Insurance scheme for health workers to end on April 24

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 18

Amid the surging pandemic, the Covid warrior insurance scheme, launched by the government last year to protect families of those who die in the line of duty, is all set to end on April 24.

In a recent letter to state chief secretaries and UT administrators, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan invited final claims under the scheme until April 24, saying the effective duration of the scheme had ended on March 24 this year and the government had decided to grant a one-month window to invite final claims.

“Eligible claims under the policy are invited till April 24 for final submission along with the requisite supporting documents,” Bhushan said. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Insurance Scheme for Health Workers fighting Covid was launched on March 30, 2020, for 90 days to provide a Rs 50 lakh insurance cover to health workers. Subsequently, the duration of the scheme was extended up to March 24, 2021.

The Health Ministry said the scheme had been implemented through the purchase of an insurance policy from New India Assurance Company to cover the health workers and served as a very effective safety net by providing relief to dependents of health workers who had lost their lives fighting Covid.

Under the scheme, 287 claims have so far been approved by the insurance company. “The claims under the scheme will be settled by April 24. Thereafter, a new dispensation will be provided to cover the Covid warriors,” said the government.

Rs 50 lakh cover

• Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has invited final claims under the scheme until April 24, saying the effective duration of the scheme had ended on March 24 this year and the government had decided to grant a one-month window to invite final claims.
• “Eligible claims under the policy are invited till April 24,” Bhushan said.
• The scheme was launched on March 30, 2020, for 90 days to provide a Rs 50 lakh insurance cover to health workers.

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