Kolkata, Oct. 28 -- The Calcutta High Court has directed HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited to honour its undertaking to consider a patient's medical bills within two weeks, after the insurer rejected the claim despite receiving the required medical records.
Justice Aryak Dutt has warned that appropriate action in accordance with law would follow if the insurer failed to comply with the direction.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Rajarshi Deb, who challenged the rejection of his medical insurance claim. During earlier proceedings on September 22, the insurer had informed the court that the patient had been shifted from Neotia Bhagirathi Women and Child Care Centre to Apollo Gleneagles Multispeciality Hospitals in Kolkata.
The insurer had undertaken to consider the petitioner's medical bills if Apollo Gleneagles provided the patient's running case summary.
However, despite the medical records being furnished, the claim was rejected, prompting the petitioner to approach the court again.
During the latest hearing, counsel for Apollo Gleneagles informed the court that the patient had already been discharged, although the hospital's bills remained unpaid. The hospital had retained post-dated cheques worth Rs 27 lakh from the petitioner as security against the outstanding amount.
The hospital's counsel further informed the court that the hospital would not encash the cheques, provided the insurance company paid the amount directly to it within a reasonable period.
Taking note of the insurer's undertaking recorded in the earlier order, Justice Dutt directed the company to comply within two weeks. The court further directed that, in the event of non-compliance, respondent number five would take appropriate action against the insurer in accordance with law.
The court listed the matter for November 23 before the regular bench.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.