The dispute between insurance companies and hospitals over cashless policy is increasing. More than 15 thousand hospitals across the country have announced to stop the cashless facility of two insurance companies from September 1.
These companies include Bajaj Allianz and Care Health. Patients may face problems due to this. This information was given by the Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), an organization of hospitals. AHPI says that the concerned insurance companies have not changed the rates (limits) of treatment expenses, while the cost of treatment is constantly increasing.
Not only this, the companies unnecessarily delay the payment and ask for unnecessary papers. This is creating a lot of problems in the payment related to the policy, due to which the patients are facing problems.
On the call of AHPI, about 15,000 hospitals across the country have refused to provide cashless treatment from September 1. On the other hand, AHPI has also issued a notice to Care Health to discuss the problems related to cashless bill payment of patients. Otherwise, the facility of cashless treatment will be completely stopped from September 1.
The main cause of the dispute
The hospitals allege that Bajaj Allianz has refused to increase the rates of the old contract. As per the terms and conditions, the rates of treatment expenses are revised every two years but the company is not ready for this. On the contrary, the company has started reducing the cost of medicines, tests and hospital room charges on admission of the patient without giving any reason.
Not only this, the time for approving the final bill after the patient is discharged has also been increased, due to which the patients have to stay in the hospital after discharge. However, no response has come from both the companies on these allegations yet.
This will have an impact on patients
In such a situation, patients who have taken health insurance from these companies will have to pay the hospital bill themselves. After that, they will have to make a claim to the insurance company.
Reduction in bill expenses without giving any reason
AHPI Director General Dr. Girdhar Gyani said, “Both the companies are making deductions in the bills related to medical expenses without any reason. The bill is approved six to seven hours after the patient is discharged. We have sent an email to both the insurance companies for discussion. A meeting has been scheduled with the representatives of Care Health on Wednesday and Bajaj Allianz on Thursday on this issue. If no solution is found, their cashless facility will be stopped.”
First it brings a cheaper policy and then it is increasing the premium
Many companies have adopted the option of low premium to sell their policies. Initially, a policy with low premium is offered, in which coverage of limited diseases is given. After that, the customer is offered next year that serious category diseases will also be covered in it. Only the premium will increase by two to three thousand rupees.
The policy holder also agrees to this. Then in the second year, the average policy premium is increased by 10 percent. In this way, if a policy is taken for Rs 20,000 in the first year, then that policy reaches a premium of 25 to 27 thousand in the next two years.
