Jorhat, Sept. 19: The Assam government has decided to extend the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, a health insurance scheme for below poverty line (BPL) families, to 18 districts of the state.

The scheme already covers five districts — Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Kokrajhar — where it was introduced two years ago under the National Rural Health Mission, Assam.

Sources in the health department said the government had decided to extend the scheme to 18 districts following its successful implementation in these five districts.

The scheme is being launched in Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Morigaon, Dima Hasao, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur and Tinsukia in accordance with the Centre’s recommendation.

It will be renewed in the five existing districts and is expected to benefit 42,69,633 BPL people in the 23 districts.

Under the scheme, BPL families are given smart cards, which they can use to avail free treatment up to Rs 30,000 a year. The beneficiaries are also entitled to avail free services in private hospitals and nursing homes registered under the scheme.

In return, all a beneficiary family has to do is pay Rs 30 per annum as registration or renewal fee.

The sources said families comprising a maximum of five members — the household head, spouse and three dependants — could avail the scheme.

The dependants include those members who are listed as part of the family in the district’s BPL database.

Moreover, the sources said, the scheme provides cashless treatment to the beneficiaries, except for a transport allowance of Rs 100 per hospitalisation, which is provided by the hospital concerned at the time of discharge. The transport allowance has a ceiling of Rs 1,000 per annum for each family.

The scheme covers hospitalisation expenses for medical or surgical procedures, including maternity benefit. The benefits are on floater basis, which means treatment costing up to Rs 30,000 can be availed individually or collectively by members of the family every year.

The scheme provides coverage for 22 types of medical procedures shortlisted by the government.

Sources said all government hospitals (including community health centres) and ESI hospitals were eligible for empanelment under the scheme if they possessed the facilities specified by the scheme.

These facilities include Internet or any other connectivity to the insurance company’s server, a computer, smart card readers and fingerprint verification machines. An operational pharmacy and diagnostic test services should also be available on the premises or in the vicinity of the hospital.

Private hospitals and health facilities are also eligible for empanelment if they fulfil the specified norms, one of which is having at least 10 beds.

NRHM executive director (Assam) M. Medhi said preparations were under way for implementing the scheme in 23 districts, including renewal in the five districts.