Jharkhand Government Greenlights Health Insurance Program for State Workers and Retirees
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Synopsis
The Jharkhand Government has approved a health insurance scheme for state employees and pensioners, providing cashless treatment for general and critical illnesses. The initiative is expected to benefit a large number of employees and retirees, with a partnership established with Tata AIG for its implementation.
Key Takeaways
- Comprehensive health insurance scheme approved.
- Cashless treatment of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh for critical illnesses.
- Monthly deduction of Rs 500 from health allowance for employees.
- Voluntary annual payment option for retirees.
- Implementation backed by Rs 150 crore allocation.
Ranchi, Jan 21 (NationPress) The Jharkhand Government has officially sanctioned a robust health insurance initiative designed to aid both state workers and pensioners. This program offers cashless treatment coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh annually for general health issues and Rs 10 lakh for critical conditions affecting employees and their dependents.
During a cabinet assembly led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren at the Jharkhand Secretariat, a total of 18 proposals, including this updated insurance plan, received approval.
Cabinet Secretary Vandana Dadel informed the press about this decision.
As part of the scheme, Rs 500 will be deducted monthly from the Rs 1,000 health allowance allotted to state employees. Retired personnel can voluntarily enroll in the program by contributing an annual fee of Rs 6,000.
Approximately 1.75 lakh current employees and 2.25 lakh retired personnel are expected to benefit from this initiative.
Active and retired officers of All India Services living in the state, former MLAs, and employees from various boards, corporations, and institutions are also eligible to participate.
To facilitate the program's implementation, the state government will allocate Rs 150 crore from the contingency fund and maintain an additional Rs 50 crore as a buffer reserve in the trust of the State Arogya Society. The government has partnered with Tata AIG General Insurance Company for the execution of this scheme.
This development marks a significant advancement after the original health insurance resolution on July 31, 2023 encountered technical hurdles, delaying its rollout.
In other significant decisions, the Jharkhand cabinet approved a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India to provide communication, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management services at Dumka Airport. This will pave the way for the initiation of regular flight operations under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN).
Approval was also given to establish roles such as Senior Manager, Manager, Finance Manager, and IT Executive for Medical College Hospitals, Sadar Hospitals, Sub-Divisional Hospitals, and Community Health Centers throughout the state.
A budget of Rs 94.5 crore was sanctioned under the Gyanodya Scheme to improve computer education in middle schools statewide.
