Punjab to roll out Rs 10 lakh 'cashless' health cover for all families on Jan 15
Over 9,000 camps would be organised in which the applicants would be registered for health card through biometric system
The state government’s flagship universal health insurance initiative, Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana, aimed at providing Rs10 lakh cashless insurance cover per annum to every family in Punjab, including Chandigarh, is finally set to be rolled out by mid-January.
Through a tendering process, the Punjab health and welfare department has roped in the United India Insurance Company for the services.
Disclosing this here today, the Health and Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said that the bids only from public sector insurance firms were invited in which the United India Insurance firm emerged as the lowest bidder for implementation of the health insurance scheme for secondary and tertiary care.
In Punjab, over 9,000 camps would be organised in which the applicants would be registered for health card through biometric system.
“The scheme would formally be launched on January 15 by AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and CM Bhagwant Singh Mann by inaugurating the dedicated camps to be set up for the purpose,” he said.
He viewed that the scheme could be termed as ‘Sarbat Da Bhalla’ scheme as it aims to extend free medical treatment to all 3 crore residents of Punjab.
"Around 65 lakh families of Punjab, regardless of their social or income status criteria, could avail this facility. The applicant should possess the adhaar card or voter card of Punjab or Chandigarh which would make him or her eligible for it,” he said.
According to the arrangement, the insurance firm would pay Rs 1 lakh whereas the rest of the payment would be furnished through state health agency under hybrid mode during the course of treatment.
He said that to avoid the pendency and delay in the claims, a Budget of Rs 1,200 crore has been spared.
The scheme will cover over 2,200 medical procedures and surgeries, including all emergency and chronic diseases.
The cashless treatment would be offered in all the government and empanelled private hospitals, including the PGI, Chandigarh, AIIMS, Bathinda, Govt Medical colleges and subdivision hospitals, nursing institutes and around 602 private health institutions located across the state.
However, there would be restrictions on cosmetic surgery or other non-essential medical procedures.
The minister clarified that the exception could be the accidental burn cases or accident cases where the cosmetic surgery, if required, could be considered for free treatment.
Under the previous government-oriented health insurance scheme ‘Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna’ launched during the regime of Capt Amarinder Singh government, families were eligible for treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. The new scheme doubles that coverage per family per annum.
