Enrollment in Rajiv Gandhi Health Insurance Scheme (RGSSBY) crosses 19 lakh members
First health insurance scheme in India giving cashless access for day-to-day OPD (outpatient) treatment; Cashless health facility network grows to 860 OPD Centres and 2,863 hospitals and clinics; Over 6 lakh beneficiaries avail of RGSSBY's cashless facility in 2008-09
-- The number of individuals insured under Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana (RGSSBY) - the first ever 'cashless' health insurance initiative for Artisans in India - crossed 19 lacs as on September 30, 2009.
Artisans spread over 29 states and 608 districts benefit from this comprehensive health insurance scheme facilitated by the Development Commissioner- Handicrafts under the Ministry of Textiles. All Artisans (men and women) up to the age of 80 years are eligible for coverage. Under this innovative government sponsored health insurance scheme the Artisan, spouse and two dependents are covered annually for hospitalization expenses up to Rs.15,000. The principal member Artisan is also covered for Rs 1 lakh due to personal accident.
For the first time in the country a health insurance scheme is giving access to cashless treatment for OPD (outpatient) treatment. The network of 860 OPD centres includes selected clinics that provide day-to-day treatment on a cashless basis to the Artisans including alternative therapies such as Unani, Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Siddha. The insured Artisans can also get access to cashless hospitalization in over 2,683 network hospitals across urban and rural India. Nearly 6 lakh policy holders this year availed of RGSSBY's unique 'cashless' facility.
The RGSSBY health scheme is underwritten by ICICI Lombard General Insurance and covers comprehensive pre and post-hospitalization expenses for the Artisan, his/her spouse and two children/dependants/parents. The medical expenses cover pre-existing diseases, new ailments, maternity benefits, dental treatment, eye treatment, spectacles, domiciliary hospitalization and alternative therapies like Ayurvedic, Unani, Homeopathic and Siddha. Artisans are also entitled to personal accident coverage for themselves.
Notes to Editor
About ICICI Lombard General Insurance
ICICI Lombard is a 74:26 joint venture between ICICI Bank Limited, India's second largest bank with USD 75 billion in assets and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, a Canada based USD 27 billion diversified financial services company engaged in general insurance, reinsurance, insurance claims management and investment management.
ICICI Lombard is the largest private sector general insurance company in India with a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of Rs. 34,198.4 million for the year ended March 31, 2009.
The company presently has around 4,777 employees in 357 branches. In the financial year ended March 31, 2009, the company issued over 4 million policies and serviced over 33 lakh claims. The company has a claim disposal ratio of 97% (percentage of claims) settled against claims reported) as on March 31, 2009
The company has been assigned a domestic rating of iAAA by ICRA (an associate of Moody's Investors Service) for highest claim paying ability and a fundamentally strong position. ICICI Lombard Auto Insurance has been rated highest in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power Asia Pacific in India among 11 auto insurance providers. The company has been conferred the Golden Peacock- Eco Innovation Award of 2009 for weather insurance and the Customer and Brand Loyalty award in the "Insurance Sector - Non-Life" at the 2nd Loyalty awards, 2009. It was awarded the 'General Insurance Company of the Year' at the 11th Asia Insurance Industry Awards. The company also won the NDTV Profit Business Leadership Award 2007 and was adjudged as the most Customer Responsive Company in the Insurance category at the Economic Times Avaya GlobalConnect Customer Responsiveness Award 2006. It has the Gold Shield for "Excellence in Financial Reporting" by the ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) for the year ended March 31, 2006.
ICICI Lombard allows instant policy issuance and renewal through its website www.icicilombard.com for all retail insurance products including Car Insurance, Health Insurance, Travel Insurance, Two Wheeler Insurance and Home Insurance. There are multiple payment options available including internet banking, credit card, debit card and cash card.
For more details about the company, log on to the website www.icicilombard.com