950 treatments get new health insurance cover

CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday announced a new comprehensive public health insurance scheme, with added features, to replace the Kalaignar Insurance Scheme (KIS).Until it is launched, life-saving treatments will be provided under the KIS and the State government will directly pay the cost incurred to the hospitals.The new scheme will cover 950 medical procedures and a family can avail of medical expenditure of up to Rs 4 lakh in four years (Rs1 lakh a year). In case of certain diseases, Rs1.5 lakh will be granted. In a first, neo-natal treatment will also be covered. Under the KIS, only 642 medical procedures were allowed and a family could get only Rs1 lakh in four years.The chief minister said the KIS had expired on July 5 and tenders would be called for selecting the new company for implementing the new scheme.Stating that the KIS did not fully meet the health requirements of the people and only helped in the growth of private insurance firms and hospitals, Jayalalithaa said under the new scheme, the diagnostic charges for both surgical and non-surgical procedures recommended by government hospitals or authorised medical camps would be met. The KIS offered no such benefit. Moreover, the new scheme will cover diagnostic charges a day prior to hospitalisation and five days after discharge. The amount required for post-operative treatment for certain diseases will be fixed and paid later.Jayalalithaa said the system of providing treatment charges directly to private hospitals would be extended to those run by the government. Certain medical procedures will be allowed to be performed only at government hospitals, which will help in their upgradation.