Health insurance premium under UHIS to cost less: Chidambaram

Chennai, Sep 5 (UNI) Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has announced reduction in the cost of health insurance premiium under the Universal Health Insurance Scheme(UHIS) from today to attract more people.

Mr Chidambaram made this announcement speaking at the inaugural function of the Apoll Hospital's Reach Hospital scheme and said ''for an individual, the premium cost under UHIS was Rs 365 per annum and from today it would cost Rs 300.'' He said for a family of five members, the premium which cost Rs 548 per annmum has been reduced to Rs 450 per annum and for a family of seven members, it has been reduced from Rs 730 per annum to Rs 600 per annum.

He said the age limit under the UHIS would also be increased to 70 years from 68 years. The pre existing diseases which were not included earlier have also been included under UHIS and the maternity benefit also extended from today.

''There is no substitute for comprehensive health system. We must bring together public medical system and private health care as only this would provide modern finance, modern technology and modern information systems'', he observed.

Mr Chidambaram lauded the Apollo Hospital for their endeavour to reach world class health care to all sections of the society since the last 25 years.

The Reach Hospital scheme is a new milestone in this endeavour, he also observed.

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