More packages and hospitals, Medisep 2.0 from February 1

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister K N Balagopal announced Medisep 2.0 scheme in the last budget of the second Pinarayi Vijayan government. The minister said government employees, teachers and about 11 lakh pensioners have received free medical services in the first phase of Medisep. Presently, a person up to 104 years of age has sought service as a member of the scheme.

Medisep 2.0 will be implemented from February 1 with more packages and more hospitals. The annual premium for the second phase is Rs 8,244. Rs 687 will be deducted from salary and pension monthly. The treatment package rate will be increased by five percent. In the first phase, the monthly premium was Rs 500. Oriental Insurance Company is responsible for the implementation. Cashless inpatient treatment will be available in all empanelled hospitals. 2,516 packages, including medical and surgical, have been included in the revised scheme. There were presently 1,920 packages. Along with including more hospitals, there is a provision to empanel all the available categories in each hospital. Room rent up to Room rent up to Rs 5,000, government pay ward room rent increased to Rs 2,000 per day.

Knee replacement facility in private hospitals

• Knee replacement and hip replacement surgeries will be made available in private hospitals.
• If Sree Chitra and JIPMER hospitals are not empanelled in the scheme, reimbursement will be provided for the treatments in these hospitals.
• Additional coverage for ten very serious and organ transplant surgeries will continue in the next phase. Insurance companies will set aside Rs 40 crore for two years.
• In emergencies related to road accidents, heart attacks and strokes, treatment can be sought in a hospital that is not empanelled. The company will reimburse the cost of this.
• Representatives of Kerala Private Hospital Association and Indian Medical Association will also be included in the grievance redressal mechanism.
• Details of the packages and complete information about the hospital chains will be available on the website.