Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Sep 24: The ‘Karnataka Arogya Sanjeevini Scheme’ (KASS), which provides cashless treatment for state government employees and their dependent family members, will officially come into effect from October 1.

Although the scheme was formulated several years ago, its implementation was delayed due to technical reasons. Finally, the department of personnel and administrative reforms has issued an order fixing the implementation date.

Around 5.20 lac state government employees, three lac staff from corporations, boards, and aided institutions, along with their dependent family members, will benefit from the scheme. Unlike the previous Jyothi Sanjeevini scheme, which extended medical benefits only to the parents of male employees, this new scheme will also cover the parents of female employees.

The Suvarna Karnataka Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) will be responsible for implementing the scheme. All categories of employees are required to pay their monthly contributions. Those who do not wish to be covered under the scheme must submit written objections through their superiors by October 18, the order states.

In cases where both husband and wife are government employees, only one contribution needs to be deducted from either salary, based on their decision communicated to their superior officers. For employees of other government institutions not covered under HRMS, the respective institutions must deduct the contribution and remit it directly to the Trust’s account. The contribution of all employees under the scheme will be deducted from the October salary and credited to the Trust account through Treasury–2.

Government employees can avail cashless treatment in public hospitals, teaching hospitals, local body hospitals, as well as private hospitals registered under the scheme. As the process of enrolling additional private hospitals is underway, the government has extended the reimbursement facility for six months to ensure that employees’ medical needs are not affected in the meantime. Employees who make advance payments for treatment can claim reimbursement under this provision.

Under the Karnataka Arogya Sanjeevini Scheme, employees will receive free cashless treatment for 1,200 types of diseases. Agreements have already been signed with 500 private hospitals, and the process is ongoing to expand the network to 1,000 hospitals within the next six months.