Bangalore: Nearly 34 lakh Above Poverty Line (APL) families were deprived of subsidised foodgrains when the Siddaramaiah government launched its flagship programme—Anna Bhagya— last July. However, the Congress government now seems to be making amends for it by promising a free health insurance scheme for them.
The State government launched a new scheme — Rajiv Arogya Bhagya, which will extend free health insurance benefit to nearly 29 lakh APL families (covering a population of 1.12 crore). The new scheme is similar to Vajpayee Arogya Shree — a health scheme for the poor launched in 2009, which currently covers a population of four crore belonging to BPL families.
While both schemes will be implemented and monitored by the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), the new scheme for APL cardholders insists that the beneficiary pay 10 per cent of the total cost of treatment.
Health minister U.T. Khader said, "Rajiv Arogya Bhagya will provide cover for seven chronic illnesses — cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological diseases, renal problems, burns, poly trauma cases and neo-natal cases. The scheme covers nearly 447 medical and surgical procedures and 50 follow-up packages, which can be availed at 160 hospitals.
