The world is currently dealing with a very deadly situation due to Coronavirus pandemic. Many establishments are temporarily closed and workers are unable to work. In line with the relief measures being extended by government to business entities and workers, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has undertaken following relief measures for its stakeholders, especially Employers and Insured Persons, besides strengthening its medical resources to fight COVID-19:
- Extension of time in filing ESI contribution: As a relief measure, the period for filing ESI contribution for the month of February and March was earlier extended to April 15 and May 15, respectively. Now, considering the hardship being faced by employers, the period for filing ESI contribution for the month of February has been further extended from earlier extended period (April 15 to May 15). No penalty or interest or damage will be levied on establishments during the extended period.
Besides these, following relief measures have been undertaken for Insured Persons and Beneficiaries:
- In order to ease hardship of ESI beneficiaries: Purchase of medicines by ESI beneficiaries from private chemists during the lockdown period and its subsequent reimbursement by ESIC has been permitted.
- A provision has also been issued for providing medical services to Insured Persons (IPs) and beneficiaries from tie-up hospitals if an ESIC hospital is declared as a dedicated COVID-19 hospital to cater exclusively to Coronavirus suspected or confirmed cases.
- ESI beneficiaries can be referred to tie-up hospitals for providing prescribed secondary/ SST consultation/ admission/ investigation during the period for which concerned ESIC hospital functions as a dedicated COVID-19 hospital. ESI beneficiary may also seek emergency/ non-emergency medical treatment from tie-up hospitals directly without a referral letter, in accordance with his/her entitlement.
- Medical Benefit is provided under Rule 60-61 to the Insured persons who cease to be in insurable employment on account of permanent disablement and to the retired Insured Persons on payment of advance lumpsum for a year at the rate of Rs 10 per month. Under the prevailing circumstances of lockdown, there may be cases where validity of medical benefit cards issued to these beneficiaries expire as these beneficiaries are unable to deposit the advance annual lumpsum due to the lockdown. Such beneficiaries have been allowed to avail medical benefit under Rule 60-61 of ESI (central rules) till June 30, 2020.
- A payment of Rs 41 crore (approx) in respect of Permanent Disablement Benefit and Dependants’ Benefit have been made to the bank accounts of beneficiaries in the month of March.