Odisha govt. to provide health insurance benefits to all employees

In a significant development, the Odisha state government is mulling over a health insurance scheme, which would benefit around 4.5 lac government employees and their family members.

Mr. Pradipta Mohapatra, Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Odisha) said, “The scheme will be an alternative to the prevalent reimbursement cost of medicine (RCM) scheme. We are examining various possibilities."

To avail health insurance benefits under the scheme, the employees will only need to pay a nominal premium, while the state government will contribute the major portion of the premium of the group insurance. This scheme will facilitate employees to avail cashless treatment benefit for most ailments at network hospitals. There would be a ceiling on the sum insured for different category of employees.

According to the sources, the government will call for more than one insurance company to implement the scheme in the state.

The exact cost implication of the proposed scheme is yet to be worked out as the plan is still in its initial stage, Mr. Mohapatra said.

Although, the new health insurance scheme is expected to cost the government around the same as Reimbursement Cost of Medicine (RCM), while the benefits to the employees would be more.

Under the RCM scheme, the employees have to apply for reimbursement to the government through their respective departments. Irrespective of the cost incurred by them, they get fixed amount for different procedures.

Source:  http://www.insuringindia.com