Tripura Government has decided to bring the government accredited journalists under the coverage of the Health Insurance scheme.
“The council of ministers on Wednesday approved a health insurance scheme for the government-accredited journalists”, Minister for Information and Cultural Affairs Sushanta Chowdhury said while announcing the Cabinet decisions in Agartala on Wednesday.
Detailing the Scheme, the Minister said, ““Under this scheme, the journalists will get coverage of maximum Rs. 3 lakh for healthcare in a year. The state government will bear 80 percent of the cost and the beneficiaries will have to contribute the remaining 20 percent,” Chowdhury told the reporters.
All the accredited journalists across the State will benefit from this, he said and added, “The cabinet decision reflected the government’s goal for the welfare of the journalists.
As per the guidelines, the journalists who are Indian citizens and aged between 21 and 65 years and accredited with the ICA department are eligible for the health insurance scheme. The journalists, who are covered under the central government’s health scheme or Ayushman Bharat, would not get the benefit, he said.
The state government will sign an agreement with the insurance company so that the journalists of our state do not have to face financial difficulties while undergoing treatment for critical diseases.
According to Chowdhury, at present, there are total 170 accredited journalists in the state. The journalists, who would get accreditation in the coming days, would also get the benefit, he mentioned.
Chowdhury also said the health insurance will provide financial assistance to eligible journalists to meet the cost of hospital bed rent, consultancy fees, medicines, surgery, ambulance services, and expenses incurred for other medical needs.
The concerned insurance company will pay for the medical expenses to the concerned hospital for the treatment of the journalist.