THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet has approved the launch of Medisep, a health insurance scheme for state government employees and pensioners, in principle from January 1. The scheme will come into full effect as per the final judgment of the High Court in this regard.

Membership is mandatory for all employees (except All India Service officers) and pensioners who are members of the scheme. Cashless treatment will be provided for those included in the scheme, including existing ailments. The cabinet also approved the inclusion of former MLAs in the scheme. Employees and pensioners of universities and local bodies receiving funding from the state government are also members. Beneficiaries of the scheme will be the personal staff members, personal staff pensioners and family pensioners directly appointed by the chief minister, ministers, speaker, leader of the opposition, chief whip, deputy speaker and finance committee chairmen. The scheme which is indefinitely protracted due to disputes and court cases is now being implemented. Oriental Insurance Company is in charge of running the scheme.

Compulsory members:

State government employees, part-time contingent employees, part-time teachers, teaching and non-teaching staff, including aided schools, pensioners and family pensioners and their dependents.

Beneficiaries on optional basis

All India Service Officers and their dependents serving under the State Government.

Insurance coverage at these places

Only in empaneled public-private hospitals. Coverage for treatment in non-empanelled hospitals in emergencies such as life-threatening or accidental.

No insurance coverage for OP

OP category treatments are not planned. The current system of medical re-employment will continue for all government employees subject to the Kerala Government Servant Medical Attendant Rules for OP treatment in Government Hospitals and in Super Specialty Hospitals including Thiruvananthapuram RCC, Sree Chitra, Malabar Cancer Center and Kochi Cancer Center.

Premium of 500

Monthly insurance premium for employees and pensioners is Rs.500.

Coverage of Rs 3 lakh for 3 years

Basic cover for each family at the rate of Rs. 3 lakhs per annum within the policy term of 3 years. If the fixed amount of Rs. 1.5 lakh/year is not utilized every year, it will be lost. If the floater amount of Rs1.5 lakh is not utilized then it will be transferred for subsequent years of the policy.