AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 113 of 170 Question No 7. What is the time period for the scheme to stabilize? Answer. It is expected to fully stabilize by 31 March 2008. Question No 8. Will the present arrangements of medical support continue till then? Answer. Yes – but this needs some clarification. Routine support by MI Rooms and Service Hospitals is a welfare subject and is controlled by Command HQs of the three services, and may continue. However, this support has no connection with the ECHS. Some modicum of support as provided by service hospitals for inexpensive treatment will continue in the future also. The priority for treatment at Service Hospitals shall be governed by the following principles:- a) Authorised Category. Only serving soldiers and their permissible dependants are authorized for treatment in service hospitals, and they shall be given first priority . b) ECHS Authorised Category. Those ESM pensioners (and their dependants) who have become ECHS members shall be entitled to be given full range of treatment for all categories of diseases, subject to availability of bed space, availability of speciality, and availability of qualified doctors. Those that are referred to Military facilities will be treated at par with serving personnel. c) Entitled Category. All those who are Ex-Servicemen and do not become members by 31 March 2008, shall continue to reviewed treatment in military hospitals. The treatment to be provided will be as given at present, that is not involving heavy expenditure. The entire system will be received after 31 March 2008. Question No 9. What are the rates of ECHS contribution? Answer. The one-time contribution to be made is based on the basic monthly pension (excluding DA). Pension means uncommuted pension. The rates are as follows:- Basic Monthly Pension One time contribution Upto Rs 1500/ Rs 1800/ Rs 1501 to Rs 3000/ Rs 4800/ Rs 3001 to Rs 5000/ Rs 8400/ Rs 5001 to Rs 7500/ Rs 12000/ Above Rs 7500/ Rs 18000/ Question No 10. What would the scheme cater for and how? Answer. The scheme would cater for medicare through the clinics as given below:- ECHS Polyclinics (alongside Service Hospitals) - 104 ECHS Polyclinics at non-military stations - 123 Question No 11. What are the arrangements for those entitled ECHS members who need specialized treatment, which is not available in the Polyclinics? Answer. In the first instance they will be referred to service hospitals by the Polyclinic doctor(s). If facilities are not available at service hospitals, they will be referred to an empanelled hospital of the patient’s choice. Polyclinic staff will not dictate which empanelled facility should be utilised by the patient. Question No 12. Will the members have to initially make payment to the empanelled hospital and then seek reimbursement? Answer. No. The ECHS organisation will make direct payment to the empanelled hospital. There is no burden of any payment on the ECHS member either for treatment or medicines. The ECHS will NOT reimburse the member for any payments made by him knowingly or