Are AYUSH hospitals and AYUSH day care centres covered by health insurance?

In a country like India, which has a unique culture and a strong national identity, medical decisions can sometimes be influenced by its cultural context. The country has developed its own ancient indigenous medical system (now known as AYUSH - Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) based on natural remedies, and this can often be chosen over the modern medical system founded in the West. Patients usually head to an AYUSH hospital or AYUSH day care centre to get their treatment. But doubts may arise as to whether health insurance companies cover this mode of treatment under their policy. Let’s find out.

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Where to avail AYUSH treatment?

Government-certified AYUSH hospital

A government-certified AYUSH hospital is a hospital that has been recognized by the Government of India or the Ministry of AYUSH. It will have to meet certain rigorous standards set by the government through agencies such as:

National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) – AYUSH Wing
State AYUSH departments National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) or National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH)

These standards may include following guidelines set by the Ministry of AYUSH, employing qualified doctors with government-recognized degrees, and facilities that are standardized, including the presence of a pharmacy, therapy units, and outpatient and inpatient departments.

AYUSH day care centre

While AYUSH hospitals provide both outpatient and inpatient services, AYUSH day care centres usually provide only outpatient services. They provide non-invasive treatments for a short period of time, wherein a hospital stay may not be required.

Some of the treatments offered at the day care centres are yoga sessions, ayurvedic/unani/homoeopathic/naturopathic treatments, and diet and lifestyle consultations. These centres can be operated privately or by the government under the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) and can be found within hospitals as well. They are great for those who face chronic ailments such as arthritis, diabetes, etc., patients who are looking for preventive care, and those who seek the centre’s rehabilitative programs.

Does insurance cover treatments at AYUSH hospitals and AYUSH day care centres?

There are a few criteria that need to be met for the insurance to cover AYUSH treatments, and they are as follows:

The treatment should be prescribed by a certified doctor
Hospitalisation of at least 24 hours is a must for insurance coverage
The treatment has to be undertaken at a government-certified AYUSH institution
There might be certain inclusions and exclusions in the policy issued by the insurance company. For example, if you opt for only outpatient treatments at an AYUSH day care centre, depending on the policy, you may not receive coverage for the same. So it is of utmost importance to know the policy like the back of your hand before signing on the dotted line, especially when it comes to AYUSH coverage.
Costs at the chosen institution should not be overinflated and should meet the standard costs of AYUSH treatments

Also read: Are alternative treatments covered under health insurance?

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Written by Roocha Kanade

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Reviewed by Dr. Harshita Dahiya

Health Insurance content enthusiast who turns complex topics into easy, binge-worthy reads—fueled by SEO, creativity, and way too much chai! Loves juggling multiple projects, cracking impossible deadlines, and sprinkling humor into the mix. When not geeking out over digital trends, you'll find her lurking on Quora and Reddit, planning the next getaway, or passionately decoding all things health and insurance!