Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has directed the insurance companies not to deny insurance cover to HIV patients for diseases not related to HIV. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi on Friday, IRDA chief J. Hari Narayan said cover will not be provided for HIV disease but for other ailments which are not directly related to that disease.

In reply to a query, he said, IRDA has announced guidelines giving insurance companies direction on portability. According to new guidelines, any customer dissatisfied with the service of that particular company can switch to another company.

However, the premium will be decided by the new company.