New Delhi: Important update for the Star Health Insurance customers, the clients may lose access to cashless service from September 22. The Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI) has warned that due to persistent complaints against the company, it will withdraw cashless services for Star Health policyholders.
Member hospitals of AHPI allege that Star Health has refused to revise the old tariff rates in line with rising costs and has instead pressured them to reduce charges. AHPI has stated that if the company does not address the concerns of hospitals, cashless services for policyholders will be discontinued from September 22. If this happens, thousands of patients could face serious difficulties.
Here are some of the key details:
- AHPI said that Star Health has received over 13,000 complaints, referring to the Insurance Ombudsman’s 2023-24 report
- Out of these, more than 10,000 complaints are related to claim rejections.
- AHPI, in its statement, has said that this step is being taken out of compulsion, as Star Health’s policies are harming both patient safety and the financial condition of hospitals.
- AHPI represents more than 15,000 hospitals.
- With the suspension of cashless facilities, policyholder patients will have to pay the hospital upfront and later file a claim to get their money reimbursed.
- This change could put immediate financial pressure on patients, especially in emergency cases where they must make the payment first.
- According to AHPI, hospitals will provide treatment to these patients on a payment basis, which they can later claim, and hospitals will fully assist patients in the reimbursement process.