I’m Nikhil Jain, and like many middle-class sons, I bought a health insurance policy for my 64-year-old father, believing it would protect us financially in case of any emergency. I paid ₹34,179 annually for a policy with ₹10 lakh coverage from a leading private insurer. We were promised peace of mind, but what we received was frustration and disappointment.

My father may need a knee replacement surgery — a common condition at his age. But when I read the policy details, I discovered a shocking truth: the insurance will only pay ₹80,000 for the entire treatment, including surgery, hospital stay, tests, and medicines. To make matters worse, 20% of even that amount will be deducted under the name of “co-payment.” This means we may receive just ₹64,000 — and pay the rest out of pocket!

This is not just about one policy. This is how millions of Indian families are misled. Insurance companies sell ₹5–10 lakh policies to senior citizens, but then quietly insert sub-limits and mandatory co-payments, reducing real payouts to a fraction. To add insult to injury, they also exclude essential medical items like gloves, sanitisers, and PPE kits — items that are compulsory in every surgery!

I urge the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and the Ministry of Finance to:

Ban disease-wise sub-limits in health policies over ₹5 lakh
Make co-payment optional, not mandatory, for senior citizens
Force insurers to include all surgery-related consumables like gloves and PPE kits in reimbursement
Ensure all costs related to a covered surgery (hospital stay, OT, doctor, medication) are included fully, not within hard caps
Mandate simple disclosure of sub-limits in large bold print while buying a policy

Every year, crores of Indians pay lakhs in insurance premiums, trusting that their health will be protected. But in their most vulnerable moments — during surgery or serious illness — they discover the truth: the help is partial, the protection limited, and the process filled with legal tricks.

This has to change. Not for me — but for every parent, every family, and every citizen who deserves dignity in healthcare.

📌 Addressed to:
IRDAI Chairman
Finance Minister of India
Prime Minister’s Office
All Indian Insurance Companies
And every Indian citizen who’s been misled by policy fine print

#FairInsuranceNow
#HealthNotHassle
#IRDAIReform
#InsuranceJusticeForSeniors
#MiddleClassRights