Delhi Man Accuses BLK-Max Hospital Of Billing Malpractice In Viral X Thread
BLK- Max: A Delhi man’s viral X thread accuses BLK-Max Hospital, Karol Bagh of billing malpractice over a Rs 1.7 lakh bill for a 3-day non-surgical stay.
A viral X thread accuses BLK-Max Hospital, Karol Bagh of billing malpractice — Rs 1,70,809 for a 3-day stay with no surgery, and nine disputed charges.
NEW DELHI – BLK-Max: A viral thread on X by Abhishek Bhatnagar, founder of a tech blog Gadgets To Use, alleging billing malpractices by BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital in Karol Bagh, New Delhi, has drawn widespread users’ attention on the platform, with the author listing multiple specific charges he disputes. According to the thread, Bhatnagar’s brother was admitted to the hospital on August 11, 2026, and discharged on August 13, 2026, a stay of three days. The post states no surgery was performed and that treatment mainly involved medication and investigations. The final gross bill, according to the post, was Rs 1,70,809.
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BLK-Max: The thread lists the following disputed charges:
- RMO fees: Rs 3,150 (Rs 1,050/day for three days), which the post says was not accompanied by a doctor’s name, visit notes, or explanation of services rendered. The post states the family’s insurer, IFFCO-Tokio, declined to reimburse this charge.
- Medical evaluation for TPA: Rs 1,100, which the post says the family was billed for despite completing the insurance/TPA forms and health declarations themselves, without any separate medical evaluation being conducted.
- Sanitizer bottle: Rs 794 for what the post describes as an already-opened bottle, against a stated MRP of around Rs 250.
- Diet-related charges: approximately Rs 5,370 in total, comprising a Rs 700 dietician charge and Rs 1,000/day patient diet charges over two days. The post states no special diet was prescribed, the patient was permitted home-cooked food from day one, and no advance communication was made about a separate dietician charge.
- MRI and X-ray charges: Rs 31,600 for an MRI (brain) and Rs 1,250 for an X-ray. The post states the family received written reports but was not provided the actual scan images or digital copies despite requesting them.
- Holter monitoring test: The post states the patient had no known prior heart condition and that hospital staff requested the test be conducted multiple times in a day, citing a doctor’s order that was not shown to the family when requested. The post states the family declined the test after not being shown the order.
- Ward nursing charges: Rs 850/day (Rs 2,550 total over three days), billed in addition to a stated room rent of Rs 13,770/day. The post states the insurer declined this charge as well.
- “Care, Hygiene & Infection Control” charges: Rs 550/day (Rs 1,650 total), which the post questions given the stated room rent.
The thread includes a list of documents and clarifications the author is seeking from the hospital, including doctor and RMO visit records, supporting documentation for the TPA evaluation charge, an itemized diet-charge breakup, digital copies of MRI/X-ray scans, doctor’s orders for the disputed tests, and clarification on what the quoted room tariff includes.
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In the thread, Bhatnagar said several of the disputed charges, including the RMO fee and ward nursing charge, were declined for reimbursement by the family’s insurer, IFFCO-Tokio. He said the case reflects a broader pattern in which patients face disputes with both hospitals and insurers over charges that are not clearly explained at the time of billing. BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital is part of the Max Healthcare-BLK hospital network, with the Karol Bagh facility functioning as one of its Delhi locations.
Responding to the thread, another X user alleged a separate incident involving a relative’s treatment at the same hospital. The user said their uncle was admitted for 25 days following spinal surgery, developed complications, and was shifted to the ICU, during which hospital staff asked the patient’s wife and daughter to vacate their room at night so it could be prepared for another patient. The user said the hospital charged the family when they cited difficulty finding accommodation at night, and that they later arranged alternate lodging at a nearby hotel for the two family members.
BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Insurance Reporter has reached out to the hospital and will update this story if it receives a response.
This report is based on claims made in a public thread on X and has not been independently verified.
