New Delhi|HL: The Delhi cabinet has given an in-principle approval for introducing a health insurance scheme for everyone in the state. Slated to empanel government and private hospitals, it will be rolled out by the end of this year, health minister Satyendar Jain told TOI.
“There will be three categories for payment of premium, the highest payment for which should not exceed Rs 3,000 annually. For those below poverty line, the government will pay the premium and effectively open up private healthcare for those who have not been able to afford it so far,” the minister said.
Everyone with a valid proof of residence in the capital – passport, voter ID or Aadhaar card – will be eligible for the scheme.
The scheme, which draws many features from similar ones in Andhra and Tamil Nadu, will cover 1,800 medical procedures. “An accident insurance will be included, which may be free for everyone, under which it will be mandatory for all hospitals, empanelled or not, to admit and treat an accident victim. Police will have to take an accident victim to the nearest hospital instead of a government one,” Jain said. The government will distribute health cards, starting with government hospitals and then extending the service to private hospitals as well. At present, patients get financial assistance under the Delhi Aarogya Nidhi scheme. However, it has few takers as it requires a lot of approvals and paperwork. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY), another health insurance scheme provided by the state, is also for the poor.
Officials in the state health department said the scheme is expected to cost the government well over Rs 700 crore. The Congress government in Delhi had also proposed to introduce a similar health insurance scheme for all. It had formed a governing board of trustees which considered integration of RSBY scheme with the proposed health insurance plan. However, it could not be implemented.
Dr Devi Shetty , who is a trustee of two health insurance schemes that are running in Karnataka for farmers and the low-income group, said only 20% of India’s population is covered under any health insurance.
“Of this, about 2% are provided by the government (RSBY, CGHS and ESIS among others) and 18% are given by private insurers. The rest of the population has to pay out of pocket for their health needs,” he said.
Inputs: Economitimes
