The Association of Medical Consultants (AMC), a Mumbai-based doctors’ body, has raised concerns over the swift approval of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan’s ₹25 lakh medical insurance claim by Niva Bupa, a health insurance company. The AMC has alleged “preferential treatment” to a celebrity, highlighting the disparity in how insurance claims are processed for common people versus celebrities.
According to a leaked document, Saif Ali Khan’s insurance company, Niva Bupa, approved an initial amount of ₹25 lakh for his treatment, which was completed within a day of his hospitalization. The AMC, which represents over 14,000 medical professionals in India, argues that such swift action is not typical of how insurance claims are processed for ordinary policyholders.
The AMC claims that this practice creates an unfair disparity, undermining the principle of equitable healthcare access. They urge health insurance providers to prioritize equality and transparency in how insurance claims and cashless treatment limits are determined. The organization further argues that insurance should be a safeguard for all, regardless of social status, and that preferential treatment based on celebrity status creates a two-tier system that is discriminatory against ordinary policyholders.
The AMC is calling for greater transparency in the claims process, asking health insurance providers to apply the same rules and regulations to all policyholders, regardless of their social status. The organization is also seeking to end the practice of providing higher cashless treatment limits to celebrities, which they believe is unfair and discriminatory.