The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority’s (IRDA) Annual Report for 2014-15, states that R701.69 crore life insurance claims were repudiated by insurers. The report further highlights that “during the year, insurers have repudiated 8% of the number of claims handled … claims repudiation was high for benefit-based policies at 22%.” This is a disturbing trend as 22% repudiation of claims is unacceptably high for such simple
products.
In a developing economy like India, where one has flagship schemes of the Modi government focussing on crop, life and health insurance for the downtrodden on the one hand and “Make in India” on the other, it is vital to have an insurance regulator absolutely committed to policy holders’ rights.
