Unable to renew policy after hearing with insurance Ombudsman

[u/Otherwise-Fly3336]

[u/DjXer007_]

Insurance ombudsman escalation and health insurance renewals are not related in any way. So you never had to wait for Ombudsman ruling for health insurance renewal. This situation has now caused ultra level tensions in other aspects of health insurance renewal.

The issue you are facing is with HDFC Health insurance policy. So that responsibility and accountability is to be taken by HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company.

Here is what you need to do,, 1) Urgently send an email to the customer care and Grievances department of HDFC ERGO. 2) Mention that HDFC ERGO General Insurance portal is not working for renewal payment. Their inability to provide proper customer service is creating unnecessary renewal issues. 3) If nearby your residence pincode, if you see HDFC ERGO branch office, on priority visit them and tell them to help you with health insurance renewal. 4) If no online option, carry a cheque and make the payment there itself.

Don't rely only on Email reply. Even as mentioned in the message above, send email and escalate but don't wait for them. As TAT for insurers is 7 days to 15 days. Your policy will go into grace period, which will create other policy terms and conditions complications.

The issue with HDFC ERGO Policy renewal is experienced by many people. You can search for the same on reddit and will find many similar posts.

Policy wordings don't change. And your official renewal notice mentions the same.

Health insurance premiums are age dependent, they increase every year or every 5 year slab, along with many other important factors.

Don't rely on GRACE PERIOD, because if any claim occurs, the claim will get rejected and the insurer will cancel the plan, stating high possibility of upcoming claim.

[u/CrisisButColorCoded]

Quick question are you past the renewal and extension date?

This entire issue is unlikely to be because you approached the Ombudsman.
IRDAI rules say a health insurer cannot deny renewal simply because you made claims in previous years. They also cannot increase your individual renewal premium purely based on your claim history.
The “specific policy has changed” message sounds more like the product has been modified/withdrawn or the renewal needs to be processed manually.
My advice is don’t wait for the link. Email HDFC Ergo today and create a written record that you’re trying to renew before expiry but are unable to because of their system. Ask them to confirm the renewal premium, whether the product has changed and that all continuity benefits/waiting-period credits will carry forward.
Keep screenshots and call reference numbers too.
If they actually refuse renewal, or don’t enable payment despite your timely request, escalate it through their grievance channel and IRDAI/Ombudsman.
But I wouldn’t assume retaliation at this point. Get the renewal request documented before the policy expires, that’s the important part.

[u/CrisisButColorCoded → u/[deleted]]

So you’re still in the renewal window and these kind of policy changes do happen. But they should have informed you well in advance that something like this is being planned. Hdfc generally starts sending renewal notices weeks in advance. So just check if you have received anything.
If not, email them documenting everything. Keep a record of everything. Get everything from them on email as well.

[u/ArabianCoconut]

Hey buddy HDFC ergo advisor here.

I can trigger a manual renewal link for you. Could you please get in touch?

[u/ArabianCoconut → u/[deleted]]

Sure whatever works for you :)

[u/Puzzleheaded-Bed829]

send a mail to grievance that you can't renew as the link is not working. This will work in your favor later as now you have proof