The Arunachal Pradesh government has extended cashless health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year to retired government employees under the Chief Minister Arogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAAY).
According to the notification, the state’s pensioners can voluntarily enrol in the scheme, with ward entitlement for treatment determined based on the last pay scale drawn at the time of retirement. Eligible pensioners can apply through the official portal, www.cmaay.com.
Launched on 15 August, 2018, the CMAAY is a flagship initiative of the state’s Health and Family Welfare Department, and is designed to provide cashless healthcare services to the state’s indigenous population and government employees.
Meanwhile, senior citizens above 70 can opt for either the Ayushman Vay Vandana Scheme, which provides cashless coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year at nearly 30,000 empanelled hospitals across the country, or the CMAAY.
In the absence of social security or even a decent pension scheme, such initiatives are a big relief for retired government employees. With health facilities in private hospitals unaffordable and public hospitals overloaded, financial help in the form of health coverage is crucial. Often, retirees struggle financially, especially those from the lower rungs. The government must ensure that it has robust services and guarantee that there is no uncertainty surrounding cashless coverage.