Srinagar, Sept 20: Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday rolled out the group mediclaim health insurance scheme for employees, pensioners and accredited journalists in the state. Principal Secretary Finance Navin K Choudhary said the scheme is mandatory for government employees including employees of PSUs, autonomous bodies and universities while it will be optional for pensioners and other categories of employees and accredited journalists. The scheme shall come into effect from October 1, 2018, for a period of one year and is extendable annually for three years based on satisfactory performance of the insurer, he said. Choudhary said the policy has been tied up with Reliance General Insurance company on an annual premium of Rs 8,777 and Rs 22,229 for employees and pensioners, respectively. The policy will provide health insurance coverage of up to Rs six lakh per employee or pensioner per annum along with his or her five dependent family members on floater basis. Jammu and Kashmir: Authorities to Impose Restrictions in Srinagar to Prevent Muharram Procession.

He said the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and the accredited journalists of the state shall be also covered under the scheme. Choudhary said the insurance company will create a corporate buffer of Rs 10 crore as part of policy to meet the expenditure incurred on the identified illness over and above the insurance cover of Rs six lakh.