Insurance scheme for HIV/AIDS patients
Supriya Shelar
Thursday, May 06, 2010 AT 12:00 AM (IST)
PUNE: Here is a good news offering some relief for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). A unique health insurance scheme for PLHA in Maharashtra has successfully completed a year, in partnership with Network of Maharashtra by PLHA (NMP+), Population Services International (PSI)- a NGO and insurance company Star Health and Allied Insurance (SHAI).
Supriya Shelar
Thursday, May 06, 2010 AT 12:00 AM (IST)
PUNE: Here is a good news offering some relief for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). A unique health insurance scheme for PLHA in Maharashtra has successfully completed a year, in partnership with Network of Maharashtra by PLHA (NMP+), Population Services International (PSI)- a NGO and insurance company Star Health and Allied Insurance (SHAI).
The NMP+ has waited long for this insurance as none of the insurer or insurance company was earlier ready to offer a scheme solely meant for PLHAs. However, with the initiative of PSI and SHAI, the Connect Insurance for PLHA was started on experimental basis in March last year and the first group policy was drawn in May last year.
Speaking on the insurance scheme, insurance officer of PSI Arun Raut said, “Its a group policy that requires a group of at least 200 members. As its a pilot project, we have covered 817 PLHAs across the state, out of which 498 people have renewed the policy this year. The renewal rate is important for successful continuation of the scheme.”
After Karnataka, Maharashtra is the second state offering such a unique policy. Recently Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu also had introduced the scheme. Considering density of PLHA population and their connect with NMP+, the scheme is being implemented currently at 12 districts in the state including Pune, Sangali, Satara, Kolhapur, Raigad, Yavatmal, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Thane, Mumbai, Nagpur and Chandrapur.
The PLHAs already suffer financial and physical stresses, women and children being the worst victims. The members who joined the scheme include 60 per cent women, 40 per cent men and 15 per cent children suffering from HIV/AIDS. The insurance scheme aims to provide some relief to them.
However, the NGOs found it difficult to create awareness among PLHAs. According to project officer at Saheli, city-based NGO working for commercial sex workers (CSWs), Sarika Patil, it is difficult to convince the CSWs are not ready to invest some amount for their future and health. “After thorough sessions of consultation, only one CSW has joined the group,” she said. As far as Pune is concerned, around 150 PLHAs have joined the group insurance scheme. Out of them, 40 people have renewed the policy this year.
With the help of NGOs like Manvya, Udan, NMP+and CASP, PSI has been instrumental in creating awareness and making PLHAs to join the group insurance. In case of children and widows, nobody is ready to pay the premium, said Arun.
“In such cases we rely on sponsorships. We appeal to the society to donate for children living with HIV/AIDS, so that they also can benefit from the insurance. They may contact on 9850464511,” he added.
LIFE COVER
– Annual premium- Rs 1,511 (Rs 755 by client and Rs 756 by PSI)
– Insurance cover of Rs 30,000
– Patient can claim Rs 15,000, if his/her CD4 count below 100
– Rs 15,000 can be claimed for hospitalisation for any disease/illness, except TB
– At the time of joining the group policy , the CD4 count must be 300 or more
