Just three years ago only the elite class in Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed the privilege called health insurance. For a common man, health insurance was not even an option as he couldn't afford to pay hefty premiums of the insurance companies.
After the Centre scrapped the Article 370, a temporary provision in the Constitution, on August 5, 2019 and turned Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory, the government ended the discrimination between the elite class and the common people by implementing the Article 14 (Right to Equality) in letter and spirit in the Himalayan region. The idea was to ensure that no one remains deprived of the basic facilities which every Indian citizen enjoys.
The health insurance which used to be a privilege enjoyed by an elite class till 2019 was extended to every J&K denizen through Ayushman Bharat scheme which led to everyone getting covered without paying any premium to the insurance companies as the government chose to bear the burden so that no one is left out.
As on date 60 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir have been issued the "Golden Cards" and 16.36 lakh families have been provided with the health insurance under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogaya Yojana (PMJAY) and Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)-SEHAT schemes.
These schemes have removed the burden of out-of-pocket expenses and have turned the entire process of paying for healthcare cashless. All public and empanelled private hospitals have been directed not to charge any extra payment for medical care from all PMJAY beneficiaries.
Under AB-PMJAY and AB-PMJAY SEHAT, during the current policy period, 1,47,582 cases have already been benefited amounting to Rs 221.66 crore, out of which Rs 129.83 crore have already been paid to the hospitals by the insurance company, thus ensuring free of cost specialized treatment to all.
The beneficiaries under these schemes can seek treatment across the country. This scheme covers pre-existing illnesses and makes treatment mandatory in all public hospitals.
At present 97 per cent of the population of Jammu & Kashmir has insurance cover and the administration is spending Rs 2 crore everyday on the treatment of the common people.
(IANS)
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