Newslifestyle'My Rs 50 lakh policy ditched me in the darkest hour': Why your health insurance policy may betray in true emergenciesTrendingExpensive Countries In WorldQueen Of Arabian SeaGoa Travel ExperienceGolden HourSnake EggsUS VisaCarl JungAgatha ChristieMarcus AureliusBaby Girl NamesExpensive Countries In WorldQueen Of Arabian SeaGoa Travel ExperienceGolden HourSnake EggsUS VisaCarl JungAgatha ChristieMarcus AureliusBaby Girl NamesExpensive Countries In WorldQueen Of Arabian SeaGoa Travel ExperienceGolden HourSnake EggsUS VisaCarl JungAgatha ChristieMarcus AureliusBaby Girl Names'My Rs 50 lakh policy ditched me in the darkest hour': Why your health insurance policy may betray in true emergenciesSmita Mishra / etimes.in / Jan 20, 2026, 13:07 ISTCommentsShareAA+Text SizeSmallMediumLarge I do not want to remember that day, because even the faintest flicker of its memory brings a pain that is profound and hard to put into words.
It was around 6 pm when I returned home from office. Cashless treatment at any hospitalYou may now receive cashless treatment even at hospitals that are not part of your insurer’s network. Again, the patient here is at the receiving end, and the whole purpose of insurance is wasted.New health insurance rule changes—but please verify with your insurance provider to avoid a last-minute hit.1.
There was urgency to complete the billing so that my husband’s treatment could begin immediately.My husband had been diagnosed with leptospirosis. Throughout my husband’s treatment, I received full support from my office insurance coordinator. As soon as we arrived, they attended to him immediately and began a series of tests.
It is a rare bacterial infection caused by Leptospira. But my life seemed to collapse at the billing counter. Reduced waiting period for pre-existing conditionsThe waiting period for pre-existing diseases has now been reduced from four years to three years.4. I called the insurance coordinator from my office.
What unsettled us far more than the unfamiliar name was the urgency in the lab technician’s voice. Sometimes it may worsen within hours. "Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social Media Health + Rinse pasta or not: Know when it helps and when it destroys your dishWhy men and women are ditching the gym machines: Rise of functional fitnessThyroid cancer often hides in plain sight: Doctor urges women, those with neck symptoms and others to get checked routinelyCervical cancer can be silent in stage 1: Doctors explain how it can be there before you feel it'My Rs 50 lakh policy ditched me in the darkest hour': Why your health insurance policy may betray in true emergenciesTwice a cancer survivor, invites her doctor to her 50th wedding anniversary celebrationNot baby fat: Extra weight can harm a child’s liver, warns doctorEver cracked an egg with a red egg white?
What makes the disease dangerous is that it progresses very quickly. He asked me to submit the basic amount and stated he would speak to the TPA team and manage the rest.At a time when I was literally trembling, unable to process facts and gripped by fear, this support felt like a relief beyond words.
Amid the chaos, my husband tried to reassure me. I grabbed my wallet and rushed to Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj—the nearest hospital to our home and the one where my husband had already been treated as an outpatient. And what came as a painful blow was this last minute chance by the insurance company.Lessons and takeaways from my experienceYes, an insurance company can change its network hospital panel at any time, even after you have taken out a policy.
The main diagnosis had already been made, and we believed we were dealing with a manageable situation.While we were talking, my husband received a call from the laboratory. Some test reports were still pending, but we were not overly concerned. Insurers regularly update their list of hospitals, which means a hospital that was in-network when you bought the policy could be removed later.Contracts between insurers and hospitals are frequently renegotiated.
I was so shaken that I could not even recall it. Claims across multiple policiesIf you hold multiple health insurance policies, you can combine them to settle a single hospitalisation bill.For detailed guidelines read Master Circular on IRDAI (Insurance Products) Regulations 2024- Health Insurance dated: 29.05.2024About the AuthorSmita Mishra"Smita Mishra is the Editor of Times of India Lifestyle, Times Food, and Times Travel.
Delays may require insurers to bear additional hospital charges.3. I asked my part-time house help to stretch her hours and stay with my 11-year-old son until I returned, or at least make some temporary arrangements. Two days earlier, he had been diagnosed with Hepatitis E. The moment he heard the name of the disease, his tone changed.
Disclaimer: Please verify as policies have fine prints that may rule otherwise.2. We called the doctor, and fortunately, he answered the phone. They informed him that his leptospirosis test had come back positive. If both parties cannot agree on rates, the hospital may be dropped from the network, directly affecting access to cashless treatment.“Cashless Everywhere” initiativeAs of January 2024, the “Cashless Everywhere” initiative allows you to receive treatment at any hospital, even if it is not part of the insurer’s network.
My salary account card had very little money in it. It needs quick treatment. It is usually transmitted through water or soil contaminated with the urine of rats. However, when I went to the billing counter, I was told that this hospital did not fall under the cashless panel of this insurance. My question is, should we let the family of a patient do the guesswork or research at a time they are struggling with crisis?Conditions for non-network hospitalsWhile non-network hospitals are now included, you may need to inform the insurance company at least 48 hours in advance for planned procedures or within 48 hours in the case of emergencies.
He instructed my husband to immediately seek admission to the hospital. Smita brings a wealth of expertise in the digital realm, stemming from her previous roles at Zee News, Dainik Jagran, and India Today. We had thoroughly examined all the details and were quite satisfied, so there seemed little reason to worry.
Ayush treatments recognisedHealth insurance policies must now cover Ayush treatments-Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy-subject to policy conditions.5. Earlier, this benefit was limited to network hospitals. It can lead to liver and kidney failure, internal bleeding, or lung complications.
