Govt to Launch Medical Insurance for Delhi IIT

The Delhi Cabinet chaired by the CM Arvind Kejriwal has given its 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, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said. “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. Officials in the state health department said the scheme is expected to cost the government well over Rs 700 crore.