carefully before opting for any insurance plan.Also Read - Covid-19 Vaccination for your employees

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