Understand your Insurance Rights on World Consumer Rights Day

World Consumer Rights day celebrated on 15th March, aims to raise awareness about consumer rights and promote consumer protection. This day serves as a poignant reminder for you as a consumer and policyholder to be informed and empowered to make right decisions about your health insurance coverage.

Navigating the complex world of health insurance can be daunting and this makes it even more important for you as consumers to be aware of the following insurance rights:

1. Right to Information

As a consumer, you have the right to ask your insurer everything you wish to know about your health insurance policy, even before you intend on purchasing a policy. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), clearly states that the insurance providers must communicate all policy-related information including inclusions, exclusions, waiting periods, deductibles, add-on riders etc. to you.

2. Premium Payment Rights

A conventional premium payment would be a lump sum annual payment towards the insurance policy purchased. The IRDAI has now allowed insurers to accept premium payments in monthly, quarterly, or half yearly installments as well, easing the consumer experience of premium payments.

3. Insurance claiming rights

As per the IRDAI guidelines, the health insurer must settle insurance claims within a set timeframe of receiving the last necessary document. The health insurer will compensate the policyholders in case if any delays in settling the claim.

4. Right to seek redressal

As a customer and policyholder, you can seek redressal in case of any issues faced by you against the insurer. Initially you can file a complaint with the grievance redressal cell of the insurer. If you are dissatisfied with the response, you can express your voice and file a complaint under the grievance redressal cell of IRDAI’s Consumer Affairs Department about any concerns including but not limited to delayed maturity payments and claim denials.

5. Right to port the insurance policy

A policyholder can port their policy to any other health insurance company along with all the members of the family at least 45 days before the renewal day of the policy. Any credit gained (no claim bonus, time bound exclusions and pre-existing conditions) will be transferred to the new insurer upon opting for porting.

World Consumer Rights Day serves as a reminder the importance of consumer protection in the insurance spectrum. By understanding your rights and the responsibilities of the health insurer, you and health insurer maintain a transparent and accountable relationship to provide quality access to healthcare and healthcare financing.