Over 3.2 lakh families enrolled under Mizoram's Universal Healthcare Scheme: Official

Aizawl, Sep 6 (PTI) More than 3.2 lakh beneficiary families have been enrolled under phase two of the Mizoram Universal Healthcare Scheme (MUHCS), officials said on Sunday.

The government has also disbursed over Rs 271 crore towards treatment bills under the scheme's first two phases since 2025, they said.

Of the 3.2 lakh families enrolled, 48,091 are general beneficiaries, 35,325 government employees, 11,928 pensioners and 2,26,899 beneficiaries are those covered under the Centre's AB-PMJAY, which is converged with MUHCS, they said.

Under MUHCS 1.0 (2025-26), more than 1 lakh patients were treated, with the government releasing Rs 171.57 crore towards treatment expenses, officials said.

Around 4,772 patients were referred outside Mizoram for treatment under the scheme during the same period, they said.

Under MUHCS 2.0, at least 31,832 patients had received treatment as of August 24 this year, while Rs 99.60 crore had been disbursed towards treatment bills.

The current Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) administration headed by Chief Minister Lalduhoma launched MUHCS 1.0 in March last year to provide cashless treatment at government facilities, as well as empanelled private and church-run hospitals in and outside the state.

The second phase of the healthcare scheme was unveiled by Chief Minister Lalduhoma in March this year.

The scheme provides up to Rs 5 lakh health cover to general beneficiaries on payment of an annual fee or premium based on their choice of ward - Rs 2,500 for general ward, Rs 5,000 for semi-private cabin, and Rs 10,000 for private cabin.

Government employees, including contractual and muster-roll staff, contribute a monthly fee ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 1,500 based on their pay scales to avail of unlimited cover.

Pensioners and their spouses can also avail up to Rs 2 lakh cover per financial year on surrendering their fixed medical allowance of Rs 1,000 per month as subscription under the scheme.

Besides, state-run hospitals or health facilities, a total of 20 private hospitals and 5 day care centres in Mizoram, and 53 private hospitals outside the state are currently empanelled under the healthcare scheme, officials said.

Apart from them, there are 11 deemed empanelled hospitals outside the state, they said.

However, some leading private hospitals in Aizawl are yet to join the scheme as the government and hospitals have not reached an agreement over package rates, officials said.

Officials said it has no outstanding dues to empanelled hospitals under the scheme, though some bills are currently under process.

These include bills amounting to Rs 1.35 crore from 13 state-run public hospitals within Mizoram, Rs 2.41 crore from three empanelled private hospitals within the state and Rs 2.45 crore from two empanelled private hospitals outside Mizoram.

Besides hospital claims, 1,757 individual reimbursement claims amounting to Rs 18.95 crore are under process, they said.

Officials said that MUHCS bills are being settled in phases and efforts are being made to ensure payments are released at the earliest.