GST On Health Insurance: Impact, Benefits and Premium Calculation

The Government of India introduced Goods and Service Tax (GST) in 2017, causing a drastic change in India’s taxation system. It replaced as many as 17 different federal and state taxes with a uniform and single tax structure. 

In India, GST on insurance premiums is currently applicable at an 18% rate. Previously, insurance policies had a 15% service tax applicable, including 14% basic service tax, 0.5% Krishi Kalyan tax and 0.5% Swachh Bharat tax.

Before talking about the effect of the GST rate on insurance premiums, let us know about GST.

What Is GST?

Goods and Service Tax is an indirect tax levied on services such as insurance, real estate, transportation, etc. and items such as electronic products, textile, food, home appliances, etc. GST is of four types:

State GST

State Government receives a part of GST charged on a transaction occurring in a state.

Central GST

Central Government gets a portion of GST levied on each transaction.

Union Territory GST

A ratio of GST imposed on goods and services in the Union Territory goes in the hands of the Union Territory, just like state GST.

Integrated GST

Integrated GST is a tax charged on inter-state transactions, applicable for the export and import of goods. This tax is shared between the State and Central Government or the Union Territory and Central Government.

Goods and Service Tax applies to numerous services and goods under five slabs- 28%, 18%, 12%, 5% and 0%. For medical insurance, the GST rate is 18%.

GST on Medical Insurance Premium

Every insurance policy, including medical insurance, falls under the purview of Goods and Service tax. Thus, an 18% GST on mediclaim premium has to be paid, as mentioned earlier. 

The imposition of GST on insurance premiums has increased the price for the purchasers of health insurance policies. From the service tax of 15% earlier, they now have to give an extra sum based on the present rate.

Premium paid towards the health policy offers a wide range of medical expenses that go beyond hospitalisation costs. The plan covers maternity care, OPD charges, diagnostic tests, day-care treatments, pre-hospitalisation charges, etc.

Applicable GST on Health Insurance Premium

Goods and service tax on medical insurance is levied on the premium paid. However, it is different for life insurance. Goods and Service tax on life insurance is charged on the risk coverage part of the premium instead of the investment part. 

Calculation

Suppose you have bought a medical insurance policy with a sum insured of Rs. 6 Lakhs. The premium amount is Rs. 12,000 per year.

Now, let us watch how the cost has increased:

Before Goods and Service Tax

The tax was 15%. Premium amount would be:

(15% GST on 12,000) + 12,000 = 13,800

After Goods and Service Tax

The tax is 18%. Premium amount is:

(18% GST on 12,000) + 12,000 = 14,160 

So, you will be paying Rs. 360 more than the previous insurance premium.

How Is GST Beneficial for Insurance Buyers?

Although implementing Goods and Service tax has raised the prices of insurance policies, it has created high competition among the insurance companies. To satisfy purchasers, insurers have tried to reduce the prices of their policies by cutting costs on various policy-related expenses. 

There is an improvement in the services provided by insurance companies in the context of filing claims and buying policies. This is an advantage for buyers who do not have enough time to consider other factors related to insurance. A consumer should understand that price is not the only factor he/she should consider while purchasing a policy.

A primary aspect of any insurance is the protection it guarantees to purchasers and services provided by the insurer in terms of claims and policy tenures. Hence, with the introduction of GST on insurance premiums, the consumer service experience is enhanced.

Positive Impact of GST on Health Insurance

Let us know about some benefits concerning health insurance GST.

Due to tight market competition, insurers are now offering medical plans at affordable prices. This is an essential advantage since healthcare costs are increasing steadily, and higher premiums will create financial burdens for purchasers. There is no need to worry. The policies with affordable prices are advantageous.

In addition to this benefit, consumers are satisfied with hassle-free processes and time-saving claim settlements.

Negative Impact of GST on Health Insurance

The applicable health insurance GST rate has imposed additional charges on buyers. People who have bought medical policies cannot make use of input tax credit. Also, companies having group policies for employees cannot take advantage of the input tax credit.

Final Word

Medical Insurance provides financial aid to a family and takes care of the well-being of the consumers. The buyer needs to realise that premium, with the GST rate, facilitates a huge medical expenditure in the long run. 

You need to choose affordable insurance plans that will suffice your health needs. Navi offers various health insurance products at affordable premiums starting at an EMI of Rs. 240 per month. Download the Navi app from Google Play Store to get health insurance cover of up to Rs. 1 crore for you and your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

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