Is it costly to trust the bank to buy a health policy? Know how to control claim rejection and arbitrariness of the bank:

New Delhi. Now the anger of customers is at its peak regarding the alliance between Punjab National Bank (PNB), one of the prestigious government banks of the country, and Star Health Insurance. There has been a flood of such complaints on social media and consumer forums where customers directly allege that bank officials in connivance are forcibly imposing health policies on consumers. But the real game begins when it comes to claims during hospitalization. Customers allege that despite tall promises of ‘cashless’, they are being made victims of fraud at the time of claims.

Allegation of ‘collusion’ between bank and insurance company

It is alleged that in order to meet their targets, PNB officials are selling Star Health policies without giving complete information to the customers or by threatening them. Customers are calling it ‘forced fraud’. According to experts, when a trusted bank acts as a ‘corporate agent’ for a private company, the bank also has the responsibility for the security of the customer. But in case of claim rejection, banks often shy away, due to which the consumer feels cheated.

Claim Fraud: The Truth About Cashless Facility and Rejection

Most of the complaints are coming regarding ‘cashless settlement’. It has been seen in many cases that the green signal is given at the time of hospitalization, but at the time of discharge, the company rejects the claim citing technical deficiencies. In such a situation, the patient’s family has to pay huge bills themselves, due to which serious questions have been raised on the credibility of the bank and the insurance company.

How to raise voice against the arbitrariness of the bank and Star Health?

If you have also been a victim of this so-called ‘fraud’ of PNB and Star Health, then you can teach them a lesson by adopting these legal avenues:

Complaint to Nodal Officer: First of all, give a written complaint to the branch manager of PNB and the ‘nodal officer’ of Star Health. If you don’t get a solution within 30 days, move on.

Insurance Ombudsman: This is an independent body appointed by the government where you can lodge your complaint without any lawyer and without any fees. Here the customers are heard very effectively.

IRDAI ‘Bima Bharosa’ Portal: The most efficient way is to lodge a complaint on the portal of the insurance regulator (IRDAI). This organization keeps a close watch on the licenses and functioning of such companies.

Consumer Court: If the claim amount is large, you can file a case of fraud and deficiency in service in the consumer court through ‘e-filing’.

Be careful: Keep these things in mind while taking the policy

Do not take the policy under pressure from any bank official. Use the ‘Free Look Period’ (within 15 days of receiving the policy), if you don’t like the terms you can get your money back by canceling the policy. Remember, only alert customers can stop such large-scale ‘systemic fraud’.