HC pulls up IRDA over delay in cashless treatment

The Delhi High Court (HC) has pulled up the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) for failure to sort out a dispute between insurance companies and city hospitals, due to which, people with medical insurance are facing difficulties in getting cashless treatment.

The Delhi High Court (HC) has pulled up the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) for failure to sort out a dispute between insurance companies and city hospitals, due to which, people with medical insurance are facing difficulties in getting cashless treatment.

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Justice S Muralidhar asked the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) to take immediate steps, so that patients who are insured can get the facilities of cashless treatment.

“You cannot leave patients suffering, saying that a meeting will be convened,” Justice Murlidhar said.

“Patients are not getting treatment because of the dispute between insurance company and hospitals. It is your duty to act (in a) timely (manner),” Muralidhar added.

The court took strong exception to the remarks of the IRDA chairperson, published in a newspaper, in which he was quoted as saying that it is a matter between insurance companies and hospitals and there is no regulatory issue involved in it.

The court was hearing a petition filed by one Vishal Ahuja, whose 53-year-old mother, a cancer patient, was refused cashless treatment at the Dharamshila Cancer Hospital and other medical centres.

Turning down Ahuja’s plea for cashless treatment, hospital authorities said that because of the dispute between insurance companies and hospitals, regarding reimbursement of medical bills, the companies have decided to discontinue cashless facility for individual policy-holders.