Goa to rework universal health insurance by 2013

Panaji, Nov 9 (IANS) Over 14 lakh Goans residing in the state would get health insurance cover of up to Rs.2 lakh per family by the next year, Health Minister Laxmikant Parsenkar said Friday.

“From a Rs.60,000 coverage per family, which was provided by the last government, we have re-negotiated a better deal of Rs.2 lakh per family,” Parsenkar told reporters here.

In 2011, Goa became the first state in the country to introduce universal health insurance scheme. The then Congress-led coalition government tied up with ICICI-Lombard to provide a yearly cover of Rs.60,000 to every Goan family of five in return for a minimal registration amount.

However, allegations of corruption levelled against the then health minister Vishwajeet Rane by the opposition made the scheme a dud. The allegations included undervalution of the cover, selectively choosing hospitals as partners and the inability of the insurers to reach the people to register.

Parsenkar claimed that the re-negotiated deal would work because Goans would now get more insurance cover at most private hospitals in the state.

“We are looking at roping in most of the private clinics, so that patients would be able to choose a hospital for their care from several available options,” Parsenkar said.

IANS 2012-11-09 18:28:04