Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Health Francis D’Souza said the financial bids for the scheme were opened on Monday, and United India Insurance Limited has quoted Rs 3263.25 per family. “The company has quoted the lowest. Now we will send a comparative statement to government for finalization,” D’Souza said.
The minister said the company is a pioneer in implementing the Universal Health Insurance Programme of the government of India and several other schemes in different states.
The government has envisaged the scheme to provide quality medical care, hospitalisation and surgery in government and private hospitals. “The scheme will cover the 15 lakh population of Goa, which includes three lakh families. Before finalizing the scheme the government is working out the modalities, including effective benefit of this scheme to the people,” D’Souza said, adding that the finalization of the scheme has been delayed.
The insurance cover will be up to Rs 2.5 lakh per annum for a family of three or less members and up to Rs 4 lakh for a family of four and more. In the initial phase, only Goa Medical College, the two district hospitals and the sub-district hospital at Ponda will be covered, whereas the rest of the government hospitals will be included later at the discretion of the government.
Private health providers, which provide hospitalisation and/or daycare services, would be eligible for inclusion under the insurance scheme.
