Medisep phase two to begin on February 1; Rs 687 monthly premium, free treatment worth Rs 5 lakh per year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal has announced that the second phase of the Medisep medical insurance scheme for government employees, pensioners, and their dependents will come into effect from February 1. All existing beneficiaries, including government employees, service and family pensioners, employees and pensioners of universities and local self-government institutions, and their dependents, will be covered under the revised scheme.

The updated scheme ensures free treatment worth up to Rs 5 lakh per year. In the second phase, the basic insurance coverage has been increased from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Beneficiaries need to pay a monthly premium of Rs 687. The total annual premium for a member and their dependents will be Rs 8,244. The scheme will be implemented by the Oriental Insurance Company.

Treatment packages based on the nationally approved Health Benefit Package 2022 have been newly included in the scheme. This will allow more hospitals to be brought under the scheme. Cashless inpatient treatment will be available at all empanelled hospitals. The revised scheme includes 2,516 medical and surgical packages, up from the existing 1,920 packages. The new agreement also provides for empanelling all available departments in each hospital, along with the inclusion of more hospitals.

Room rent has been fixed at up to Rs 5,000 per day. The room rent for government pay wards has been capped at Rs 2,000 per day. The revised scheme ensures coverage for both surgical and medical packages at the same time.