SHILLONG: The state government has started working on the modalities for the transition of the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) to the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS), sources said on Monday.
If the transition takes place, the insurance cover, which is Rs 2.8 lakh under MHIS, will be increased to Rs 5 lakh.
However, the state Cabinet will take the final call on whether to follow its model of MHIS or co-brand it with NHPS, the sources said.
Another option is for those states which do not have any insurance scheme and they would straightaway take up the national scheme.
It may be mentioned that Megha Health Insurance Scheme is a universal health insurance scheme (UHIS) in the state utilising the existing RSBY framework to provide health cover to all residents of Meghalaya, excluding state and central government employees.
The MHIS Phase III has an enhanced insurance cover of Rs 2,80,000 for up to five members of a family on a floater basis.
Additionally, a senior citizen cover has been introduced whereby each enrolled senior citizen per smart card belonging to BPL and NREGA category will receive an additional insurance cover of Rs 30,000.
The enrollment fee for MHIS Phase III is Rs 50/- and the scheme does not have any age limit.
In addition, pre-existing diseases are also covered under this insurance scheme.
The insurance policy is valid for a period of one year, and beneficiaries are expected to renew their smart cards on a yearly basis by paying a nominal amount.
The smart cards provided in this scheme can only be used in MHIS empanelled hospitals across the state and other secondary and tertiary care hospitals which have been empanelled outside the state of Meghalaya.
