Chennai, Aug 24 (IANS) The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) Tuesday asked life and non-life insurers to inform policyholders about alternative hospitals nearest to them whenever any hospital is delisted from its panel of Preferrred Provider Network (PPN).
In a circular issued here, the IRDA said: ‘In order to ensure that the interests of the policy-holders are not adversely affected, at times when a change in PPN is effected, the insurers are directed to inform the policyholders at all times, the nearest possible alternative hospitals where the cashless facility is available and the conditions thereof.’
In the case of a policyholder who has been pre-authorised for treatment in a hospital or if he is undergoing a treatment in a hospital than the insurers should offer the cashless facility, even after it is delisted from PPN.
According to IRDA, the PPN is dynamic and subject to change from time to time. With effect from July 1, 2010, the four public sector general insurers have withdrawn the cashless facility to certain hospitals that were previously in the PPN at Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore.
