The health department of the Rajasthan government has moved to deal with complaints about hospitals charging patients even for ailments and procedures covered under the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojna that was launched in May this year, settling many claims and ensuring refund of the treatment charges in 267 such cases.
According to Aruna Rajoria, CEO, State Health Assurance Agency, Rajasthan, more than 1.6 lakh people have already availed cashless treatment under the scheme. “However, in a few cases, the patients were unduly charged by some hospitals. We are analysing the complaints and initiating refunds wherever necessary,” Rajoria said.
The scheme was launched on May 1, 2021, and has more than 80 per cent of the state’s citizens registered as beneficiaries. Since it arrived in the middle of the second wave of COVID-19, it was perceived as a big support to the people affected by the pandemic.
However, as it was a new scheme, several hospitals, and even beneficiaries were unaware of its provisions. Also, mucormycosis emerged as a major threat in the middle of the second COVID-19 wave and was subsequently added to the list of permitted procedures. According to Rajoria, this confusion resulted in several of the insured patients being unduly charged by some hospitals.
The health department has initiated measures to avoid such situations and accordingly consultants are being appointed at the empanelled hospitals to assist the beneficiaries and guide them to choose the most appropriate treatment options. A 24x7 call centre is also being operated by the health department to address any issue regarding the health insurance scheme.
The Chiranjeevi Scheme has more than 1.3 crore families registered as beneficiaries. It provides free cover to families included under the state National Food Security Act, beneficiaries as per the socio-economic survey conducted in 2011, COVID-19 ex-gratia list, contractual workers, and small and marginal farmers. The remaining state citizens can apply for the cover for their entire family at a charge of Rs 850 per year. Even in the case of paid members, the state government bears half of the premium amount.
