Critical illness claim rejected by insurer? Here’s what you can do

My spouse was diagnosed with a severe neurological condition—bacterial meningitis with encephalitis.

- Shilpa Arora

We filed a critical illness claim, but the insurer rejected it, stating that the condition is not covered under the policy. Given the seriousness of the diagnosis and its neurological impact, is there a way to legally or procedurally challenge this decision?

—Name withheld on request

A rejection does not always mean the claim is invalid. The first step is to review the policy document carefully and check the list of covered critical illnesses. In many policies, bacterial meningitis is specifically included, provided certain diagnostic and clinical conditions are met.