Over 15 lakh people to benefit from health scheme in Meghalaya

Over 15 lakh people in Meghalaya are set to benefit from the state government's health insurance scheme, enrolment for the second phase of which will begin early next month, Health minister A L Hek said today.
"Every citizen in the state who has been enrolled with the Election Commission is set to benefit from the scheme, aimed at providing financial aid at the time of hospitalisation and reduce the out-of-pocket expenses," Hek told reporters here.
Under the scheme, the beneficiaries were entitled up to Rs 1,60,000 coverage at the time of hospitalisation on a floater basis and it was extendable up to five members of a family where each household was required to pay a minimum premium of only Rs 31 annually, he said.

Under the Megha Health Insurance Scheme, all pre-existing diseases were also covered and there was no age limit for a period of one year, the minister said.
At least 11 leading private hospitals in the state were empanelled where card holders can admit themselves for medication including the North Eastern Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS).
Thirteen leading hospitals outside the state were also empanelled to enable the beneficiaries to get themselves treatment, which include three in Assam, two each in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, NCT Delhi and one each in Karnataka and Haryana.
The state government has paid premium worth nearly Rs 17 crore to ICICI Lombard General Insurance company Ltd, the company selected to implement the scheme in the first phase.

The state government has also roped in New India Assurance Company Ltd for the second phase of which enrolment drive would begin from June 1, Megha Health Insurance Scheme CEO M R Synrem, who was also the Health Commissioner and Secretary said.