Chennai, Aug 19:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday announced a fivefold increase in the annual coverage under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), raising the limit from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.
Making the announcement in the Assembly, Vijay said the enhanced coverage was aimed at ensuring that people could access quality medical treatment without being forced to bear a heavy financial burden.
The Chief Minister said healthcare should be treated as a fundamental right rather than a privilege and stressed that the government was committed to removing barriers to quality medical care, irrespective of a person’s income or place of residence.
Under the revised arrangement, beneficiaries enrolled under the government health insurance scheme will be eligible for coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh a year, providing greater financial protection for families requiring expensive medical treatment.
The government said the enhanced coverage was part of a broader effort to strengthen the State’s healthcare system and ensure that financial constraints did not prevent eligible families from accessing specialised treatment.
The increase assumes significance as the cost of hospitalisation, surgery and specialised medical procedures has risen substantially in recent years. The enhanced ceiling is expected to provide additional support to beneficiaries requiring high-cost treatment.
Vijay also indicated that the government would continue to focus on improving access to healthcare across Tamil Nadu, with particular emphasis on ensuring that geographical and economic barriers did not prevent people from obtaining necessary treatment.
The announcement was made under Rule 110 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, under which the Chief Minister can make statements on matters of public importance.