Haryana has edged past Kerala in coverage of BPL families to emerge on top in extending health insurance cover to below poverty line families in the state.
As many as 25 states in the country have initiated moves to implement the scheme which aims to cover about six crore BPL families in fiscal 2009-10. However, no state in the country has completed the process of providing such cover to all the eligible BPL families. Till June 30, Kerala was on top with issuance of Smart Cards to 9.77 lakh BPL families. Under the scheme, the centre and the state governments share the premium of the insurance cover in the ratio of 75:25 except in case of the north-eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir where the ratio is 90:10.
Government hospitals, including ESI hospitals, the Rohtak Medical College and private hospitals, have been empanelled by the insurance agency for providing cashless services to the beneficiaries. In all, 3,22,683 BPL families residing in the four districts were covered in the first phase, and 1,31,092 smart cards were issued. Of these, 4,533 people have availed of the benefit in the 47 hospitals, both government and private, empanelled in four districts. Claims amountingto Rs 2,78,14,217 were lodged, of which claims worth Rs 2,56,39,416 have been settled till date, DV Saharan, director, Employees State Insurance Health Care, Haryana, said.
In the second phase, the cover was launched in four districts of Ambala, Hisar, Rohtak and Mewat where 2,77,346 BPL families reside. In all, 1,40,595 smart cards were issued and 3,283 availed of the benefit in the 28 hospitals empanelled in the four districts. Claims amounting Rs 1,84,16,934 were made, of which claims running into Rs 1,72,73,877 have been settled so far.
In the last phase, the scheme was launched in the remaining 12 districts inhabited by 6,97,012 BPL families. In all, 4,30,985 smart cards were issued in these districts and 2,840 availed of the benefit in the 90 empanelled hospitals. Claims amounting to Rs 1,68,13,546 have been made so far, of which claims running into Rs 1,57,50,441 have been settled. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, disclosed here on Monday that the state had done it in a record period of time beating the deadline it had set for itself, by four years.