Goa to re-negotiate mediclaim scheme with insurer

Panaji, July 9 (IANS) The Goa government will re-negotiate the terms and conditions of its mediclaim insurance scheme with ICICI Lombard and re-launch it within the year, Health Minister Laxmikant Parsenkar said Monday.

Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters here, Parsenkar said the health ministry was planning to up the health cover ceiling from Rs.60,000 to Rs.2 lakh as part of the negotiations.

"We will be re-negotiating with the ICICI (Lombard) company and raise the limit to Rs.2 lakh. They should be in a position to agree. If they don't then we will look for another service provider," Parsenkar said.

Unveiled in September last year, the Swarnajayanti mediclaim scheme aims to provide universal health insurance coverage to all the 3.5 lakh households in Goa with less than five members.

The scheme, which is the first to be implemented in any Indian state, however, hit a roadblock after several private clinics in the state refused to accept the terms and conditions, calling them unviable.

"We will also be taking into confidence all the private clinics and nursing homes during the negotiations, Parsenkar said.