Star Health Settles Over 6 Lakh Claims Worth ₹3,200 Crore in West Bengal
By Rajib Mukherjee | IBG NEWS
Kolkata, September 3, 2026: Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited has settled more than 6 lakh health insurance claims valued at over ₹3,200 crore in West Bengal since beginning operations in the state, highlighting the growing role of health insurance in meeting medical expenses for families across the region.
The standalone health insurer said West Bengal remains an important market for its operations, supported by a network of more than 60 branches and over 650 network hospitals across the state.
During FY 2025-26, the company settled more than 1.18 lakh claims worth over ₹600 crore in West Bengal. In the first quarter of FY 2026-27, it settled more than 33,000 claims involving over ₹140 crore, according to figures released by the company. These Q1 figures have also been reported by The Times of India.
Focus on Wider Healthcare Access
Atin Roy, Business Head – West Bengal, Star Health Insurance, said the company is focusing on making health insurance more accessible while improving customers’ ability to obtain medical care when required.
According to Roy, the company’s hospital network and expanding distribution footprint are intended to bring services closer to customers in Kolkata as well as emerging markets across West Bengal.
The company is also looking to expand healthcare support beyond conventional hospitalisation through technology-enabled claims assistance, telemedicine and home healthcare services.
Preventive and Home-Based Care Expands
Star Health said its healthcare initiatives have increasingly moved beyond claims and hospitalisation.
During FY26, the company reported a 42% increase in preventive health check-ups to 5.48 lakh. Telemedicine consultations rose 88% to 1.17 lakh, while utilisation of its Home Healthcare service reached 92,153, covering more than 300 cities.
The company said eligible customers can receive clinically appropriate treatment at home through its cashless Home Healthcare model.
Technology Drives Claims Processing
Digital technology is also playing a growing role in the insurer’s claims operations.
Star Health said it processes more than 10,000 claims every day, with around 92% of cashless claims being processed within three hours.
Artificial intelligence is currently being used in approximately 20% of routine cashless claims, with the company targeting an increase to 50% over the next two years.
‘Talk to Star’ Aims to Simplify Healthcare Navigation
As part of its broader healthcare-support strategy, Star Health has introduced ‘Talk to Star’, a dedicated assistance initiative designed to help customers navigate healthcare services.
The service can provide guidance related to network hospitals, cashless treatment, planned hospitalisation and eligible home healthcare services.
The company’s official Talk to Star service currently lists 7200 222 333 and 7676 905 905 as helpline numbers, with assistance available from 8 AM to 8 PM.
Customers can also access virtual doctor consultations through the Star Health app, while eligible policyholders can seek support for home-based care and planned hospitalisation.
Building a Connected Healthcare Ecosystem
The company said its objective is to create a broader healthcare ecosystem covering different stages of a customer’s medical journey — from preventive care and consultations to hospitalisation, claims assistance and recovery at home.
For West Bengal, the insurer sees further scope to expand health insurance coverage by combining its physical network with digital services and healthcare solutions aimed at improving accessibility.
The latest figures indicate the scale of Star Health’s operations in the state, while the company’s expanding focus on preventive care, telemedicine and home healthcare reflects a wider shift toward making healthcare support available beyond the traditional hospital setting.
© IBG NEWS
