Insurance Concepts and IRDA [Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority] - Registration of Grievances

Registration of Grievances

Grievance Redressal Cell

The Grievance Redressal Cell of the IRDA (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority) looks into the relevant and valid complaints lodged by the policyholders. The complaints against Life and Non-life (General) insurance companies are handled separately. The Grievance Redressal Cell plays a facilitative role by taking up complaints or customer grievances with the respective insurers.

Policyholders who have complaints or grievances against a particular insurance company or a TPA (Third Party Administrator) are required to first approach the Grievance Cell / Customer Complaint Cell of the concerned insurance company. If the complainant does not receive any response from the insurance company within a reasonable period of time or are dissatisfied with the response of the Insurance company, such customers may approach the Grievance Cell of the IRDA for resolving their grievances.

Only insurance cases pertaining to delay in delivering opinion on insurance cases or non-responsive attitude regarding matters relating to Insurance policies and claims are taken up by the Grievance Redressal Cell for speedy disposition of cases.

As claims/policy contracts in dispute require adjudication and the IRDA does not carry out any adjudication process, the policyholders are advised to approach the available quasi-judicial or judicial channels, i.e., the Insurance Ombudsman, Consumer forum or the Civil courts for registering such complaints. The list of Insurance Ombudsmen along with their contact details is available in the article entitled "Ombudsman" under Health Insurance section on www.medindia.net web portal.

Only relevant and valid complaints from the insured individuals or policyholders themselves or the claimants are entertained by Grievance Redressal Cell. The Cell shall not entertain complaints or grievances written on behalf of policyholders by advocates or agents or any third parties.

In case, if the complaints or grievances are being sent through e-mail, complainants are requested to submit complete details of the complaint in the prescribed format as specified in the complaint registration form. If the complaint sent via email does not adhere or prescribe to the specified parameters, the Grievance Redressal Cell will not be in a position to register or entertain such a complaint.

Registration of Complaints

Policyholders who desire or wish to register complaints with the IRDA are requested to use the registration form put on the websites:

a) www.irdaindia.org

b) www.irda.gov.in

Contact information:

Complaints against Non-life (General) Insurance Companies:
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA),
Parishrama Bhawanam,
5-9-58/B, Basheerbagh,
Hyderabad - 500004
Tel: (040) 23240034
e-mail ids: nonlifecomplaints@irda.gov.in

Complaints against Life Insurance Companies:
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA),
Parishrama Bhawanam,
5-9-58/B, Basheerbagh,
Hyderabad - 500004
Tel: (040) 66820964/66789768 Extension: 251
e-mail id: lifecomplaints@irda.gov.in

References:

1. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance_Regulatory_and_Development_Authority)
2. Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (IRDA) - (http://www.banknetindia.com/finance/irda.htm)
3. Insurance - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance)