CM to launch health insurance for BPL families on April 19

The Andhra Pradesh government is coming up with a health insurance scheme for farmers, artisans and poor families at a highly subsidised insurance premium.

The scheme, is expected to be launched by chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on April 19, 2006.

The scheme envisages providing health insurance cover to up to 40 lakh enrolled BPL(below poverty line) families. The diseases to be covered under the scheme would be finalised in a couple of days, an official press release said.

The services of self-help groups would also be utilised for enrolment, the press release added. The scheme is being worked out on the lines of Centre's Universal Health Insurance Scheme(UHIS).

The chief minister reviewed the proposed health insurance scheme with the ministers of health, rural development and tribal development here on Friday.

He instructed the officials to undertake a statewide campaign for sensitising and identifying BPL families immediately after the launch of the health insurance scheme.