Here’s what it means and how to spot unsafe eggsWhy sleep anxiety in adults is more common today than you thinkThecha steamed eggs recipe: How to turn simple eggs into a spicy, flavour-packed Maharashtrian delight123Photostories‘Sheila Ki Jawani’, ‘Munni Badnaam Hui’, ‘Baby Doll’: Bollywood item songs that broke the internet with their zany lyricsRanbir Kapoor's ‘Badtameez Dil’ to Nora Fatehi's 'Dilbar': Iconic dance steps from Bollywood songs everyone still tries to copyFrom Mrunal Thakur's 'Do Deewane Sehar Mein' to Preity Zinta's 'Kal Ho Naa Ho': Meet Bollywood's queens who won hearts with geeky looksFrom Smriti Irani to Amar Upadhyay: How much the Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi star cast earns per episode12 traditional dishes that are must-try in KochiTop shows to binge-watch this week on Prime VideosKobe Bryant's inspirational quotes for childrenAncient Devi Mantras as per Your Birth DateTamil Nadu temples get a lift: Preserving history, beating floodsHow to make Chef Sanjeev Kapoor-style Mushroom Galouti Kebabs for evening snacking123Tired of too many ads?go ad free nowlifestyle videos32:03Exclusive: Author Amish on writing 'The Chola Tigers', lessons from India’s forgotten heroes, and more32:03Exclusive: Author Amish on writing 'The Chola Tigers', lessons from India’s forgotten heroes, and more27:30Senior Living in India– Myths, Realities & the Future of Purposeful Ageing13:05Life After 60: How To Redefine Life Post-Retirement16:34Life After 60: Why India's seniors are choosing community living04:34Control Your Senses, Gain Knowledge, Attain Peace: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4.3906:37Cultural Clashes in Love: How To Make Your Relationship Work03:19Prayagraj MahaKumbh 2025 Readies For Millions: Massive Preparations Underway In Uttar Pradesh04:48Sadhguru Reveals The Truth About Black Magic And Your Photograph07:18BK Shivani On Forgiveness: Why It’s Essential For Inner Peace08:08How Bhairavi Sadhana Accelerates Your Path to Liberation: Sadhguru Speaks06:47Breakup Recovery: How To Not Wallow In Misery And Love Yourself03:20The Purifying Power of Yajna: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 301234More VideosFeatured In LifestyleFake Sweet Potato in the market?
She leads TOI Books and oversees the editorial aspects of Times of India's literary initiatives, such as Times Literature Festivals and AutHer Awards. God bless him-he picked up the call immediately, reassured me, and asked for my office ID. Early diagnosis and immediate medical treatment are critical, as timely antibiotics can significantly reduce the risk of serious outcomes.
She is known for crafting in-depth and compelling features that blend storytelling with analysis. I clearly remembered the doctor mentioning this test earlier, saying it was a fairly common infectious disease and that he was ordering it only to rule out all possibilities. However, while many news pieces have claimed it, I could not find any official confirmation, and one publication even revealed that it entirely depends upon the prerogative of the hospital.
But do emergencies come with a 48-hour warning?Cashless vs reimbursementIf a hospital exits the network, treatment may shift from a cashless to a reimbursement model, meaning you may have to pay upfront and claim the amount later. The doctor had informed his team in advance. It was a policy worth ₹50 lakh, and at that moment, we assumed it would cover all the expenses.My husband had renewed the policy only a week earlier.
He handed over his insurance details and asked me not to worry. At that point, we did not even know what leptospirosis was. This is what insurance is meant for—not to force you to change hospitals at the last moment or leave you stranded in a crisis. The response we received was casual and dismissive: “Yeh ho jaata hai kabhi kabhi.” We had so diligently checked everything in the policy before making the payment.
Her contributions have been pivotal in launching numerous online properties and making meaningful editorial enhancements. This revelation came at a time when my mind was already struggling to function clearly. Her passion lies in exploring culinary arts, travel, style, relationships, health and literature through her writing.
He insisted that we contact the doctor immediately. Faster claim clearance timelinesInsurers must approve cashless claims within one hour of admission and settle final claims within three hours of discharge. Shorter moratorium periodThe moratorium period has now been reduced from eight years to five years, after which claims cannot be denied due to non-disclosure except in cases of fraud.6.
He even helped ensure that we received the maximum possible amount from the insurance company during the final settlement.When my husband finally came home, I spoke to the insurance agent who had charged us a substantial amount for a policy that failed us at a time of utmost need. He assured me and did his checks.
The doctor had advised rest, dietary control, and a few medicines. The first thing we checked was whether our nearest Max hospital was included in the network panel. I was unable to think clearly. My husband was sitting at his work desk, quietly going through his medical reports. How to check the purity of sweet potato at home and 6 easy dishesWhy Rujuta Diwekar wants you to eat this ignored leafy green for better hair7 baby girl names inspired by rivers across India and the worldWorld's largest railway station has now 44 platforms, and it is situated here8 baby girl names inspired by rare flowers from around the worldHow does a 'normal' person get rich?
ChatGPT's advice has now income experts shockedHow To Identify Snake Eggs: Guide explains key traits and safety tips; avoid handling, experts adviseMeet Satyam Kumar: IIT at 14, Texas PhD at 24, now an AI researcher in USWhich city is called the Queen of the Arabian Sea: Discover its history, trade legacy, and multicultural heritageAmerican psychologist visited India after her PhD and came back with 8 life-changing lessonsTired of too many ads?go ad free nowDaily PuzzlesConnectThe Perfect TracePlay Now Loop the LoopPuzzle CircuitPlay Now Location GuesserGuess the SpotPlay Now Explore More PuzzlesMORE FROM ETIMESlife & styleWarren BuffettBaby NamesHinduism BeliefsNeck PainRavishankar Parenting Advice
