CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday launched the new Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, which would benefit 1.34 lakh families in Tamil Nadu, and handed over a cheque for Rs 183.64 crore towards the first quarterly insurance installment to United India Insurance Company Limited, which has been entrusted with implementing the scheme.Seven beneficiaries of the scheme received approval letters for treatment from the Chief Minister at the Secretariat on Wednesday.At least six hospitals in each district, and several more in cities like Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai—in total 250 hospitals—would be roped in to provide treatment under the scheme. The government’s annual spend on the insurance scheme will be Rs 750 crore.Persons requiring treatment would be identified primarily through the once-a-month health camps conducted by network hospitals as per directions of the Project Director of Tamil Nadu Health Systems Society. A new Health Insurance identity card which uses biometrics is being issued to all those who hold smart cards from the earlier scheme. This card must be shown at assistance counters at empanelled hospitals. Till such time new cards are issued, earlier smart cards can be used.After a liaison officer duly verifies details and authenticates the patient’s identity, the necessary pre-authorisation request for cashless facility would be submitted by the DMO of the hospital. The Project Officer would then approve the request, provided the surgical procedure or treatment required by the patient is within the ambit of scheme’s provisions. Even patients who have smart cards but were not identified through health camps can avail of the insurance benefit.The scheme is designed to cover 1,016 treatments, including treatment for infants, besides 113 follow-up treatments and 23 diagnostic procedures.
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