CHAI launches insurance scheme for priests, religious

India, January 23, 2012: The Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) has launched an insurance scheme for Catholic priests, nuns, religious and members of its institutions. The scheme will also extend to the staff of CHAI, which also include non-Catholics. “Priests and religious are not covered under any health insurance scheme in the country, so we decided to introduce such a scheme,” said Sundar Bunga, Manager in the Strategic Planning department of CHAI. He said that priests too need an insurance cover, keeping in mind the increase in private hospitals and medical cost.

“We are planning to launch this scheme in March,” he added. The insurance plan covers hospitalization, treatment in any authorized health care institutions/nursing home/hospital. Member hospitals of CHAI with 20 beds and above will become empanelled hospitals. All enrolled members will be given Identification Card. Cashless treatment will be given if the hospitalization is in any of the empanelled hospital. If the hospital is not an empanelled one, the insurance company will reimburse the expenses.

National scheme members will not lose the benefits of the scheme in the event of transfer within the country. A service cell set-up at the central office will facilitate the Insurance claims. Similar cells will be opened in other regions too. The formulation of the scheme was in response to the resolution made at the CHAI Annual General Body Meeting (AGBM) held in October at Varanasi. The meeting was attended by representatives from 500 institutions.

– father ajesh thomas