Introduction of Group Health Insurance Scheme – Swasthya Sathi
Finance, Casual Worker, Swasthya Sathi
Government of West Bengal
Finance Department
Audit Branch
No. 1104-F(P) Dated 25th February 2016
NOTIFICATION
Sub: Introduction of Group Health Insurance Scheme named “Swasthya Sathi” for workers/ volunteers like the Members of Self Help Groups, Civic Police Volunteers, Green Police Volunteers, Civil Defence Volunteers, Village Police Volunteers at Gram Panchayat, Disaster Management workers, Home Guard/ NVF, ASHA workers, ICDS workers and other Contractual/ Casual/ Daily rated workers.
A large section of volunteers and other workers engaged in various development programmes of the State Government are not covered under any Health Insurance or similar other scheme.
2. It has been under active consideration of the government for some time past to provide a comprehensive health insurance coverage to this large section of the volunteers and other workers and their families to protect them from financially debilitating effect of illness and adverse health conditions.
3. Therefore, the Governor is pleased to decide to introduce a Group Health Insurance Scheme namely “Swasthya Sathi” for the Members Self Help Groups, Civic Police Volunteers, Green Police Volunteers, Civil Defence Volunteers, Village Police Volunteers at Gram Panchayat, Disaster Management workers, Home Guards/ NVF, ASHA workers, ICDS workers and other Contractual/ Casual/ Daily rated workers under State Government as detailed below.
4. The scheme: The main features of the Scheme are :
(i) The scheme will have basic health cover for secondary and tertiary care upto Rs. 1.5 Lakhs per annum.
(ii) There will be no cap on the family size.
(iii) Critical illness like, Cancer, Neuro surgeries, Cardiothoracic surgeries, liver diseases, blood disorders etc. will be covered upto Rs. 5 lakh.
(iv) All pre-existing diseases will be covered.
(v) The entire premium will be borne by the State Government with no contribution from the beneficiaries
5. The scheme will be implemented by the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal. The details of the scheme will be finalised by the Health & Family Welfare Department in consultation with the Finance Department.
6. The scheme will be effective from 1st April 2016.
Sd/- H.K. Dwivedi
Principal Secretary
Government of West Bengal