Insurance Ombudsman offices: which one covers your state

Last checked: 23 October 2026

For anyone who needs to send an insurance complaint to the right Ombudsman office

You may file with the Insurance Ombudsman office that covers either the insurer's branch you dealt with or your own residence; find yours in the state lookup below. Complain to the insurer in writing first, then file within one year by letter, email or the online portal.

Step-by-step: filing with the right office

1. You: work out which office covers you

   Official contact

   Use the state lookup and the full list on this page, or the official list at https://cioins.co.in/Ombudsman

   Deadline

   No deadline for this step

2. The insurer: send a written complaint first and keep proof

   Official contact

   Insurer's Grievance Redressal Officer. See the claim rejection guide for how.

   Deadline

   Wait for the reply. If no reply for one month, you may go to the Ombudsman.

3. Insurance Ombudsman office: complaint by signed letter, email, or the online portal

   Official contact

   Online: https://cioins.co.in/Complaint/Online. Otherwise use the email or postal address in the table below.

   Deadline

   Within 1 year of the insurer's rejection or unsatisfactory reply, or of the end of the one-month wait (Rules, rule 14)

4. You: track and respond

   Official contact

   https://cioins.co.in/Complaint/Track

   Deadline

   Award is due within 3 months of the Ombudsman receiving all requirements from you (Rules, rule 17)

Lookup: state or union territory to office

All 18 Insurance Ombudsman centres

Copied from https://cioins.co.in/Ombudsman, checked 23 October 2026. Text is as published by the Council for Insurance Ombudsmen.

Common problems

I live in one state and bought the policy in another

Rule 14 lets you file with the Ombudsman whose area covers the insurer's branch or office complained against or your residential address. Either can work; use the one that suits you.

My district is not in the Uttar Pradesh lists

The official page names districts for Lucknow and Noida only in the lists shown above, some with spellings that differ from current names (for example "Allahabad", "Gorkhpur"). We have copied them as published and do not guess. If you cannot find your district, email one of the two offices and ask which one covers you.

The official site seems to disagree with itself

On 23 October 2026 the Council for Insurance Ombudsmen site showed these differences. We followed the contact list that is shown by default and the Rules and FAQ text, and recommend you confirm by email before sending original documents.

• The Ombudsman page contains a second, older-looking copy of the centre list with different addresses and phone numbers for several offices (for example Bhopal, Chandigarh, Kochi and Kolkata). We used the list that is displayed by default.
• The home page shows "17 Centers" and says the Ombudsman entertains complaints where the amount is less than ₹30 lakh (the same page also says compensation sought should not exceed ₹50 lakh), while the Ombudsman list shows 18 centres and the Rules and FAQ say ₹50 lakh. We used 18 and ₹50 lakh.
• Names of Ombudsmen differ between the two lists, so we have not published officer names.

Can I just file online?

Yes. The Rules provide for online submission and tracking, and the CIO FAQ says to use "Register complaint" under "Complaint Online" on its website. For an online complaint the FAQ lists a photograph among the documents.

Free email template: cover email to the Ombudsman office

Free to copy. Attach the complaint letter from the claim rejection guide.

Subject: Complaint against [insurer name], policy no. [____], by [your name]

To: [office email from the table above]

Sir/Madam,

Please find attached my complaint under Rule 14 of the Insurance Ombudsman Rules, 2017 against [insurer name], branch [name, city].

My address is [full address with PIN code] ([state/district]), which I understand falls under your jurisdiction. The insurer's branch concerned is in [city, state]. If this matter belongs to a different Ombudsman office, please tell me which one and I will re-send it.

I made a written complaint to the insurer on [date]. The insurer [rejected it on [date] / has not replied for more than one month / replied on [date] and I am not satisfied]. Copies are attached.

Attachments:
1. Complaint letter (signed)
2. My written complaint to the insurer and proof of sending
3. Insurer's reply or rejection letter, if any
4. Policy copy
5. KYC particulars
6. Claim documents

Mobile: [number]
[Name]