Husband wins Rs 12.52 lakh as travel insurance claim after 14 years long fight against the insurer Bajaj Allianz
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance was ordered by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) via an order dated December 27, 2023 to reimburse $20,000 plus interest to the husband of Mrs Aruna Vaish who took an overseas travel insurance policy from the company. The fight between Bajaj Allianz General Insurance and Mrs Aruna (the insured) started from July 28, 2009 when the overseas travel insurance claim was rejected.
After rejection of the insurance claim, Mrs Aruna Vaish filed a complaint with the Insurance Ombudsman. The Insurance Ombudsman via a letter dated October 12, 2011 said that her claim fell outside their jurisdiction. Subsequently, she went to fight her case in the State Consumer Forum and then in NCDRC. In the time between fighting her (Aruna Vaish) case, she had died so her husband Deepak Chandra Vaish fought the long battle against the insurance company on her behalf.
Why did Bajaj Allianz General Insurance not pay the insurance money?
Mrs Aruna Viash took an overseas travel insurance policy from Bajaj Allianz General Insurance which was valid from June 19, 2009 to October 16, 2009. For purchasing this policy, Mrs Aruna Vaish paid Rs 16,001 as premium.
On June 29, 2009, Mrs Aruna Viash was admitted to a hospital in the US for weakness and low blood pressure diagnosis. Subsequently, the doctors found out that she had Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) and Sepsis. After being treated and getting discharged from hospital, she filed an insurance claim and was asked for supporting documents. After she submitted the documents, the claim was rejected on July 28, 2009. The reason for rejection as given by Bajaj Allianz General Insurance to the complainant was that the complainant allegedly did not
