Four insurers to implement farmers' health insurance scheme in Odisha

The Odisha state government has selected four insurance companies - IFFCO-Tokyo, Reliance Insurance, New India Assurance and National Insurance to implement farmers' health insurance scheme under the Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojna (BKKY) for the financial year 2013-14. These firms were selected through a tender process in which 14 firms participated.

To implement the scheme, the government has divided central, northern and southern zones into six divisions, each zone into two divisions. Out of which, IFFCO-Tokyo and Reliance Insurance have been given four divisions while New India Assurance and National Insurance have got one division each to implement the scheme.

The government announced this scheme in May this year. The Expenditure Finance Committee has approved the scheme with an outlay of Rs. 613 crore for four years. For the financial year 2013-14, Rs. 100 crore has been sanctioned.

A senior official in the agricultural department said that the government is keen to roll out the scheme this month after Puja holidays.

An order to prepare list of all eligible farmers has been given to the Department of Agriculture and Food Production. All farmers, irrespective of their financial status will come under the scheme. More than 2.5 crore farmers are expected to be benefited under the scheme.

Under the scheme, five members per family will be provided insurance cover of Rs. 1 lac. They will be issued smart cards which can be used at hospitals to avail health insurance benefits. Beneficiaries will have to pay Rs 30 towards enrolment fee in order to avail the benefit. However, those who have already enrolled under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) don’t require to pay.

Source: http://www.insuringindia.com