Saif Ali Khan’s ₹25 lakh insurance approval prompts doctors’ body to flag ’preferential treatment’
- Alleging ‘preferential treatment’ to celebrities, the doctors' body said the swift action on Saif Ali Khan's mediclaim shows how celebrities receive ‘favourable terms and higher cashless treatment limits’
A Mumbai-based doctors' body, Association of Medical Consultants (AMC), has raised concerns over the swift approval of Saif Ali Khan's ₹25 lakh medical insurance claim by Niva Bupa – a health insurance company in India, alleging ‘preferential treatment to a celebrity’. The doctors' body said the prompt action on Saif Ali Khan's mediclaim shows how celebrities receive “favourable terms and higher cashless treatment limits” while common people face “insufficient coverage.”
In a letter to Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the doctors' body, which represents over 14,000 medical professionals in India, has said that approval to Saif Ali Khan's insurance claim came within hours of his hospitalisation at Lilavati Hospital, showing inequality in how the mediclaims of common people are processed.
Saif Ali Khan was admitted to Lilavati in Mumbai on January 16, after he was attacked by an intruder at his residence in Bandra. Saif Ali Khan, 54 years old, was stabbed repeatedly during the robbery attempt. He underwent surgery and was later discharged.
The AMC said, “We are writing to express our concern and dissatisfaction regarding the recent news of Mr. Saif Ali Khan being sanctioned ₹25 lakh for cashless treatment under his insurance policy, which seems to be preferential treatment compared to the benefits available to the common policyholders.”
Saif Ali Khan's ₹25 lakh insurance approval controversy
Saif Ali Khan's health insurance claim document was leaked on X a day after he was attacked at his home. Saif Ali Khan holds a policy with Niva Bupa, the insurer confirmed to Mint.
As per the leaked document, Saif Ali Khan claimed ₹35,95,700 for his treatment and the insurance company approved ₹25 lakh – this, a day after the attack. The other details in the document include the member ID, diagnosis details, room category, expected date of discharge, etc.
Speaking with Mint, Niva Bupa said, “Mr. Khan [Saif Ali Khan] is one of our policy holders. A cashless pre-authorisation request was sent to us upon his hospitalisation and we have given an approval of an initial amount to start the treatment. Once we receive the final bills post the complete treatment, it will be settled as per policy terms and conditions.”
What did AMC allege?
The AMC further said that such practices create unfair disparity. “Such practices create an unfair disparity and undermine the very principle of equitable healthcare access, which should be the cornerstone of insurance services,” it said, urging that equality should be prioritise by the health insurance providers.
“Insurance should be a safeguard for all, irrespective of social status. Preferential treatment based on celebrity status creates a two-tier system, which is discriminatory against ordinary policyholders. There is a need for greater transparency in how insurance claims and cashless treatment limits are determined,” it said.
Dr Sudhir Naik, who heads AMC’s medico-legal cell, said, “We are not against corporate hospitals or celebrities, we want the same treatment for the ordinary patients patronising nursing homes.”
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Business NewsNewsSaif Ali Khan’s ₹25 lakh insurance approval prompts doctors’ body to flag ’preferential treatment’
First Published:26 Jan 2025, 08:09 PM IST
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