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21-year-old who got heart transplant struggles to get travel insurance policy for US trip

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Hvovi Minocherhomji, 21, might have successfully beaten her heart disease with a transplant, but insurance companies think otherwise. The Bandra resident has been refused a travel insurance policy for undergoing a heart transplant.

Hvovi had applied for it in preparation for her trip to Disneyland on December 24. She has been granted a policy which excludes cover for any heart ailments. The family, after returning from the trip, plan to get all transplant patients together and approach court as well as the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA).

Hvovi's mother Armaity said, "We had a tough time getting a travel insurance policy for my daughter... even after we told companies that we were ready to high premium."

"We will be approaching IRDA because it is our right. I am also planning to get in touch with people who have suffered like us and file a PIL," she added.

Hvovi was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart becomes so weak and enlarged that supply of blood to the lungs, liver and other organs is affected.

Reacting to the episode, Dr KR Balakrishan, senior heart transplant surgeon, Fortis Malar Hospital, who operated on her, said, "Insurance companies should cover such patients because medically they are fit. The heart problem was solved with the transplant and, therefore, she should be eligible for a policy that covers future heart problems."

Hvovi is not the only one to who has been made to go through this. Another couple from Mumbai had faced a similar problem because of kidney transplant.

Explaining their stand, M Ravichandran, president at TATA AIG General Insurance Co Limited, said, "Travel insurance is given to a person who is fit. The cover excludes pre-existing ailments like heart problems."

Sanjay Datta, chief – Underwriting & Claims, ICICI Lombard GIC Ltd, said, "The policy says no pre-existing ailment can be covered. Organ transplant falls under pre-existing ailment category."

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