Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme will be launched in the Union Territory on Saturday.
Announcing the decision in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said the State government would bear 40% of the premium and the remaining amount would be paid by the Centre. The Centrally sponsored scheme will provide free annual cover of up to ₹5 lakh a family.
He made the announcement while responding to a question by T. Djeamourthy (Congress) about the status of Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme.
When the Chief Minister responded that the scheme was not in existence and only financial assistance to the needy was given for treatment, A. Anbalagan (AIADMK) and V. Saminathan (nominated) of the BJP urged the government to join the Centrally sponsored Ayushman Bharat scheme.
In response, Mr. Narayanasamy said the government had given its consent to roll out the scheme from Saturday.
Intervening on the issue, Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao said initially 1,03,444 lakh below poverty line people would be covered under the scheme. The U.T.’s share as premium would be ₹430 a person, he said.
The Centre had agreed to include all ration cardholders under the scheme. At least two rounds of discussions were held with officials in the Union Ministry of Health.
The government was keen to bring all ration cardholders under the ambit of the scheme, he said.
Making supplementary questions on health insurance, government whip R.K.R Anantharaman, R. Siva (DMK) and Vayiapuri Manikantan (AIADMK) highlighted the problems faced by weaker sections because of the absence of government-sponsored health insurance programme.
