Punjab Govt. withdraws Cashless Health Insurance Scheme – resentment among serving and retired employees
Ferozepur, December 30, 2016: In a sudden move on the last working of the year 2016, The Punjab Government has withdrawn the Cashless Health Insurance Scheme known as Punjab Government Employees and Pensioners Health Insurance Scheme 1st January, 2017 which benefited 6.50 lakh employees and pensioners for more than one year in lieu of existing policy of reimbursement of the medical expenses. There is a great resentment among the existing and retired employees.
However, in the recent orders, the policy of reimbursement of the medical expenses would continue prior to introduction of cashless health insurance scheme. Even the employee admitted on 31st December, 2016 and continue for treatment further would be paid by the insurance company.
Speaking to this correspondent, S.S.Sethi, Balwinder Azad, Inder Singh Gogia retirees from Punjab Government showed resentment over withdrawal of the scheme.
The development has put a question mark on the credibility of the Punjab Government on withdrawal of the scheme which was notified in October last year, especially when the Assembly elections are ahead.
Sources said, the Oriental Insurance Corporation, which was given the contract to this significant move to insure Punjab’s employees and pensioners for providing cashless treatment in 350 hospitals, has conveyed to the state Health Department that it may not be able to continue offering services on account of huge losses.
The financial constraints with the Punjab Government seems to be major reason. The bills generated for the treatment offered to around 32,000 employees and pensioners by the empanneld hospitals for claimed Rs,90 crore from the Insurance Company in just six months of the introductions of the schemes look gto be higher side as compared to the actual reimbursement bills
More-over, the insurance company has refused to enrol new 3500 beneficiaries after April 30 though the Cabinet had extended the date of enrolment of lef tover cases from April 30 to June 30.
It is said that claims filed by hospitals were quite high as compared to the premium in spite of the fact that insurance company earn profit at some places while suffer losses at other places which is actually insurance business is.
Since the agreement was only up to the end of this year, the same has not been extended, the scheme has to be withdrawn.
The local empanelled hospital and insurance company officials refused to comment on generation of heavy amount bills.
