The AP government is working to provide free health insurance to all the people of the state soon. Proposals have already been prepared for this. If this policy comes into effect, permission for treatment can be obtained within 6 hours. The proposals will be discussed in a high-level review meeting soon and an official decision will be taken.
In accordance with this, a tender is going to be called for identifying one unit from the joint Srikakulam to Krishna district and another unit from Guntur to Rayalaseema districts. Treatment worth Rs. 25 lakhs per year is currently being provided free of cost under the NTR Medical Service Trust.
The tender document has been prepared to provide a free insurance facility to all the people without any annual limit or other conditions in the new insurance policy. The current annual limit of Rs. 25 lakhs for medical services per family will continue as is. However, the tender will be called for providing free medical services of Rs. 2.5 per year. The NTR Medical Service Trust will bear the cost of the treatment.
Currently, 97 percent of the people in the state receive treatments costing less than Rs.2.5 lakhs per year. After the decision is made in the presence of CM Chandrababu Naidu, there are chances that the insurance policy will come into effect from April or May this year.
Currently, those with an annual income of less than Rs. 5 lakhs are receiving free medical services through the trust. There are 43 lakh families in this scope. There are 8.5 lakh people, including state government employees and pensioners. Each employee and pensioner pays about Rs. 7,000 per year under the insurance scheme. Journalists are also paying premiums.
Proposals have been prepared to apply the insurance policy to all the rest, excluding those on the premium-paying list. In the tender process, it is decided to give priority for government hospitals. Currently, it takes up to 24 hours to get prior approval for a patient’s treatment through the trust. Under the insurance system, approval for the start of treatment is available within 6 hours.
Currently, 3,257 types of treatments are available, including 30 types of specialties. These will continue to be available. This includes 1,949 types of treatments available under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. It is estimated that the premium to be paid by the government on behalf of each family may be up to Rs. 2,500.
