United India emerges winner for insurance scheme to pensioners

The new scheme has been aimed at providing health insurance on a 'cashless' basis with provision to avail assistance up to Rs 2 lakh for four-year period

Public sector United India Insurance company has emerged winner for implementing the Tamil Nadu Government's ambitious health insurance scheme for pensioners.

The new health insurance scheme has been aimed at providing health care assistance to pensioners (including spouse) family pensioners on a "cashless" basis with provision to avail assistance up to Rs 2 lakh for four-year period.

National competitive bidding was issued and as per the recommendations of tender accepting committee United India Insurance has emerged winner for implementing the scheme, a government order said.

The Chennai-based company, has entered into an agreement with Government for implementing the scheme which is valid for a period of four years. "The scheme shall be administered through a third party administrator under the control of United India Insurance Company," it said.

The pensioners would be uniformly subscribed to Rs 150 per month for the health insurance scheme and the Government would pay the insurance premium along with the service tax to the insurance company on behalf of the pensioners.

The scheme would commence from July 1, 2014 and would run up to June 30, 2018, it said, adding a pensioner may contact toll free helpline 1800233 5544 for any grievances or issues.

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister O Paneerselvam in his budget speech early this year announced that the Government would implement a new health insurance scheme on the lines of the Government Employees Health insurance scheme.

"A sum of Rs 16,021 crore is being provided in the budget estimates 2014-15 for pensionary benefits", he had said.

According to him, there are seven lakh pensioners in Tamil Nadu.