‘NoRKA Care’ insurance exclusively for non-resident Keralites

The biggest expense that a common man cannot afford these days is the cost of treating diseases. It does not take even a week for treatment in large private hospitals to exhaust the savings accumulated by working hard over a lifetime. The state is in a situation where lakhs are required even for the treatment of the elderly. Developed countries are facing this crisis in collaboration with the insurance sector. However, although there are health insurance schemes for the poor in India under the name of the Prime Minister, not all citizens are members of them. The reality is that a majority of India's population is still outside the coverage of health insurance.

The comprehensive health insurance scheme implemented by NoRKA Roots, the first of its kind in the country exclusively for expatriates, is very welcome and commendable in this context. The scheme ensures cashless treatment to expatriate Keralites through about 16,000 hospitals in the country, including more than 500 hospitals in Kerala. The scheme is planned to be extended to hospitals, including those in GCC countries, in the future. The provision of a system for those returning from abroad after taking the policy to continue it is also commendable. What is becoming a reality now is one of the main demands of the expatriate Keralites for a long time. NoRKA Roots Vice Chairman P Sreeramakrishnan had clarified at the press conference called to explain the inauguration of the scheme that this is an idea that was heard, including in the Loka Kerala Sabha.

The NoRKA Care scheme provides health insurance of Rs. 5 lakh and accident insurance coverage of Rs. 10 lakh to non-resident Keralites. The official inauguration of the NoRKA Care scheme will be done by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on the 22nd. The scheme will come into effect from November 1. The scheme period is one year till October 31, 2026 and can be renewed again from November 1. The age limit is fixed from 18 to 70. The scheme premium will not increase with increasing age. The scheme can be joined from September 22 to October 22. According to the scheme, the annual premium for a family consisting of a husband, wife and two children below the age of 25 is Rs. 13,411. If it is only for one person, it will be Rs. 8,101. An additional Rs 4,130 will have to be paid for each additional child under the age of 25.

The biggest feature of this scheme is that it provides coverage for existing diseases without a medical examination. One can join the scheme through NORKA's mobile application or website. The application will be available on the Play Store. It is also very necessary to create awareness about this at home and abroad. It is no small matter that about 75 lakh people, including 40 lakh expatriate Malayalees outside India and about 35 lakh people inside India and outside Kerala, will benefit from the scheme.