CM Launches New Version of Ayushman Bharat Mahatma Gandhi Rajasthan Swasthya Bima Yojana : 1.1 Crore Families to Get Health Insurance Cover for Cashless Treatment upto Rs. 5 Lakh

Jaipur, 30 January. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot launched the new phase of Ayushman Bharat Mahatma Gandhi Swasthya Bima Yojana from his official residence on Saturday. The insurance cover to the beneficiaries has been increased to Rs. 5 lakh from Rs. 3.30 lakh per family. The packages for the free treatment of various diseases in this scheme have been increased from 1401 to 1576. This scheme will benefit about 1.1 crore families of Rajsathan.

While addressing the function, which was held through video conference and telecast live on social media platforms and TV channels, Shri Gehlot said that good health to people of state was top priority of his government. The State Government has strengthened the basic infrastructure of health services in the entire Rajasthan as per the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi’s words ‘Health is the real wealth’. He said that after the Free Medicine and Free Diagnostic Schemes and Nirogi Rajasthan campaign, now it has been ensured to provide better treatment to poor and deprived class of people through this health insurance scheme.

The Chief Minister said that this scheme would be a big investment and it was prepared after studying the flaws and features of various health insurance schemes in other States including Ayushman Bharat Swasthya Bima Yojana offered by the Union Government. He said that the State Government along with the families selected by the Centre under Socio Economic Community Census (SECC) in Ayushman Bharat Scheme, has provided insurance cover in this scheme to families of National Food Security Scheme beneficiaries.

Shri Gehlot said that the State Government would bear 100% of the premium of NFSA beneficiaries and the Central would pay merely 60% of the premium pre-fixed by the Union Government, which is Rs. 1052 per family, that too only for the families under the SECC category. In Rajasthan, the actual premium amount paid would be Rs. 1662 per family. Thus, the state government had to pay the difference of the total of pre-fixed premium of Rs. 1052 and the actual premium of Rs. 1662 for the SECC category beneficiaries as well.

The CM stated that this would result into the total annual premium for this scheme to be around Rs 1800 crore, of which the Rajasthan Government would spend Rs. 1400 crore and the Centre would pay merely Rs. 400 crore. He demanded that the Centre should pay the 60% of the actual premium amount instead of the pre-fixed premium for all the beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Mahatma Gandhi Rajasthan Swasthya Bima Yojana in the state.

Shri Gehlot said that Rajasthan being the largest state of India had different health problems in different regions. In such a situation it was a big challenge to provide better health to all. The State Government through this new scheme has given insurance cover to the two-third population of the State. Media and every citizen of the state had an important role in publicising this scheme. He appealed to all to inform about this scheme to maximum people, so that poor and deprived sick people could get ‘cashless’ treatment on time.

The Chief Minister said that a special arrangement has been made to stop irregularities in the scheme. In the software of the scheme, a system has been made to send automatic alerts in case of hospitals or insurance companies taking wrong benefit by making a mess. A state anti-fraud unit has also been formed, which will ensure that strict action is taken against the hospitals on submitting wrong claims. The process of selecting private hospitals has been made better in this scheme. The admission process has been made easy so as to provide immediate treatment on patients reaching the hospital. A TPA arrangement has been made to help the hospital and insurance company. Swasthya Margdarshak (Health Guide) and Swasthya Mitras would also be available to help the patients at hospitals.

Health Minister Dr. Raghu Sharma said that the entire medical expenditure for five days prior to getting admitted in the hospital and 15 days after the discharge is included in the free package. Treatment of COVID-19 and hemodialysis has also been included in the list of packages of this scheme. He said that residents of Rajasthan in coming days with the availability of the option of portability will be able to get the benefit of free treatment in selected hospitals in other States under this scheme.

On the current situation of Corona infection in the state, the Health Minister said, “We are moving towards victory on corona.” First dose of vaccine has been administered to 60% of healthcare workers in the first phase of the corona vaccination campaign. Rajasthan is the second State in the country in regard to the number of vaccination, he said. Dr. Sharma further added that soon the second phase of vaccination will start in the country and Rajasthan will become a ‘Model State’ in the country in corona vaccination.

Chief Secretary Shri Niranjan Arya said that the State Government developed the facilities by constantly investing for the improvement of the basic health infrastructure across Rajasthan. The Chief Minister Free Medicine and Diagnostic Schemes have been important steps. Now, after implementation of this health insurance scheme, the citizens at far end in would get the benefits of health services.

Health Secretary Shri Siddharth Mahajan shared the details of this scheme. He said under the health insurance scheme now packages and procedures for various diseases have been increased to 1576 from earlier 1401 packages. Insurance cover upto Rs 50,000 would be available for treatment for general diseases and upto Rs 4.50 lakh for serious illnesses, he added.

During the event, the Chief Minister released logo and IEC material for the scheme. A short film explaining the features and procedures of the scheme was also presented.

Minister of State for Health Shri Subhash Garg proposed vote of thanks to the dignitaries and others present in the function and those who joined the event virtually.

Art & Culture Minister Shri BD Kalla, Transport Minister Shri Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Agriculture Minister Shri Lal Chand Kataria, Gopalan Minister Shri Pramod Jain Bhaya, Minister of State for Women & Child Development Smt. Mamta Bhupesh, Minister of State for Higher Education Shri Bhanwar Singh Bhati, Minister of State for Motor Garage Shri Rajendra Yadav, Chief Whip Shri Mahesh Joshi, Deputy Chief Whip Shri Mahendra Choudhary, Jaipur Heritage Mayor Smt. Munesh Gurjar, Jaipur Greater Mayor Smt. Saumya Gurjar, MLAs and other public representatives and senior officers of the State Government were present in the programme. Members of Parliament, MLAs and other public representatives and officers at different places in various districts joined the programme through video conference.