Saif Ali Khan’s insurance claim sparks debate over health policy inequalities
Mumbai: The leaked health insurance claim document of actor Saif Ali Khan has stirred widespread debate on social media, highlighting the stark disparities in how insurance companies handle claims for celebrities compared to ordinary citizens. The document, leaked on the microblogging platform X, revealed that Khan filed a claim of ₹35.95 lakh with Niva Bupa Health Insurance for his treatment costs. However, the insurer approved ₹25 lakh, while the final hospital bill amounted to ₹26 lakh.
The incident has drawn attention to the challenges faced by middle-class policyholders. Dr Prashant Mishra, a cardiac surgeon at Tunga Hospital, criticised insurance companies for their leniency towards luxury hospitals and celebrities, stating, "For smaller hospitals, insurers rarely sanction amounts exceeding ₹5 lakh." He also expressed concerns over the rising premiums caused by such practices.
Real-life cases from citizens further highlighted the inconsistencies. Mahesh Seth, whose wife underwent hip and knee surgeries, had to pay ₹4 lakh upfront as the hospital was not in the insurer's network. He was later reimbursed ₹3.88 lakh, with certain expenses deemed non-reimbursable. Similarly, Kiran Karkera, 28, recounted the tedious process of navigating claims after his spine surgery, despite having a top-up policy.
A Goregaon resident shared her ordeal after her endoscopy claim for ₹15,000 was rejected on technical grounds, as it was classified as an OPD procedure. Insurance consultant Mahavir Chopra pointed out the limitations of cashless insurance policies during emergencies, citing instances where immediate payments were required, leaving policyholders to bear the financial burden temporarily.
Responding to the controversy, a spokesperson for Niva Bupa Health Insurance clarified that treatment costs vary depending on factors like hospital location, severity of the condition, and room type. Claims are processed per policy terms, with customers required to follow specific procedures for cashless or reimbursement claims.
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We received request; will decide soon whether to support TVK: Thirumavalavan
Chennai (PTI): VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Thursday said that his party received a request from TVK for support and the high-level committee of his party will decide whether to support the Vijay-led party to form the government.
The TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly and emerged as the single largest party. Vijay will have to resign from one of the two constituencies he has won.
Though the Congress party, which has five MLAs, has extended support to TVK, the actor-politician-led party was still short of as many seats to touch the magic number of 118, the majority mark in the 234-member House.
"We received the request letter from TVK. We are thankful for that. We have not ignored his (Vijay's) request. We have a procedure. Therefore, our party's high-level committee will decide soon. We are going to discuss the merits and demerits of our position," the VCK leader told reporters here.
With regard to the delay in the governor's call to the TVK, which is the single largest party, to form the government, Thirumavalavan requested the governor to invite Vijay to form the government. "It is a constitutional right and people's verdict," he added.
Asserting that the governor cannot say that Vijay should hold 118 MLAs' support now itself to form the government, he said that after taking over power, Vijay has to prove an absolute majority only on the floor of the Assembly.
