Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Apr 16: ‘Sampoorna Surkasha’ is an insurance scheme being run by Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP), which extends health insurance to its members, particularly from poor classes. This scheme is on way to turn into a full-fledged insurance company soon. Towards this end, it has been registered with the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India.

‘Sampoorna Suraksha’ boasts of over 12% of health insurance policy holders in the entire country. It is a unique health insurance scheme that was conceptualized by Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Dr Veerendra Heggade. It took birth in the year 2004, and recorded a membership of 54,000 in the year of its inception. Out of the 12 lac health insurance policy holders in the country in 2005, the Sampoorna Suraksha covered 1,.86 lac people, says Dr L H Manjunath, executive director of SKDRDP.

Manjunath insists that this insurance scheme is unique and different from other health insurance schemes. This scheme is committed to provide cashless treatment to the policy holders. Over 100 hospitals in the state treat the policy holders free of cost. More than 100 diseases are covered under this scheme. The scheme boasts of not having refused any of the claims so far. If the insurance companies, with whom this scheme has been registered, refuse to pay up, SKDRDP meets the treatment cost, Manjunath explains.

At present, this health insurance scheme applies only to the members of the self help groups. Once this company becomes an independent entity, even the members of the public can make use of its scheme, points out K Venkateshwar Bhat, director, DKDRDP. This is the only insurance scheme under which medical expenses including maternity, home treatment, immediate compensation in case of death of any member of the family etc., are covered. The scheme covers even pre-existing ailments, he said. As against the total premium collection of 53.22 crore from 36.16 lac people in the last six years, claims worth Rs 73.51 crore were been paid to 2.37 lac people, the payment of claims being in excess of premium collected. Out of this amount, Rs 48.16 crore was met by the insurance companies while Rs 25.35 crore was paid by SKDRDP. This scheme is covered by Oriental Insurance, National Insurance, new India Assurance and United India Insurance companies at present.

The scheme had won an international award in 2008. Sampoorna Suraksha Insurance Scheme, which took birth as the child borne out of Dr Heggade’s desire to provide blanket protection to the rural family against costly treatments, is ready to take to skies on its own.