ICICI Lombard bags Goa contract

PANAJI: ICICI Lombard has successfully fended off competition from six other bidders to emerge as the implementing agency for the new health insurance scheme launched by Goa, State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane announced on Monday.

Rane said that ICICI Lombard had quoted the lowest premium for the scheme, which will cover more than 3.5 lakh households, with each family comprising five or less members. The scheme will come into effect from September this year.

Among the other six bidders were National Insurance Company, Royal Sundaram and TATA AIG.

Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had launched the scheme during the recent state Budget, under which every household would be eligible for preliminary and secondary health-care up to Rs 60,000 annually.

Rane told reporters in Panaji that cashless cards would be provided to the beneficiaries, who can approach any of the listed hospitals and get treatment, including admission, absolutely free. Only people living in Goa for the last five years would be eligible.

Rane claimed that Goa would become the first state to implement such an insurance scheme for the people. The state is already providing super-specialty treatment to the population under its medi-claim scheme.