Government-owned insurance firms have done a good job (“Are private hospitals ripping off patients?”, July 21) in getting the high-end private hospital chains to stop overcharging patients. I don’t know on what basis hospitals can say that there is no difference in the bills for those who have insurance and that for those who don’t. It would be good if the hospitals could make such data public, and provide clarity on what is the usual procedure and length of stay for patients with certain illnesses. There is enough anecdotal evidence of hospitals extending stays of insured patients and of hospitals that pay their doctors a cut on the overall bills.
The decision to set up a preferred provider network (PPN) is a good idea as it will force big hospitals to exercise some moderation in their billing. But the suggestions made by Dr Pervez Ahmed are also worth considering. If insurance companies make clients co-pay, this will ensure that they try to keep the billing down as well — immediately, for instance, they will go for double-bed rooms instead of the ultra-deluxe 5-star rooms. The suggestion that there be differently priced insurance policies for different type of hospital facilities is also worth trying — why should someone who goes to Apollo Hospital for treatment pay the same insurance premium as someone who goes to All India Institute of Medical Sciences?
Rajeev Sharma, New Delhi
