InsuranceBuzz

Insurance Scheme for Poor in TN

The Tamil Nadu Government has introduced 'Kalaignar Insurance Scheme for Life Saving Treatments'. This scheme, is being implemented with the help of a tie-up with Star Health and Allied Insurance. It is slated to empower around one crore poor and downtrodden families to receive specialist treatment costing up to Rs one lakh for 51 types of diseases. Along with this, the Government has already released the list of diseases, treatment and surgical procedures covered by the scheme.

Said Chairman-cum-Managing Director V Jagannathan, "The treatment for diseases under 13 disciplines, such as cardiology, oncology, nephrology and urology, neurology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, plastic surgery, gynaecology, thoracic medicine and haematology comes under the purview of this scheme. The list also includes thyroid surgery, major surgical procedures requiring inpatient care due to accidents and other types of trauma, coma management, meningitis and encephalitis and surgical corrections of congenital deformities.

The members of the 25 welfare boards and their family members, dependent parents, and any family whose annual income is less than Rs 72,000 are eligible. The beneficiaries would be covered for four years and the Government would pay the insurance premium annually to the company.

The state Government is already running a health insurance programme for the employees of government departments, local bodies, PSUs, statutory boards and government universities from the same company.

Administration has sanctioned Rs 517.307 crore a year as premium for four years to implement the new scheme, which includes the service tax amounting Rs 48.307 crore. The Government has promised to give additional funds in the supplementary estimates for 2009-2010.

EH News Bureau