KCR unveils new health scheme for govt. staff

No cap on upper limit of medical expenses for employees and pensioners. The scheme would cover employees and their family members first and pensioners, university employees, aided employees and public sector employees would be extended the facility in a phased manner.

In what seems to be a Diwali gift, the Government of Telangana has announced a new healthcare scheme for its employees, pensioners and their family members, covering all ailments and removing the ceiling on the upper limit on medical expenses.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will launch distribution of new health cards to employees on Wednesday at the Secretariat. The cashless healthcare scheme will benefit the families of about 4 lakh employees and about 2 lakh pensioners.

100% expenses to be borne by State

In a meeting with the representatives of various employees’ associations here on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that 100 per cent medical expenses of government employees and pensions would be borne by the State Government under the new scheme. There is an upper limit on the coverage of medical expenses up to Rs. 2 lakh and coverage of about 300 ailments and procedures under the current scheme.

Besides, the employees had to contribute Rs. 120 to Rs. 190 per month under the existing scheme. However, the new scheme is devoid of all such limits and contributions as the entire premium for the insurance scheme under which the treatment is given free of cost would be borne by the government.

Assurance to employees

Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao told the employees’ leaders that his government would provide the best of facilities to its employees but they should work with renewed vigour for the progress of the State, including making efforts to push up the revenue, in return. He told them to give their proposals on zonal system and changes in service rules to the president of the Employees’ JAC G. Deviprasad Rao.

Speaking to newspersons later, Mr. Deviprasad Rao, V. Srinivas Goud, C. Vittal and others said the Chief Minister had told them that treatment under the health scheme would be provided in private and government hospitals for the first six months and later it would be given only in government hospitals by improving infrastructure.

The scheme would cover employees and their family members first and pensioners, university employees, aided employees and public sector employees would be extended the facility in a phased manner. They said that the Chief Minister promised to give best pay revision to the employees.