Page 11 - Insurance Times April 2021

Health Insurance News

Only private doctors on The judgment of the court: According to ABHICL, the 'Activ Health'
The court said the NMMC notice only policy provides "comprehensive"
COVID duty covered by
asked Bhaskar Surgade to keep his health protection with extensive
govt. insurance: Bombay clinic open and the same cannot be wellness benefits. The consumer is

High Court construed as a notice requisitioning his rewarded through a cash equivalent
services for the specific purpose of which can be used either for health-
The Bombay High Court has recently treating COVID-19 patients and/or related expenses like paying for
refused relief to the widow of a private working in a COVID-19 hospital. diagnostic tests, buying medicines,
doctor, who died of the Corona Virus, daycare treatment, out-patient
citing that the Rs. 50 lakh insurance The court further added, "There is a expenses (OPD), and alternative
cover under a Central scheme included difference between specifically treatments (which are traditionally
only those private medical practitioners requisitioning/drafting services and excluded), or most importantly can be
who were drafted for COVID-19 duties. directing private practitioners to not used towards the payment of future
keep their clinic closed. The intent and
A division bench of Justices S J object of the NMMC notice was to premium.
Kathawalla and R I Chagla dismissed encourage medical practitioners to The company stated that the plan
the petition filed by Kiran Surgade, a allows the wellness ecosystem to be
Navi Mumbai resident, seeking Rs. 50 keep their dispensaries open," the easily accessed by people without
lakh cover under the 'Pradhan Mantri court said. "This notice did not
mandate that the said dispensaries are exclusivity.
Garib Kalyan Yojana' (PMGKY) for her
to be kept open for COVID-19."
husband who died after contracting 57% of women purchased
COVID-19 from a patient at his clinic.
Aditya Birla Health health policies in 2020:
The Plea:
According to the plea, the petitioner's Insurance introduces new Survey
husband Bhaskar Surgade got a notice policy with up to 100% According to a recent survey
from the commissioner of the Navi conducted by Reliance General
Mumbai Municipal Corporation return on premium Insurance, which is commissioned by

(NMMC), asking him to keep his Aditya Birla Health Insurance Company research agency Nielsen, there has
dispensary open and warned action if Ltd (ABHICL) has announced up to been positive change among women
he fails to comply with the notice. 100% health insurance premium towards health insurance following the
The petitioner claimed that her returns and other product offering pandemic, with many looking at health
husband opened the clinic and started upgrades. The company said in a press policies as preferred financial products
treating patients, including those statement that this newly-designed to protect themselves against any
infected by Corona Virus and he too version of its flagship product 'Activ medical emergencies.
contracted the disease and died of it Health' will "inspire" the customers to The online survey took responses from
on 10 June, 2020. lead a healthy lifestyle. 547 women across tier-I, II and III

The Insurance Times, April 2021 11