Dengue Patient Claims Insurer Rejected His Mediclaim Because Platelet Count Was ‘Not Low Enough’

When Chirag Kothari posted a short clip on Instagram, he probably didn’t expect it to become a talking‑point for thousands. In the video he’s sitting at a hospital canteen, spooning soup into his mouth, when a nurse hands him a paper and tells him his mediclaim has been denied.

According to Kothari, the reason was oddly specific: his platelet count was around one lakh (100,000), which, the insurer allegedly said, is not “serious” enough to warrant a dengue‑related hospital stay. The claim, he says, was rejected on the grounds that dengue is only considered a claim‑worthy illness if the platelet count drops below 70,000.

He flashes the camera to a copy of his lab report, points to the numbers, and asks the audience, “Have you ever paid premiums just to have them dismissed at the last minute?” The frustration in his voice is palpable, and the comment section quickly turned into a venting ground for anyone who has ever felt short‑changed by a health policy.

Across the comment threads, users shared similar stories. One wrote, “Private insurers pile on a laundry list of features when you buy the policy, but when you actually need it, everything falls apart.” Another summed it up in a single emoji‑filled line: “Medical insurance in India is a joke! 💀”. Yet another user recounted paying out‑of‑pocket for a surgery after an insurer initially approved, then withdrew the claim.

The insurer named in the video, Manipal Cigna, responded publicly on the same platform. Their official account replied, “Hi Chirag, we realise how frustrating it can be when a claim doesn’t go as expected. Please send us your policy and claim number in DM, and we’ll ensure your case is reviewed on priority – Team Manipal Cigna.” The reply was courteous, but no further details have emerged.

It’s worth noting that the story has not been independently verified. We do not have access to Kothari’s policy documents, the exact wording of the claim rejection letter, or the medical notes that the hospital submitted. What we do know is that most standard health‑insurance plans in India do cover hospitalization for dengue, provided the admission is medically necessary and the policy is in force.

Whether the platelet count threshold is part of the fine print in Kothari’s plan remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that the episode has struck a chord with many Indian consumers who feel that health‑insurance promises often fall short when they matter most.

As the conversation rolls on, the hope is that insurers will address the gray areas—like what constitutes a “serious” dengue case—more transparently, so policy‑holders aren’t left guessing at the bedside.