Punjab State red-flags Modicare

Punjab became the first state in the country to red-flag various provisions of the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) when it refused to sign a pact with the Centre to implement the same. The state had several existing health insurance schemes and a new one was in the pipeline. Punjab’s major concern relates to the financial contribution of the state to the NHPS which says the Centre will share 60 per cent cost and the state 40 per cent. But the Centre will release 60 per cent of the national ceiling rate as determined by the Union Government and this rate is yet to be disclosed and shared with states. The state’s liability remained open-ended as it would be driven by actual premium rates after the tendering process, the Centre’s liability is fixed at 60 per cent of the pre-determined ceiling rates which are unknown.

Ongoing schemes in Punjab:
• Sanjivni Scheme offering cashless tertiary care treatment up to Rs 2 lakh to farmers
• Mukhyamantri Punjab Cancer Raahat Kosh Scheme offering up to Rs 1.5 lakh for treatment to each patient
• The Mukhyamantri Punjab Hepatitis C Relief Fund Scheme for free treatment
• Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana offering health cover of Rs 50,000 per annum per family, accidental death and disability benefit of Rs 5 lakh to the head of the family and fire insurance of Rs 5 lakh to small traders
• Health insurance for govt staff offering a cover of Rs 3 lakh per annum per family

By: Dr. Vivek Rana