Kathmandu, May 18

The government had already implemented the public health insurance plan according to which a family of five members can sign up for the programme by paying Rs 2,500 in advance annually and claim up to Rs 50,000 worth medical treatment expenses per year. Now, the government has decided to increase the insurance claim amount to Rs 100,000.

According to Ramesh Kumar Pokhrel, director of Health Insurance Board, the premium amount to be paid by a family is Rs 2,500 per year. However, Rs 3,500 has been fixed for a family having more than five members as insurance premium and they will be entitled to health facilities worth up to Rs 200,000.

He also informed that the government had decided to provide health facilities worth Rs 100,000 to senior citizens above 70 years without any premium.

“Senior citizens above 70, people with disability and impoverished citizens are provided health facilities without having to pay premium,” said Pokhrel.

Health Insurance Board is planning to make health insurance mandatory for people working in the private sector too.

The health insurance programme has covered 44 districts till now. “We will cover all 77 districts within this year,” said Pokhrel.

Under the insurance scheme, the insured will enjoy services such as nutrition, psychological counselling, vaccination, family planning, safe motherhood, OPD and emergency services.