IRDA tells Insurance co's to not to overcharge elders for health insurance

The Business Standard has covered an interesting news item regarding over charging of senior citizens for Health Insurance by the Insurance companies.
We find the heading of the newsitem
''Don’t overcharge senior citizens, Irda tells insurers '' very bold and interesting.
The insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irda) has warned all public sector general insurance companies to not to charge higher premium from senior citizens on medical insurance policies or mediclaim. According to industry sources, a leading public sector general insurance company is charging senior citizens almost Rs 1,000 extra in premium. For example, for a sum assured of Rs 1 lakh, the company is charging Rs 2,700 in premium compared to Rs 1,500 before the revision. It may be recalled that all public sector general insurance companies had revised mediclaim premium n April 2007.
Irda further added. “The Authority has received several complaints from senior citizens that renewal premiums are exorbitant. Senior citizens should not be compelled by insurance companies to migrate to other health insurance products if it is to the disadvantage of senior citizens.”
The regulator has asked all chairmen of public sector insurance companies not to exceed 50 – 75 percent of premium charged prior to the revision. Meanwhile, the regulator has created a separate cell to attend to grievances of senior citizens in respect of non-renewals or exorbitant increases in premium payments on mediclaim policies by public sector general insurance companies.

Those of you who want to send complaints can send these to ;

The Grievances Cell
Senior Citizens Health Insurance
IRDA
3 rd Floor
Parishrama Bhavan
Basheer Bagh
Hyderabad – 500004
Attn. Shri R Srinivasan,Officer on Special Duty

Incidentally people are curious to know how many policies have been issued to senior citizens?

An effort by Mint to get this info resulted in total silence from all insurance co's and no one revealed any figure.

We estimate it is less than 2000 on all india basis.