SENIOR SPEAK

Seniors under CGHS Denied Treatment at Govt Hospitals

I am very happy to note the interest shown by our Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare towards senior citizens, published in the December issue of the Voice of Dignity. At the convocation of AIIMS, the minister strongly advised people to make the senior citizens their focus of special concern. I want to bring to the notice of our Health Minister that a large number of senior citizens (retirees from the central government services), who are covered under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), are now completely denied medical treatment at govt-recognised hospitals, such as Karuna Hospital, Nanavati Hospital etc. The ailing senior citizens between the age group 70-85 years who are the beneficiaries of CGHS are facing great difficulties due to this decision of the CGHS authorities.

I want to appeal to the Union Minister through this column of the Voice of Dignity to revive the medical facilities at the recognized hospitals in Mumbai.

- Rajan K Mawankal

 

 

Insurance Companies' Art of Denying Rightful Claims

Senior citizen groups are increasingly concerned about the health cover being given by insurance companies to the aged. General insurance companies give 15% commission for health covers sold to individuals who are 45 years and below. For those in the 45-55 age brackets, the agents get a commission of 10%. But no commission is paid for individuals who have crossed the age of 55 years. ICICI has an interesting insurance scheme which may benefit senior citizens. Bajaj Allianz has introduced silver health aimed at individuals in the higher age group.

In an interesting case, a villager got compensation from the health insurance company by approaching the consumer forum. Ramlal's wife, Saira Bai, underwent a family planning operation in a camp in Gangar. Due to the doctor's negligence, Saira Bai passed away on the third day of the family planning operation. Her husband was to receive Rs. 2 lakhs compensation, in case his wife 'dies within 30 days of the operation'. But when money was claimed through the local family welfare department, the insurance company argued that the beneficiary's wife had died of a heart attack, and denied him the payment.

Ramlal approached the consumer district forum at Chittorgarh. After hearing both the sides, the consumer district forum held that the insurance company and the family welfare department must jointly pay Ramlal Rs. 2 lakhs compensation along with Rs.20, 000 for mental agony, cost of proceedings etc.

- Advocate Anju D.Aggarwal, Amritsar

 

Health Insurance Suggestions

 

Senior citizens' health care and insurance is becoming very costly. A prolonged illness or serious injury can easily bankrupt a family without insurance. Senior citizens need to be educated and made aware of the intricacies of the health insurance policies.

NGOs like Dignity Foundation can play an important role in arranging discussions with experts for guidance on mediclaim. It can also circulate small booklets like "Mediclaim made easy".

I also believe everyone should be eligible for insurance regardless of health conditions, tobacco usage, age or employment. ICICI Lombard insurance "Direct" offers health insurance for family - one policy - one cover for adults (18-60 years) and for children 3months - 18 years. But this is not enough. Insurance should be given to any age group, till death, because health insurance is not just life insurance, but applies to general health throughout.

The Government should consider formulating schemes for providing "Social Security Programs" as are prevalent in the USA . These programs are tax based. In Singapore they have Central Provident Fund (CPF) scheme taking care of mediclaim. This scheme is savings based. In both the above countries, the benefits to senior citizens are immense as the age progresses.

In the current scenario of growing number of senior citizens and opening of the Insurance sector to private operators, senior citizens should be able to benefit the most.

- Ranvir Mehta, Mumbai

   

Insufficient Medical Aid for Seniors

 

A big amount of income of the elderly is being spent to meet the health care cost which is a significant burden for their already tight budgets. The affordability of drugs depends on the cost of the treatment which includes the diagnosis of the disease, cost of the drugs and regular follow ups.

The government may implement some measures that can better the situation of the elderly, like (a) Opening geriatric health dispensaries, where drugs can be made available at low prices with the pharmaceutical companies and dispense it to the patients either directly or through non-profit organisations. (b)Issuing drug discount cards to the senior citizens, on which a senior patient may be able to receive assistance, provided by the drug companies in affiliation with the health authorities. Chemists can dispense specific drugs to patients and get it reimbursed by the companies. (c) Improve access to generic drugs- Generally, generic drugs (any product that can be sold without a brand name) are less expensive than brand name drugs. Generic drugs play an important role in giving access to affordable products that will benefit the health of consumers, especially seniors. Through a distribution channel some of these drugs reach the retailers at discounted prices and finally reach the consumers. If marketed effectively, this can dramatically reduce prices for consumers. (d) Health insurance- Lack of health insurance implies that the ones who do not have drug coverage pay for their prescriptions out of their own pockets. The reason for this is that insurance companies, which provide drug coverage for its employees negotiate lower drug prices. We need to modernize health care policies, make people aware of its benefits, to cover the way health care is provided today.

- Dr Shalini Ratan, Mumbai

Will The Media Oblige Elders?

 

More than 30% readers and viewers of newspapers and television channels are senior citizens, and they need to be given special attention to in the media.

I had written to Times of India, Indian Express and Free Press Journal to give some space to senior citizens in their publications, but to no avail. The DNA newspaper, however, started publishing a full page on Saturdays through Dignity Foundation, for which we were very happy. I wrote to Zee News, Noida, Star TV, Mumbai and Sony TV. Only Zee News responded and appreciated the concerns and asked for subjects. 15 types of programmes were acknowledged, and an assurance was given from their concerned departments for necessary action. But since then there have been no responses to reminders.

