Star Health emerges lowest bidder in TN health insurance scheme

Star Health Insurance has emerged as the lowest bidder in the Tamil Nadu health insurance scheme.
 
The company had initially quoted a premium of Rs 510 per family. This was reduced to Rs 508 after negotiations with the state government, according to an official close to the development.
 
Bids for the scheme were called for in July. The size of the health insurance contract is Rs 650 crore.
 
"Normally the bidder with the lowest quote gets the contract. But it is the state government's call. An announcement is expected anytime now," said the official.
 
Incidentally, Star Health had bagged the contract in the previous government's Kalaignar health insurance scheme too, with the lowest bid of Rs 469.
 
The Tamil Nadu health insurance scheme, for which Rs 150 crore has been allotted, extends medical cover up to Rs 4 lakh (for four years) - up from Rs 1 lakh in the Kalaignar scheme. It covers 950 types of medical treatment compared with 642 types in with the previous scheme.
 
The coverage will be up to Rs 1 lakh per family per year with provision to pay up to Rs 1.5 lakh per year per family for certain specified procedures.
 
The Project Director, Tamil Nadu Health Systems Society, will pay the insurance premium on behalf of the eligible persons to the successful bidder. The premium will be paid every year in four quarterly instalments.