Thiruvananthapuram: Finance Minister K N Balagopal said the second phase of the Medisep health insurance scheme will bring more hospitals under its coverage, with knee and hip replacement surgeries now available in private hospitals. These procedures were earlier limited to government hospitals.

Cashless inpatient treatment will be offered in all empanelled hospitals. In emergencies such as road accidents, heart attacks and strokes, patients can seek treatment in non-empanelled hospitals, with costs reimbursed by the insurance provider.

Ten additional treatments have been included under the reimbursement benefit. Enhanced coverage for 10 high-risk and organ transplant surgeries will continue in the next phase, with the insurer setting aside ₹40 crore for two years. Package details and hospital network information will be published on the scheme’s website.

Key changes in Medisep Phase II

• Reimbursement will be provided for treatment at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology and JIPMER if these hospitals are not empanelled.

• Hospital bed allowance increased to ₹5,000 per day; pay ward rooms in government hospitals eligible for reimbursement up to ₹2,000 per day.

• Total treatment packages increased to 2,516, up from 1,920, covering medical and surgical procedures.

• All available categories in each hospital will be eligible for empanelment.

• Separate payments will be fixed for high-cost medicines and diagnostic tests, in addition to base package rates.

• Representatives from the Kerala Private Hospital Association and the Indian Medical Association will be included in the grievance redressal mechanism.

PTI inputs