Page 12 - The Insurance Times November 2025

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The new fleet includes 40 ambulances
SBI General Insurance launches 'Health Alpha' with owned by the health department.
flexible coverage options
SBI General Insurance has introduced its flagship retail health insurance Centre revises CGHS rates
product, Health Alpha, offering customers over 50 coverage options and for 2,000 medical proce-
high flexibility to design customised plans. With the tagline Your Health. Your dures after a decade
Cover. Your Way., the product aims to make healthcare protection more
affordable and adaptable to individual needs. The Union Health Ministry has revised
rates for nearly 2,000 medical proce-
Health Alpha offers a wide range of sum insured options, from Rs.5 lakh to dures under the Central Government
unlimited coverage, and allows policyholders to opt for long-term plans of Health Services (CGHS) scheme for the
up to five years with tenure-based discounts. The entry age starts at 18 first time since 2014. The new struc-
years with no upper limit for adults, and from 91 days to 25 years for chil- ture, effective October 13, introduces
dren. a multi-dimensional rate framework

SBI General said the product is designed to help customers safeguard based on hospital accreditation, cat-
against rising medical costs while ensuring comprehensive protection. The egory, city classification, and ward en-
plan covers a broad range of medical and hospitalisation expenses and is titlement.
positioned as a step toward personalised and accessible health insurance in Earlier, rates varied only between
India. NABH-accredited and non-accredited
hospitals, causing complaints from
both patients and hospitals. Beneficia-
Bengal to deploy 110 am- gency care within a 25-km radius. ries said empanelled hospitals often
Subhanjan Das, Director of the Na- refused cashless treatment, forcing
bulances for highway acci- tional Health Mission (NHM), said, out-of-pocket payments. Hospitals ar-
dent response "This new ambulance service is an ef- gued that outdated rates ignored
The West Bengal government will soon fort to save lives during the golden medical inflation.
roll out 110 ambulances under the 108 hour. Pre-hospital care is the primary Under the revised system, semi-private
Emergency Response Service to pro- focus." rooms form the base for package
vide rapid medical aid to road accident In 2024, over 34,700 road accident vic- rates. Rates are 5% lower for general
victims along national and state high- tims were treated in the state, with ward entitlements and 5% higher for
ways. Of these, 35 ambulances will 15,356 cases reported by April 2025. private wards. Additionally, consulta-
have advanced life support systems, The government is also promoting the tions at NABH or NABL-accredited hos-
while 75 will offer basic life support. Good Samaritan policy to encourage pitals will follow standard base rates,

Each ambulance will be stationed at bystanders to assist accident victims while non-accredited hospitals will
50-km intervals and provide emer- without fear of legal repercussions. charge 15% less. The overhaul aims to

12 November 2025 The Insurance Times