 

Each newspaper can at least devote half a page to elder issues like health care, safety and second careers. Media may also appoint some elders as correspondents and pay them honorarium. This will guarantee not only financial support but also a feeling of worthiness in seniors.

- M V Ruparelia, Mumbai

 

 

Central Government Health Scheme a Farce

 

VOD has done well in highlighting the health issues of the elderly. The systems, both public and private sectors, fail them when they need it most. The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), intended to take care of the pensioners in Chennai, had recognised a large number of hospitals there, but only a few of them have started the facilities so far, thus putting a large number of older persons through unending difficult times and expenses. As of today, there are no recognised hospitals under the CGHS for the treatment of cancer, a common disease these days. The patients, now large in number, have to pay through their nose. Those having insurance cover find the reality of the cashless facility, a farce. The claims are not approved on flimsy grounds by the TPAs. In short, the seniors are treated more as a nuisance than people who need empathy and care.

 

- R V Chandramouli, Chennai

 

 

Plight of Senior Citizen (60+)

 

I have gone through your website and I found that your organisation is doing excellent service to ageing persons. Through this mail I offer my good wishes to and your team for the dedicated service rendered to elderly people, specially enabling the retired to lead an active and meaningful life.

 

As your organisation is committed to the welfare of elders, I thought of bringing to your kind attention the plight of retirees aged 60 and above, specially Private Sector employees, most of who don't get a pension and sustain from interest income only. In India , the private sector employees retire from employment at the age of 58 or 60. After retirement they often don't get a pension. Such retirees invest their retirement benefits like gratuity and provident fund in Post Office and banks and live on interest. For example, a retiree in the age group of 60-64, without any pension and with an annual interest income of Rs 1, 30,000 from Senior Citizen Savings Saving Scheme, has to suffer TDS of Rs13, 390- @10.3% and claim for the refund of excess tax deducted. Assuming that his tax on total income is nil he cannot even issue Form 15H for non deduction of TDS of Rs13, 390. This is because he has not reached age of 65 to qualify as Senior Citizen. He has to file his return and get back excess tax deducted at source as refund which takes more than a year. Retirees without pension are already overburdened with a price-rise in all commodities, high health cost, along with other family commitments. The life of a retiree without pension is miserable.

 

If the Government of India classifies elders 60 and above as Senior Citizens for the purpose of Income tax then lakhs of retirees aged 60 and above, who sustain on interest income alone, will have exemption of tax on income of Rs1,95.000- as against Rs1,10,000, and they can live with dignity. If the plight of retirees is taken up by your organisation to the Government of India, I am sure it will heed to your request and reduce the age of Senior Citizens from 65 to 60 for Income tax purposes in this FY 2007-2008 itself.

 

This gesture on your part will greatly relieve the tax burden of lakhs of retirees of age 60 who depend on interest income only.

- A Viswanathan

 

 

Mediclaim Policy

 

We have been covered under a mediclaim policy by New India Assurance Company. Last year my age was 64, wife was 52 and son's 25. This year our policy is renewed by the same insurer by hiking our ages to 65, 53 and 26 years respectively. The premiums have shot up to almost double. My son's premium is not considered for family discount. His policy amount of Rs 50,000 was compulsorily increased to Rs one lakh saying that is the minimum for all the ages. There is no mediclaim policy less than one lakh with this company except in the Janata scheme, which is useless due to its limitations/ restrictions. So we have no alternative, because the insurers are doing a business. IRDA is regulating their business and our Govt wants to become a super power, I think, at our cost. Hence we have to bear silently or sacrifice ourselves as they don't care, whether you are a Senior or a Junior.

 

- M Y Patil, Mumbai

 

  Overseas Mediclaim Policy

 

We are a senior couple covered by a mediclaim policy from a public sector insurance company. On renewal, it came with a para stating that if we take an overseas mediclaim policy from the 'same' company, the period of the overseas policy shall be extended to the original, provided we inform the company in writing before going abroad. Accordingly, when I bought an overseas policy from a private insurance company, I informed my original company of the same. When I return to India , I plan to request my insurers to extend my policy for the period I was abroad. And I'm sure they're likely to refuse as I had not taken the overseas policy from them.

In such a situation, we should take up the matter with the Insurance Ombudsman or the IRDA or a Consumer Court stating that such a para in the policy is anti-consumer and needs to be deleted and the benefit extended to all policy takers, irrespective of the company that provides the insurance.

All senior citizens going abroad should take an overseas policy and inform their original insurers of the same in order to extend the validity of their policy for the period they were out of the country.

 

- Adv. N Ahuja, New Delhi

 

 

Why Discriminate The Seniors?

 

On the IRCTC (Indian Railways Catering and Travel Corporation) website, there are 'Shubh Yatra Programme' and 'SBI Railway Ticket' offerings. The former is a reward points programme, at an annual fee, which accumulates points @ 10%, redeemable against future tickets. The latter is a commercial credit or debit card with numerous countries' product and service-wide commercial tie-ups which give discounts. Membership of the 'Shubh Yatra Programme' is a precondition for application for the SBI Railway Card.

The tandem programme is not open to anyone over 60! Any attempt to register in the 'Shubh Yatra Programme' is confronted with 'You are a Senior Citizen/over 60 years and hence not eligible to join this programme' or something to this effect.

I think this has to be looked into with the might and clout of someone like DF and, perhaps, CERC. I see this as a discriminatory practice without any basis.

 

- Ubaldo D'Souza, Goa