Uttarakhand Woman Who Donated Kidney To Husband Wins Case Against Insurance Company

SOURCE : NEW18 NEWS

Last Updated:June 09, 2025, 15:12 IST

The Uttarakhand State Consumer Commission directed NICL to pay Renu Rs 32,500, half the Rs 65,000 insurance coverage, as reimbursement for her Rs 66,667 operation costs

“I gave him my kidney to save his life. I never thought I’d have to fight for my own treatment,” says Renu Bansal, a woman from Uttarakhand whose extraordinary story is now being hailed as a landmark moment in insurance rights movement.

In 2012, Renu Bansal underwent surgery to donate a kidney to her ailing husband, Jagannath Bansal. At the time, Jagannath held a mediclaim policy from the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), which covered him and his family members. The policy had been active and regularly renewed for 13 consecutive years.

After the transplant, NICL paid for Jagannath’s treatment but refused to reimburse Renu’s hospital expenses. The reason? According to the insurance company, Renu was “not a patient, but a donor”, a distinction they used to deny her rightful claim.

But Renu didn’t back down.

In 2014, Renu approached the District Consumer Commission, which ruled in her favour. But NICL challenged the verdict in the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. By then, her husband had passed away. Despite the personal loss, Renu pressed on with the legal battle.

Now, after 13 long years, justice has finally arrived.

The Uttarakhand State Consumer Commission upheld the earlier decision and directed NICL to pay Renu Rs 32,500, half the Rs 65,000 insurance coverage, as reimbursement for her Rs 66,667 operation costs. In addition, the commission has ordered NICL to pay 7% annual interest on this amount dating back to 2012. Renu will also receive Rs 25,000 as compensation for the mental agony and prolonged legal expenses she endured.

Renu’s case is not just about one woman’s fight; it exposes a glaring gap in the health insurance system. Current policies across insurance providers are inconsistent in how they treat organ donors. While a few cover donor hospitalisation costs, most either exclude it entirely or cap the reimbursement at low, arbitrary limits.

A 2022 industry report highlighted another alarming trend: some insurers even refuse to offer fresh policies to individuals who have previously donated an organ, effectively punishing them for their altruism.

Legal experts and health rights advocates believe this judgment could pave the way for policy reform.

“This is a significant ruling,” said a senior consumer rights lawyer based in Dehradun. It brings attention to the need for uniformity and empathy in insurance frameworks, especially in cases involving organ donation. These are not just medical events, they’re acts of humanity, he said.

Location :

Dehradun, India, India

First Published:

June 09, 2025, 15:12 IST