The Andhra Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy announced the launch of the new health insurance plan that would benefit the common man. The insurance, which has a highly subsidized premium rates is believed to attract farmers, agricultural labourers and artisans. The Chief Minister would launch it on the 19th of April.
It is believed to provide insurance coverage to a minimum of 10 lakh and a maximum 40-lakh families, who are currently living below the poverty line (BPL). The disease to be covered by the insurance would be announced following a discussion. Senior medical and health officials of the state, Ministers K. Rosaiah, D. Srinivas and Redya Naik participated in the meeting organized by the Chief Minister.Principal Secretaries C.B.S. Venkataramana (Family Welfare), I.Y.R. Krishna Rao (Finance) and K. Raju (Rural Development), Director, Health P. Somasekhar Reddy and Director, Insurance Medical Services G.V.V.S.K. Bushanam, were also present for the meeting.
The concerned health officials have been instructed to give finishing touches to the draft before it can be approved by the Central Government. According to official sources, the plan would be approved before 19th April and would be put in place in the current fiscal. The minister has given the green signal to the ministers to launch a statewide campaign to sensitise and identify the BPL people.
Self-help groups would render their services to assist in the enrollment process. The Universal Health Insurance Scheme of the Central Government is found to be practicable, of all the available health insurance schemes.
