Govt exploring possibility of extending health insurance to retired SSC officers

The Centre is exploring the possibility of extending health insurance to retired short service commission (SSC) officers, official sources said Thursday.

This comes amid reports that the government backtracked on a promise to provide SSC officers post-retirement medical benefits. The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is extended only to the armed forces pensioners until now.

"Notwithstanding, the Government of India, in consultation with the armed forces, is exploring possibility to extend health insurance to non-pensioner ex-servicemen based on a scheme under formulation for Central Govt Employees and Pensioners," an official source said.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha in 2009, the then Defence minister A K Antony had said that the government was taking several measures to make the SSC attractive through a slew of measures.

This includes grant of ex-servicemen status to all SSC officers who have completed terms of service, a provision of Canteen Stores Department (CSD) facility and medical facility after release under ECHS scheme.

Currently, the SSC officers can serve in the armed forces for up to 14 years. However, after their retirement, they are not eligible for pension or health insurance.