UNITED INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY Vs. ANUMOLU RAMA KRISHNA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) MRS. M. Shreesha, President I/c-Aggrieved by the order in C. C. 134/2003 on the file of District Forum, West Godavari at Eluru, the opposite parties preferred this appeal under Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

(2.) THE brief facts as set out in the case are that the complainant has taken Medi-claim Insurance Policy on 24. 9. 2001 from opposite parties for himself and his wife for the period from 24. 9. 2001 to 23. 9. 2002. As the complainant felt burning sensation and difficulty in breathing on medical advice, he got himself admitted in Mullapudi Hospital on 30. 10. 2001 wherein they conducted various tests and decided to conduct CABG operation on 8. 11. 2001. The complainant submits that the said fact was informed to opposite party No. 2 vide letter dated 8. 11. 2001. The complainant submits that in spite of furnishing all the necessary documents to opposite party No. 2 the claim lodged by the complainant for an amount of Rs. 2,20,076 has not been settled by the opposite parties. After a long lapse of 12 months the opposite party No. 2 repudiated the claim on the ground that CABG existed prior to taking the policy. Complainant submits that he was hale and healthy at the time of taking the policy and that though he was subjected to medical examination on 23. 9. 2002 and submitted all the case records relating to the operation issued by Mullapudi Hospital the opposite parties repudiated the claim nearly after one year on the ground of suppression of pre-existing disease at the time of taking the policy. The action of the opposite parties in repudiating the medi-claim of the complainant amounts to deficiency in service. Hence this complaint praying to direct the opposite parties to pay Rs. 2,90,000 with interest @ 12% p. a. , from February, 2002 till the date of payment and compensation of Rs. 25,000 towards mental agony.

(3.) OPPOSITE party No. 2 filed counter admitting the existence of policy in question and contends that the complainant suppressed the material facts relating to his health at the time of taking the medi-claim policy. Opposite party submits that the policy was issued based on the declaration made by the complainant and the medical certificate issued by Dr. K. Viswaswara Rao in good faith. Opposite party submits that they received a letter dated 8. 11. 2001 from the wife of the complainant stating that her husband was admitted to Usha Mullapudi Cardiac Centre, Hyderabad for Coronary Bypass Surgery on 8. 11. 2001. Immediately the Divisional Office deputed Mr. L. Siva Shanker, an Investigator to investigate the claim. On receipt of Investigation Report the opposite party asked the complainant to meet their Panel Doctor Dr. Kodali Rama Krishna along with ECGs and TMT reports taken prior to operation but the complainant though appeared before the panel doctor did not produce the said reports. On receipt of report from the Panel Doctor the opposite parties had reasonable doubts about the pre-existing nature of the disease of the complainant, therefore, appointed another Investigator Mr. G. Prabhakara Rao, who is an Advocate along with Dr. Vinjamuri Bhaskara Rao. In his report he observed that as per the case sheet the patient/claimant is a highly diabetic, Hypertensive, which might be existed with the patient since seven years as they are chronic diseases. Dr. Vinjamuri Bhaskara Rao in his report dated 28. 1. 2003 observed that the complainant has three disease Diabetics, Hypertensive and Dyslipedemia which are chronic in nature, much before taking of Mediclaim policy. The opposite parties submit that the claim preferred by the complainant is not admissible in terms of the policy condition exclusion No. 4. 1, as the disease CABG existed prior to taking of policy; therefore, they repudiated the claim on 13. 2. 2003. There is no deficiency of service on their behalf and seek dismissal of the complaint.