6 pc rise in complaints received by insurance ombudsman

Governing Body of Insurance Council (GBIC) received around 26,000 complaints in 2015 through 17 insurance ombudsman centres across the country, an increase of 6 per cent over the previous year, an official said today.
The disposal rate also rose to 82.5 per cent from 60 per cent in 2014.
"Around 26,000 complaints were received by GBIC through 17 insurance ombudsman centres in 2015 as against 24,000 in the last year, thus showing an increase of 6 per cent," GBIC Secretary General Ramma Bhasin told PTI here.
"However, GBIC witnessed a disposal rate of 82.5 per cent in 2015 from 60 per cent in the previous year," she said, adding that most of the complaints received came from the health insurance sector.

GBIC was established under Redressal of Public Grievances Act, 1998, to set up and facilitate the institution of insurance ombudsman in the country. Insurance ombudsmen are appointed by GBIC from among retired civil servants, GMs of state-owned insurance firms and retired judges.
"Mumbai ombudsman centre handles the largest number of complaints. We have received over 25,000 complaints since 2013 when I assumed charge here," Mumbai centre's insurance ombudsman A K Dasgupta said.
"As of now, we have merely 150 pending cases of complaints with us," he added.
A majority of complaints came from the health insurance segment, followed by motor and mis-selling of products, he said.