Sixth Pay Commission suggests health insurance boost

The Pay Commission has recommended introduction of a health insurance scheme for employees and pensioners. The scheme would be available on voluntary basis subject to paying the prescribed contribution.
Contributions would be based on the actual premium paid. Group A, B and C employees would contribute 30%, 25% and 20% of the annual premium respectively with the government paying the remainder. The scheme has been recommended for government employees other than those working in railways. However, railways and defence, who have their own medical infrastructure, should also devise a similar scheme for their employees, the report suggested.
The commission said the insurance scheme would be compulsory for government employees who join service after the introduction of the scheme while new retirees would automatically get covered.
The new recruits and pensioners will consequently not be provided CGHS or such facilities. The new recruits and new retirees may be paid an appropriate amount for meeting their OPD expenditure till the time an insurance scheme for providing OPD facilities is devised.