Date:01/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/01/stories/2007040106011000.htm

National

Health insurance for handicraft artisans

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Union Textiles Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela on Saturday launched a comprehensive health insurance scheme for handicraft artisans formulated in collaboration with ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company.

Under the scheme, up to four members of an artisan's family will be eligible for health insurance coverage of up to Rs. 15,000 per year. The scheme will cover all pre-existing diseases also apart from maternity expenses limited to first two childbirths. In addition, it will cover outpatient treatment as well as treatment under ayurveda, homeopathy, siddha and unani systems of medicines too, besides allopathy.

The insured artisans and their families can avail treatment in any hospital covered under the scheme without having to pay any bill. In case, the treatment is availed of in a hospital not covered under the scheme, the expenditure will be reimbursed later.

The scheme also carries a personal accident cover of Rs. 1 lakh in case of death or total and irrecoverable loss of any limb of the insured artisan. Artisans belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, below the poverty line and the north-eastern region will be required to contribute Rs. 100 per year per family, while others will have to contribute Rs. 200 per year per family.