Health insurance scheme for working scribes in Andhra

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Sunday launched a health insurance scheme for working journalists in Andhra Pradesh.

This is considered to be the first of its kind insurance scheme in the country exclusively for journalists.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said, "The government was examining the possibility of introducing another insurance scheme for the poor in the state who are unable to meet the high cost of healthcare."

The group mediclaim policy was devised by the information and public relations (I&PR) department along with the United India Insurance Company Limited.

The policy covers hospitalisation expenses arising out of accident, illness and disease.

The policy also covers room rent, nursing expenses, surgeons fees, diagnostic charges and cost of medicines.

The policy covers a family of one plus three with a sum insured which could be availed by any one or all the four members.

The scheme is open to people in the age group of three months to 65 years.

Pre-hospitalisation expenses of up to 30 days and after discharge up to 60 days are also covered in the policy. The chief minister said the total cost of the health insurance coverage for the selected 2,500 journalists was Rs 47 lakh.

Of this, the state government would contribute Rs 40 lakh and the balance amount would be collected from the journalists.

K Sreenivasa Reddy, secretary-general of Indian journalists union, urged the authorities to examine the possibility of also including the parents of journalists under the scheme.