ning their pockets with the brokerage they earn on claims. And government firms, being what they are, are bearing the brunt of this malfunctioning system as nobody seems to care about getting to the bottom of the issue and regulating the industry to make the process more transparent.
More important is the fact that the four government insurance companies are bleeding badly and risk sinking. Admittedly, private health insurance is a relatively nascent industry, being just about a decade old. But that cannot be a reason to turn a blind eye to the sustained misuse of the system. For, the ultimate loser here is the patient, who is flogged within a rupee of her life every time she is hospitalised. And, of course, the taxpayer.
l inbox@dnaindia.net