Stressing health insurance renewal!!!

I have a Family Floater health insurance policy active for 4 years now. This policy is up for renewal in August 2009. This is a plan for 2 Adults & 1 Kid for sum of Rs. x amount. On receipt of the renewal form, I contacted the call center to inform of a new addition in my family, a lovely daughter and my wish to add her to the Family Floater plan. I was told that this cannot be done online and that I need to get in touch with the branch to get the amendment done.

I contacted the company’s representative at the local branch from where I had bought the policy. I informed him of the amendment I need to make and the subsequent premium that I need to pay. He came back with a premium amount for a sum assured of Rs. x+y amount. I told him that I wish to keep the sum assured the same, ie Rs. x. He stated that since there is an addition of a member to the plan, the sum assured has to be increased. He stated that the company does not provide a Rs. x amount coverage to 2 Adults & 2 Kids plan. I had earlier checked up the premium on the website. There is clear process to renew or purchase a Family Floater plan for 2 Adults & 2 Kids for a sum assured of Rs. x amount. When I informed the representative of this, he changed his stance stating that he is mandated to not sell a Rs. x amount coverage for Family of 4 persons.

Now, I seem at a crossroad. The call center stated I need to contact branch for the amendment. The branch representative states he needs to increase the sum assured to Rs. x+y amount. The online web site permits me to purchase a policy for sum assured of Rs. x amount.

At this moment, I pulled up the annual report of the insurance company. Something told me I will get no help from the corporate office. I found the name of the Director for Retail business and shot off a mail to him on this background. I was hoping the email id typed was right and the mail does not bounce off. When I got a reply from the director stating he will look into the matter, I knew the email id was a right guess.

That day evening, the branch representative called me and stated that he has "special approval from his ASM" for my case and he can give me the renewal with the amendment and no increase in the sum assured. The next day I get a call from the sales team from the corporate office. The person says he has to close the issue since the mail has been sent to him. He takes all my details and renews my policy.

So finally I get my health insurance policy renewed (and hopefully without too much stress to spoil my health).

And in all this melee, If only some words of congrats or best wishes been uttered on the news of my new daughter.