Page 15 - Insurance Times August New 2023
P. 15

Maharashtra  ready  to             cobranded card.
           SMS hosp incurs  huge
                                            implement health cover-            The number of ailments covered will
           losses due to ‘abscond-                                             increase from 996 to 1,949 ailments
                                            age for all citizens
           ing’ patients                                                       and the number of hospitals covered
                                            Maharashtra is set to roll out a health  will increase from 1,000 institutions to
           Patients are knowingly or unknow-
                                            cover for all its citizens, a first of its  about 1,200, he said.
           ingly causing revenue loss to Sawai
                                            kind, top health authorities said.
           Man Singh (SMS) Hospital and also                                   Maharashtra will be a first in covering
           even  to  the  state  government.  As  the  Centre's  Ayushman  Bharat  all its citizens, he said, adding that
           Many patients getting admitted to  Pradhan  Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana  other States have either the Centre's
           SMS  Hospital  for treatment  ab-  (ABPMJAY) and the State's own Ma-  Ayushman Bharat  cover,  or a local
           sconded without informing the doc-  hatma  Jyotirao  Phule  Jan  Arogya  cover running along with the Central
           tors and hospital administration.  Yojana  (MJPJAY) come together,  the  scheme, but this was only for people
                                            expanded cover will see an increase in  with lower economic means.
           The patients undergo treatment at
                                            the number of beneficiaries, hospitals
           the SMS Hospital and without com-
                                            and procedures covered, MJPJAY act-
           pleting the formalities of getting dis-                             Medical insurance premi-
                                            ing  Chief  Executive  Officer,  Vinod
           charged from the hospital in a proper
                                            Bondre, said.                      ums surge 10-25% due to
           way, they abscond from the hospital.
                                            A new health insurance company will rising costs, demand
           “If a patient has left the hospital or
                                            be  appointed  for  this  expanded  Premiums of medical insurance policies
           absconded, the hospital does not
                                            scheme, Bondre told, adding that the  have risen 1025 per cent over the last
           get the claim of amount spent on
                                            entire due diligence process will be  year, led by medical inflation, techno-
           his treatment by the insurance com-
                                            completed shortly.                 logical  innovation,  and  increased
           pany roped in by the state govern-
                                                                               awareness of healthcare facilities.
           ment under Chiranjeevi Health In-  The universal  health  plan  was  an-
           surance Scheme. It is a major con-  nounced last week when Union Health  The increase by standalone health in-
           cern for us,” said Dr Achal Sharma,  Minister Mansukh Mandaviya was in  surers has been much higher at 1520
           medical superintendent, Sawai Man  the State.                       per cent, whereas for general insur-
           Singh Hospital.                                                     ance companies  it has been  slightly
                                            Currently, the State scheme provides a
           The hospital has come to know that  health insurance cover of Rs. 1.5 lakh  lower at 1015  per cent due to their
           there are cases of patients getting  for 2.2 crore citizens. But with the  relatively diversified portfolios, said in-
                                                                               dustry players.
           surgeries done here but go to pri-  expanded scheme, all citizens in the
           vate hospital for post-operative care  State will be eligible for a  Rs. 5lakh  "The cost of healthcare services has
           after absconding from SMS Hospital.  cover, irrespective of their ration card  increased yearonyear, driven by tech-
           In some cases, they abscond with-  colour, he said, indicating about 12.5  nology enhancements and other costs
           out completing the treatment.    crore people would be covered on a  such  as  medicines, medical  treat-

            12     August 2023   The Insurance Times
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