Our senior citizens have been paying health insurance premiums year after year—investing a large portion of their hard-earned savings into securing their future. Yet, when they need it most, an essential aspect of their healthcare is overlooked: dental care.

 

Let me share a real example. My father, now 65 years old, has been a loyal policyholder for over 20 years. Despite paying lakhs in premiums, he now has just 3–4 teeth remaining. He urgently needs dental treatment, possibly implants, but he hesitates—not because he doesn’t value his health, but because he worries about the cost. Like many others, he saves for future premiums instead of seeking vital dental care that isn’t covered.

 

And he’s not alone.

 

According to the National Oral Health Survey and Fluoride Mapping (NOHS, 2004) conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:

1. 63% of Indians aged 60+ suffer from dental caries (tooth decay)
2. 46% of elderly Indians have complete or partial tooth loss
3. Less than 5% of elderly Indians have ever received any form of prosthodontic care (dentures, bridges, or dental implants)
    

Dental issues in old age are not cosmetic—they are medical. Oral health affects:

• Nutrition and digestion (ability to chew)
• Speech and confidence
• Overall systemic health, including links to diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory conditions

 Yet, the vast majority of health insurance policies in India continue to exclude dental treatments like:

1. Tooth extractions
2. Root canal treatments
3. Gum surgeries
4. Dentures and dental implants
5. Preventive dental care and oral hygiene support
    

This exclusion is often based on the outdated assumption that dental care is cosmetic. But at age 60+, nobody is seeking a smile makeover—they’re trying to preserve their ability to eat and live with dignity.

 

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge that:

1. IRDAI mandates the inclusion of dental care in all health insurance policies for senior citizens (60+)
2. Health insurance providers treat dental treatments—including dental implants, root canals, extractions, and dentures—as essential medical care
3. Preventive, curative, and rehabilitative dental treatments be covered up to a reasonable limit annually for elderly policyholders
    

We trust our healthcare regulators and insurance providers to safeguard not just life but quality of life. Our elders have upheld their end of the bargain—paying premiums with trust and discipline. Now it is time to support them with coverage that truly meets their needs.

 

✍️ Sign this petition to bring justice to millions of Indian senior citizens who deserve complete healthcare—including oral care.