The national ceremony to mark the inauguration of the ‘Suraksha’ Insurance scheme introduced by the Education Ministry will be held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees today (October 2).
The Insurance scheme named Suraksha Sisu Rakshanaya is introduced under the theme Sada Surakimu Daye Daruwan.
The beneficiaries of this scheme will include a student population of nearly 4.5 million in the 5 to 19 age group.
“They include those attending government schools, assisted private schools, non assisted private schools, International schools and Pirivenas attended by Bhikkhus. Their registration in the insurance scheme is compulsory and all data files relating to them are now in the process of preparation,”Education Ministry sources said.
Students need not pay any premium towards this insurance because all such payments are made by the government. The government has initially allocated Rs.2,700 million towards this scheme under the 2017 budget and the scheme is handled by the Sri Lanka Insurance Cooperation.
The maximum annual cover for hospitalisation and medical services for a child is Rs.200,000. Expenditure upto Rs.100,000 will be reimbursed at a time for a child in respect of hospitalisation. Medical examinations fees without hospitalisation will also be reimbursed.
When a child obtains treatment from a government hospital, payment of Rs.100 per day will be paid for 30 days. When indoor treatment obtained from a government hospital a maximum of Rs.10,000 would be paid in respect of outside diagnostic laboratory tests.
If treatment is obtained from any private hospital registered with the Health Ministry, a maximum payment of Rs.100,000 will be paid at a given time. Children receiving treatment under the ‘Suraksha’ scheme will be entitled to a 20 percent discount on hospital charges and medical consultant fees.
This follows a discussion between the Education Minister and the Private Hospital Association and Consultant Medical Practitioners Association.
The maximum room charges for a day paid in respect of a private hospital, paying ward of a government hospital or a fee levying Ayurveda Hospital is Rs.5000. Maximum room charges paid for an annum will be Rs.60,000.
There is also provision to obtain insurance cover for treatment and doctors charges even without hospitalisation, as there is an annual cover upto a maximum of Rs.10,000 in respect of 7 types of illnesses. In the event of a death of a child due to an accident, Rs.100,000 will paid as compensation. In the event of a death of a parent, Rs.75,000 with be paid towards the child’s education. If a student suffers permanent disability Rs.100,000 will be paid as compensation while Rs.50,000 will be paid as compensation for partial disability.