With reference to the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, consider the following statements: 1. The Act mandates that insurers treat mental illness similarly to physical illness. 2. An example of recurring costs for sessions at Rs 1,500 each is Rs 72,000 annually. 3. Routine outpatient therapy (OPD) is exempt from all session caps and provider eligibility limits. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

CoverSure CEO warns policyholders to check OPD limits for mental illness coverage

GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Health policy & public health· Prelims + Mains· 12 October 2026

Mental Healthcare Act 2017 and insurance accessibility: a GS2 Social Justice and health policy case study.

Why in news

CoverSure CEO Saurabh VijayVergia warned policyholders to scrutinize OPD limits and session caps for mental illness coverage under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.

Background

The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 mandates that insurers treat mental illness similarly to physical illness. However, routine outpatient therapy (OPD) may be subject to specific limits, such as session caps or provider eligibility.

Facts for Prelims

Act / BillMental Healthcare Act, 2017: Mandates insurance coverage for mental illness equivalent to physical illness
FactExample of recurring costs: Rs 72,000 annually for sessions at Rs 1,500 each
PostSaurabh VijayVergia: Founder and CEO of CoverSure

Prelims practice question

With reference to the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, consider the following statements:

The Act mandates that insurers treat mental illness similarly to physical illness.
An example of recurring costs for sessions at Rs 1,500 each is Rs 72,000 annually.
Routine outpatient therapy (OPD) is exempt from all session caps and provider eligibility limits.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)3 only
(b)1 and 2 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Show answer

Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only — Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect: OPD may be subject to specific limits such as session caps or provider eligibility.

For Mains

Q. Examine the challenges in ensuring comprehensive insurance coverage for mental health services despite the mandates of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Regulatory gap: Lack of standardized OPD caps across private insurers leading to out-of-pocket expenses
Awareness deficit: Complexity in policy fine print regarding session limits and provider eligibility
Economic barrier: High recurring costs of outpatient therapy impacting long-term treatment adherence

Keywords: Mental Healthcare Act 2017 · Outpatient Department (OPD) · Insurance Coverage · Mental Health Policy · Financial Accessibility

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note Source: NDTV ↗Also: GS2 · Bills, Acts & ordinances

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