MediSep premium: Benefits will increase, option to opt out to be available

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has decided to continue the Medisep, the health insurance scheme for government employees and pensioners. The scheme will be comprehensively revised. The Sriram Venkitaraman Committee, which was appointed to submit its recommendations for this, submitted its report to the Finance Department on Tuesday. Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department KR Jyothilal has been assigned to take further action.

The committee has recommended the option for government employees to opt out of the scheme. Service organisations had strongly raised this demand. After revising the scheme, a new tender will be called for the contract, and the term will also be reviewed.

Service organisations had demanded that Medisep be continued. Demands such as more hospitals, making the procedures transparent, avoiding confusion, and including government share have also been raised.

It was also demanded that the current practice of charging both the premiums from the spouse in case of the death of the partner should not be followed. These matters will also be considered. The premium is charged from the spouse, even if the partner dies, as per the condition of paying the premium for three years.

Premium at ₹ 750 and coverage at ₹ 5 lakh

• The recommendation is to increase the monthly premium by 50 percent to ₹ 750

• The medical benefit should be increased from ₹ 3 lakh to ₹ 5 lakh

• The demand that the premium should be paid by only one person if there is more than one government employee in a family should be considered

• Necessary changes should be made in the current conditions to include the best specialist hospitals in the list

• It should be made more effective by comparing it with other government-run health insurance schemes in the country

Current scheme to be extended for a short period

• When a comprehensive change is made to the scheme, it will take some time to implement. Therefore, the current MediSep scheme will be extended for a short period based on certain conditions. The decision will be taken in consultation with the implementing company, Oriental Insurance. The premium and conditions for it need to be discussed

• The scheme, which started on July 1, 2022, is for three years. It will end on June 30. If the period is extended for one year, the new contract will be given by the next government

Policy members: 11 lakh

Beneficiaries including dependents: 30 lakh

The MediSep scheme will continue. It does not have to be given to the same company. A decision will be taken after discussing the expert committee report

-KN Balagopal, Finance Minister