What should have been a routine health insurance claim turned into a mental ordeal for Sumit Kumar, a Pune-based RPA consultant. When his wife fell seriously ill on July 15, he rushed her to Manipal Hospital after Star Health Insurance assured him of cashless treatment. Despite following all medical advice, including a 48-hour hospital stay, his claim was rejected—not once, but three times.
Initially, Star Health told Sumit that admission over 24 hours would ensure approval. Yet, even with multiple supporting letters from doctors, the insurer denied the claim, stating the hospitalisation was “not medically necessary.” Frustrated, Sumit said, “I trusted the doctor. Isn’t that what a husband should do?”
He paid the reduced final bill of ₹41,000 out of pocket while continuing to send documents, make calls, and follow up—only to receive templated responses. “It was emotionally draining,” he said.
The turning point came when Sumit posted his experience on LinkedIn on July 26. The post went viral, sparking public outrage and drawing thousands of views and similar stories. The very next day, Star Health reversed its decision, approving ₹36,000 without any new documents—just after the public backlash.
Sumit’s viral post ended with a powerful line: “We pay premiums for peace of mind, not for mental harassment.”
Star Health later stated the initial documents lacked sufficient medical justification and flagged billing anomalies. After re-evaluating revised documents, the claim was processed.