CM has given in-principle nod to health insurance for all sections of people, says Health Minister

Health Minister announces ₹25 lakh health insurance coverage per family, reducing bureaucratic delays and increasing empanelled doctors under new scheme.

Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav has said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has given in-principle approval for providing health insurance coverage to people as promised at the time of elections, to the extent of ₹25 lakh per family per year. 

Addressing media persons at the Secretariat on Friday, Mr. Kumar said it would be a cashless healthcare scheme in which the usual administrative and procedural delays associated with the bureaucratic approach would be significantly reduced.

The insurance companies to be roped in by the State government would handle various components of the cashless healthcare service in a specified manner and defined timeframes. At present, pre-authorisation of insurance proposals would take at least 24 hours. Under the new system, it would be reduced to about six hours. Besides, the scheme would have more empanelled doctors than in the past. 

Mr. Satya Kumar said all the 3,257 procedures covered under Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva would be included in the new scheme and new procedures would be added as per demand. If the claims to be paid by the insurance companies were less than the premium amount agreed to be paid, the unspent amounts would be returned to the government.

If the claim amounts to be paid by the service provider exceeded the agreed premium amounts, such excess up to 15% would be paid by the service provider and beyond that the excess amount would be shared by the government and the service provider.

The quantum of premiums to be paid in respect of Above Poverty Line (APL) people seeking health insurance was being worked out, the Minister added.