Insurance Ombudsman
Insurance Ombudsman complaint: a plain guide.
Last updated 23 October 2026.
The short answer. The Insurance Ombudsman (Bima Lokpal) hears complaints from policyholders against insurers and intermediaries, free of charge. You must first complain to the insurer. You can then go to the Ombudsman if it rejects the complaint, does not reply within a month, or the reply is not acceptable, within one year, for compensation up to ₹50 lakh.
Your options
How to go to the Ombudsman.
The order matters. The Ombudsman looks at what the insurer was told and how it replied.
- 1. Complain to the insurer in writing. Keep proof of delivery and the date.
- 2. Wait for the reply, or one month. If the insurer rejects the complaint, does not reply in a month, or the reply is not acceptable, the Ombudsman route opens.
- 3. Check the time limit. The complaint must be made within one year of the rejection, or within one year after the month without a reply.
- 4. Check the limit on the amount. The compensation sought should not exceed ₹50 lakh.
- 5. Prepare the petition. State the facts, the reason for disagreement, the relief sought, and attach the papers. Contact details of each Ombudsman office are on the Council’s website.
Documents to keep
- Policy document and schedule
- The rejection or deduction letter
- Your complaint to the insurer and proof of delivery
- The insurer’s reply, if any
- Claim form, bills and medical records
- Your ID and contact details
What a good petition contains
Clear, short, dated.
A petition is easier to decide when it answers four things.
- What happened. Dates, amounts and the insurer’s decision.
- Why you disagree. The policy clause and the document that supports you.
- What you ask for. A specific relief and amount.
- What you attach. The whole trail in date order.
How Samadhan Sarathi helps
We prepare it, step by step.
We read the papers against the policy wording, prepare your grievance and escalation letters, and, where it comes to that, prepare the Ombudsman petition. You sign it and return it, and we submit it online. A team of specialists works your file, supported by AI-assisted review of the policy and the correspondence.
Our fee
- 12% of what we recover for you
- GST included
- Nothing payable upfront
Who we are. Samadhan Sarathi is a private service based in Ludhiana. We are not the government, not the insurer, not a bank, and not IRDAI or the Insurance Ombudsman. We prepare your papers and take you through the process.
Questions
Common questions.
Who can approach the Insurance Ombudsman?
Policyholders with a complaint against an insurer or its intermediaries or brokers, after first complaining to the insurer.
What is the time limit for an Ombudsman complaint?
Within one year of the insurer’s rejection of your complaint, or within one year after a month has passed without a reply.
What is the claim value limit?
The compensation sought should not exceed ₹50 lakh.
Does the Ombudsman charge a fee?
No. The Ombudsman does not charge any fee for grievance redressal.
Is a lawyer needed?
You may prepare the complaint yourself. We can prepare the petition for you, and you sign it.
How do I check my Ombudsman complaint status?
The Ombudsman’s office holds the status, so contact the office handling your complaint, using the details on the Council’s website. We can only explain the steps and cannot see the status for you.
Will the Ombudsman decide in my favour?
No one can promise that. We prepare your papers and take you through the process.
Stop guessing.
Start resolving.
Tell us what happened in a few lines — we’ll tell you plainly whether we can help.