Though in a recent decision, the state cabinet has made U- health card scheme compulsory for all state government employees and pensioners, the real benefit of the health insurance scheme would be delivered only when sufficient numbers of hospitals are included in the panel of the insurance scheme. To provide the benefit of cashless health insurance to its employees and pensioners the state government launched the U -health card scheme on October 25, 2010. The scheme was made optional for the employees but mismanagement and delay in payment ensured that both the employees and the hospitals preferred to keep a distance from this scheme. At present there are only eleven hospitals in the state and two located in National Capital Region that are in the panel of the scheme (Medanta Medicity Gurgaon and National Heart Institute New Delhi). The Mahant Indiresh hospital, which is one of the biggest private health centre of state decided to opt out of the scheme two months ago delivering a blow the scheme. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the hospital Bhupendra Raturi said that a payment of Rs one crore is pending under the scheme.
The state cabinet which met on December 17 took an important decision of making the scheme compulsory for all employees and forming a special team to cater its different dimension.
The Joint Director of Health department and in-charge of U- health card cell, Dr J P Devshali told The Pioneer the cards of about 15000 employees and pensioners have been made till date. He accepted that some problems have occurred in past due to which the scheme failed to evoke desired response. Dr Devshali said that a demand of Rs 17.22 Crore till date has been raised by the empanelled hospital till date and a payment of Rs 7.50 crore has been released. He said that efforts are being made to include more hospitals in the list of panel so that the scheme serves the purpose for which it was entailed.
“ The cashless health insurance scheme would be effective only when more hospitals are added under it. Before making it compulsory the government should add multi specialty health centres like HIHT Jolly Grant and Max hospital Dehradun in the panel otherwise the scheme is of no use for the employees,’’ said Navin Rawat a teacher posted in Chakrata block of Dehradun.
Under the scheme an annual premium of Rs 5000 is charged from the employee having grade pay in excess of Rs 6600 while those getting a grade pay of Rs 4200 to Rs 5400 a sum of Rs 3500 is charged. The employees getting grade pay of Rs 1900 and 1800 need to shell out Rs 1500 while those receiving less are liable to pay only Rs 700 per year. The pensioners are also accorded the benefit of the scheme. Under the U health card the card holders and their families are accorded unlimited cashless medical reimbursement in the empanelled hospitals.