[Resolved]  Reliance General Insurance Company Limited — Healthwise Mediclaim Policy Premium increased Fourfold

Address:

Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Dear Sir/Madam,

Sub. renewal amount increased approximately Fourfold by Reliance General Insurance Healthwise (Gold Plan: Policy no. [protected]) -reg.

I am Medical/Health Insurance policy holder of Reliance General Insurance Healthwise Policy (Gold Plan: Policy no. [protected]) for last 3 years and for my Fourth premium I am demanded to pay revised premium Four times of what I paid last year (last year premium Rs. 4,412/- and this year Rs. 20,582/- and Rs. 17,495/- after deducting 15 % No Claim Discount as I have never taken claim since inception of the policy) for renewing this policy in their communication letter.

I do not have any choice if I want to continue same plan. I do not wish to discontinue my policy as I loose all benefits if I buy fresh insurance from any company also I cannot afford to pay revised amount increased four times of last year. Reliance General Insurance has never given any indication at the time of selling this policy to me that sooner or later they will be increasing it to fourfold for renewing policy. Had I known the future I would have rather not taken this plan from Reliance General. I am feeling cheated by Reliance General Insurance. They told that all medical facilities have become costly and hence they have revised it. What happen if One get another communication letter in near future of revising amount and they may demand again more than four times of the amount what they are demanding today.

I have already communicated and shown my discomfort to Reliance General Insurance in paying such an increased amount which has disturbed my budget but I always get two type of automated generic reply that they have done it with the Regulator consent.


Unfortunately, I got same kind of reply (ref. no. Ref:Corp/Griev/1190/10-11 dated 9th Nov 2010) from Reliance General Insurance Company Limited on loding my complaint on 29th Oct 2010 to IRDA also (IRDA Complaint no. 597/REL/COMP/10-11; pls refer IRDA's reply below). But, My complaint shows pending status (i.e. unresolved) until today (23rd November 2010).



Type One


Dear Customer,

Thank you for writing to Reliance General Insurance Customer Service Unit, we value our relationship with you.

We will attend to your mail promptly and revert to you within seven (7) working days .Your service request no. is 01545135 , kindly refer to the service request number for any further communications or query.

Register yourself on our website www.reliancegeneral.co.in for managing your policy account online and to know more about our online services.

If you need any further assistance please feel free to contact us on our Toll free number[protected] Or[protected]Local rates only) our customer service executive will be glad to assist you.

Assuring you of our best service always.

Yours Sincerely,
Customer Service Team
Reliance General Insurance Company Limited





Type Two


Dear Mr. Arora,


Thank you for contacting Reliance General Insurance Customer Service Unit.


This is in response to your queries regarding the revision in the Health wise rate as compared to our previous rates.

Our company assures you that, the decision to increase the premium was taken after much deliberation and is justified on account of a number of factors as referred herein below.

The increase in premium has not been affected with the purpose of dissuading any of our Policy holders from renewing their policies or to discourage new Health Insurance business in Reliance General Insurance Company and it is in fact always our endeavor to satisfy our policy holders and focus on customer loyalty. In so raising the premium rates for the Health Insurance products, the Company has taken various factors under consideration and has complied with all the provisions and guidelines of Insurance Regulatory Development Authority in this behalf.

Some of the factors that, led the company to this decision were the unexpected and sharp increase in inflation rates, it became increasingly difficult for the company to service the coverage issued to customers on the old rates as the medical costs were also increasing simultaneously. Further, the decision to increase the premium rates has also been taken to ensure the continued better servicing of our customers.

Additionally, the following reasons were also considered while revising the Health wise premium rates:
1) Health claims Inflation rate,
2) Increase in incidences of illness and hospitalization,
3) Increase in costs of Health Care.
5) Rates prevailing in the present Indian insurance market

To re-assure our product is yet highly competitive with its features and benefits as stated below.

1. Family Floater Option
2. Coverage of Pre-Existing Diseases after 2nd / 4th year of renewal
3. Pre and Post-hospitalization
4. Wider Sum Insured options
5. Nursing Allowance
6. Reimbursement of Cost of Health Check up after 4 claim free years
7. Local Road Ambulance Services
8. Expenses on Accompanying Person
9. No room rent or ICU cost restriction
10. No Co-payment
11. Cashless Facility
12. Policy without Medical test till 45 yrs for clean medical proposals
13. Renewal Reward - No Claim Bonus
14. No Capping/ sub limits
15. No Premium loading at Renewal
16. Choice of TPA at Renewal

We hope that above mentioned clarifies your concerns and we look forward to the opportunity of continuing to serve you as our policyholder.

For any further assistance please feel free to contact us on our toll free number[protected] or our local number 39898282, and our customer service executive will be glad to assist you.

Thank you for choosing to write to us.


Yours Sincerely,
Customer Service Unit
Reliance General Insurance Co. Ltd.


Warm Regards,

Customer Service Team
Reliance General Insurance Co. Ltd.
Corporate Office - Mumbai
Helpline:[protected]
www.reliancegeneral.co.in






[protected] Forwarded message[protected]
From: IRDA Complaints <[protected]@irda.gov.in>
Date: Fri, Oct 29, 2010 at 10:31 AM
Subject: RE: Complaint for seeking justification for increasing premium Four Times by Reliance General Insurance Healthwise Policy (Gold Plan: Policy no. [protected])
Cc: services.[protected]@relianceada.com



Dear Sir/Madam,
We acknowledge your mail.
Your complaint has been registered and forwarded to the Insurer (Email ID copied herein).
You may follow-up with the Insurer at the given email ID and/or revert to us (our call center 155 255) if not resolved within 15 days.

Your grievance application No is: 597/REL/COMP/10-11 which may be quoted in future correspondence with IRDA and further follow-up with Insurer.
Regards,
Consumer Affairs Department
IRDA
Basheerbagh
Hyderabad



But the benefits which Reliance is showing in their reply ARE NOT NEW, rather they have shown these benefits in their brochure initially at the time of selling this insurance.



I request IRDA authority to get me solution soon as I wish to take it to next level "Insurance Ombudsman" and all concerned Authorities
if required.


Thanks and regards,


Ravinder Arora
(Gold Plan: Policy no. [protected])