Insurer made to pay for Covid treatment

Ahmedabad: The Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Ahmedabad (rural) ordered Star Health And Allied Insurance Co to pay Rs 61,000 towards medical treatment for Covid-19 to one Shailesh Prajapati, a resident of Shela, after the company rejected his medical insurance claim on the grounds that Prajapati did not need hospitalization and should have been treated at home.Prajapati fell ill in November 2020 and was treated at a private hospital for five days before he was discharged. He incurred a bill of Rs 69,000 and later claimed reimbursement from the insurer. The insurance company repudiated the claim stating that his oxygen level and respiratory rate were normal during the period of hospitalization. Prajapti sued the insurer with the consumer commission. The commission refused to accept the insurer’s contention and ordered it to reimburse the bill and pay Rs 6,500 extra for mental harassment. tnn