Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company has assured its policyholders of direct payments into their accounts if cashless hospitalisation is denied.
The Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI) had announced plans to suspend cashless hospitalisation services for Bajaj Allianz General Insurance customers from September 1.
Tapan Singhel, managing director and CEO, said Bajaj Allianz had not received any denial of cashless claims, and even if such cases occur, the company ensures direct payment to customers before they pay the hospital. “We have always stood for public good, and no undue pressure will buckle us down – none of our customers will suffer.”
Direct settlement model for health policies
Bajaj is prepared to directly pay customers if hospitals deny cashless services, and aims to apply the direct payment process already in use for motor claims, where customers upload the photographs and details online, to health policies as well.
The company expects to resolve the issue soon, as similar disputes with other insurers were settled in the past few days.
Bajaj Allianz is the fifth-largest health insurance player in the country with a health insurance premium of Rs 2,202 crore (in FY26 till July). The company has tie-ups with around 25,000 hospitals.
Industry council warns against disruption
Responding to the AHPI’s suspension of cashless services, the General Insurance Council (GIC) said the hospitals’ body had created unnecessary confusion and concerns among policyholders. Any action that disrupts cashless access ultimately harms citizens, and it not only directly impacts families through higher upfront spend on treatments, but also threatens the survival of patients in critical medical conditions requiring immediate medical attention.