New Delhi, Aug. 21 -- In a significant move aimed at bolstering financial security for citizens in healthcare, a ministerial group appointed by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council on Wednesday was broadly in favour of exempting health and life insurance premiums from the 18% tax it is subjected to, according to ministers who attended the meeting.

"The group of ministers discussed the proposal to make these insurance services free of GST. States expressed their views," convenor of the group of ministers (GoM) and Bihar's deputy chief minister Samrat Chaudhary told mediapersons after the meeting. "The group of ministers' report will be placed before the GST Council."

Further, Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema told mediapers...