Our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee flagged off a new community-based health insurance cover for the poorer sections of society.

The community-based Universal Health Insurance Scheme offers health protection and easy access to good health services to the disadvantaged sections. Under this scheme, a premium of Re 1 per day for an individual, Rs 1.50 per day for a family of five (including the first 3 children) and Rs 2 per day for a family of seven (including the first 3 children and dependent parents) will entitle eligibility to get reimbursement of medical expenses up to Rs 30,000 towards hospitalisation, a cover for death due to accident up to Rs 25,000 and compensation due to loss of earning at the rate of Rs 50 per day up to a maximum of 15 days after a waiting period of 3 days.

For below poverty line (BPL) families, the government will contribute Rs 100 per year towards their annual premium. The policy is meant for groups consisting of minimum 100 families. The scheme will be on the lines of Mediclaim Policy. Claim settlement to be done through TPAs mentioned in the schedule or by the insurance company. Hospitals run by non-governmental organisations (NGOS), state governments, trust hospitals or selective private hospitals with fixed schedule of charges will be enlisted for providing benefits.

Vide notification dated 11th July,2003, Govt. has exempted this scheme from service tax (Under Section 66 of the Act).

Any query on this scheme, mail to abhijitkar@niacl.com