How to complain to IRDAI Bima Bharosa about a rejected claim

You cannot complain to IRDAI immediately after a claim rejection. You must first email your insurance company and wait 14 days. If they reject your complaint or ignore you, you can file a case on the official Bima Bharosa portal. Learn the exact steps and documents needed to register your case.

By Qrates research desk · 2026-10-27

You cannot complain to IRDAI immediately after a claim rejection. You must first email the grievance officer of your insurance company and wait 14 days. If the insurer rejects your complaint or ignores you, you can file a case on the official Bima Bharosa portal.

Quick answer

The IRDAI grievance redressal mechanism follows a strict sequence. You must first register a complaint with your insurance company and wait for their final decision. If they do not reply within 14 days, you can escalate the issue.

You escalate by filing a case on the official IRDAI Bima Bharosa portal. Always type bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in directly into your browser. This helps you avoid the fake website scam that IRDAI warned the public about in September 2026.

What you need before you start

Keep these documents ready on your phone or computer before you open the portal:

The written rejection letter or email from your insurance company.
The complaint reference number from your insurer showing you waited the mandatory 14 days.
Your health insurance policy number and the original claim number.
Scanned copies of your hospital bills, discharge summary, or a death certificate for life insurance claims.
A clear photo of your official ID proof.

You can check historical complaint volumes and claim settlement ratios for insurers in the health insurance directory before renewing or buying a new policy.

How to file a complaint on Bima Bharosa

Step 1: Complain to the insurer first

Find the Grievance Redressal Officer email address on your policy document. Send your complaint with all your claim documents attached. You must wait exactly 14 days for them to resolve the issue (IRDAI Master Circular on Protection of Policyholders' Interests, 2024).

Step 2: Register on the official Bima Bharosa portal

Go to bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in and click the register button. Create a new account using your personal email address and mobile number. The system will verify your details with a one-time password.

Step 3: Fill the complaint registration form

Log in to your new account and select your specific insurance company from the dropdown menu. Choose the category for a health insurance policy or life insurance. Upload your original rejection letter and all hospital bills in the attachments section.

Step 4: Note your token number

Submit the form to register your complaint. The portal will generate an Integrated Grievance Management System (IGMS) token number. You will use this token number to track your case status on the website.

How long it takes and what it costs

Filing a complaint on the Bima Bharosa portal is completely free. The regulator does not charge policyholders to use the integrated grievance management system.

IRDAI guidelines require the insurance company to resolve your grievance within 14 days of receiving the portal complaint (IRDAI Master Circular on Protection of Policyholders' Interests, 2024). The total turnaround time from your first email to a final portal resolution is usually 28 to 30 days.

Complaint Stage	Time Limit
Waiting period after emailing insurer	14 days
Insurer deadline to resolve Bima Bharosa case	14 days
Time limit to approach Insurance Ombudsman	1 year from insurer rejection

If it does not work: The Insurance Ombudsman

IRDAI tracks complaints on the portal but does not force insurers to pay individual claims. If the Bima Bharosa process fails or the insurer rejects the claim again, you must approach the Insurance Ombudsman at cioins.co.in.

The Ombudsman is a free, quasi-judicial body that handles insurance disputes. It has the power to pass binding orders forcing an insurer to pay claims up to ₹50 lakh (Insurance Ombudsman Rules amendment, November 2023).

Insurers previously delayed these cases by asking for documents multiple times. An IRDAI circular from 23 July 2026 now prevents insurers from stalling your case. The rule forces insurance companies to submit their primary notes within 7 days and any extra documents within 3 days.

FAQs

How can I complain to IRDAI against an insurance company?

You complain to IRDAI by registering an account on the official Bima Bharosa portal. You can only do this after completing a mandatory 14-day wait with your insurer's grievance department.

What is the time limit to file a complaint in Bima Bharosa?

There is no strict one-year limit for the Bima Bharosa portal itself. However, Rule 14(3)(b) of the Insurance Ombudsman Rules gives you exactly one year from the insurer's rejection date to file an Ombudsman case.

Can IRDAI force an insurance company to pay a claim?

IRDAI does not adjudicate individual claims or force direct claim settlement payments. If you need a binding order to force a payment, you must escalate the case to the Insurance Ombudsman.

What is the Bima Bharosa customer care number?

The official toll-free numbers for Bima Bharosa are 155255 and 1800 4254 732. You can call these numbers if you face technical issues while registering your complaint on the portal.

The short version

You must wait 14 days after complaining to your insurance company before going to IRDAI.
The official website to file your grievance is bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in.
Registering a complaint on the Bima Bharosa portal is completely free.
Insurance companies have 14 days to resolve complaints filed through the portal.
If the portal fails, the Insurance Ombudsman can pass binding orders for claims up to ₹50 lakh.