Healthcare facilities to GDS -Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana

This is regarding introducing healthcare facilities to GDS officials on the lines of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana by Ministry of Labour an Employment. The scheme is one amongst various one year agenda items of the Hon’ble Ministry of Communication & IT with time sensitiveness and the time lines with action taken are periodically being monitored personally by Hon’ble MOC & IT. The scheme is likely to be introduced shortly subject to approval by the Ministry of Finance. The salient feature of the scheme is furnished below.

• GDS [engaged on regular basis] having one year or more service shall be covered under the scheme. Thus, provisionally engaged and substitutes would not be eligible to be covered under the Scheme.
• Total five members of the family of the GDS including GDS will get coverage
• The Scheme covers existing health problems including those occurring subsequent to getting coverage
• The Scheme covers all health problems requiring hospitalization.
• GDS & his family members (maximum 5 in all) shall be entitled to coverage for expenses up to Rs. 30000 per annum.
• Tests and medicines one day prior to hospitalization and five days after discharge from hospital including treatment and Rs. 100 for travel expenses shall also be payable at the time of discharge subject to a maximum of Rs. 1000/- per year. The amount of travel expenses is inclusive in the total coverage of Rs. 30000.
• Annual premium per GDS & his family will be contributed equally by the GDS in advance and the Government
• On discharge on attaining the age of 65, GDS will be covered up till the last day of the existing policy and for the further coverage; GDS will have the option to avail the scheme at his own cost without any contribution from the Government. In case of death; they will only be covered till the last day of the existing policy. In case of absorption on regular posts, they will have the option to avail either the existing scheme or the CS (MA) Rules, 1944/CGHS facilities.
• The inpatient treatment shall be available through Government Hospitals and private hospitals empanelled by the insurance company. GDS or his/ her family members can use any hospital across India which is empanelled in RSBY
• The treatment will be through using a smart card carrying details and identification of GDS and his family members in any of the empanelled hospital at the choice of the GDS or his family member.
• The insurance company will directly make payment of the bill subject to overall limit of Rs. 30000/- per year for GDS and his family (all inclusive). Ministry of Labor and Employment has fixed the amount for various treatments and in most of the cases; the cost on treatment does not exceed the insured amount. However, in cases where the limit gets crossed, the amount over and above this limit shall be met by the GDS out of his pocket.
• Cost of smart card to the GDS and his family shall be borne by insurance company and will be part of the premium.
• Cost of registration fee of Rs. 30/- is paid to the SCSP [rep of insurance company], who collects it on behalf of the State Nodal Agency, at the time of registration and is to be borne by the GDS beneficiary over and above the premium contribution.