Insurance firm told to pay Rs 3.18 lakh along with interest for denying cancer treatment claim

On denying a cancer treatment claim citing the patient’s betelnut (Rajnigandha) ‘chewing habit’, the Chandigarh Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed an insurance company limited to pay Rs 3.18 lakh along with interest to the widow of the insured, observing that the insurer had relied merely on a prescription slip without proper proof from the treating doctor.

The commission remarked that insurers often “show green pastures” to customers at the time of selling policies but later “invent excuses” to reject claims.

Amarjeet Kaur Walia of Chandigarh had stated in complaint that her husband Gurnam Singh Walia (since deceased) was insured with Cigna TTK Health Insurance Company Limited, which was valid from March 9, 2019 to March 8, 2020, and the sum assured under the policy w