V.D. Satheesan,Chief Minister, Keralam
Three insurance-sector veterans have been appointed as expert members: Girish Radhakrishnan, former CMD of United India Insurance Company, P. J. Joseph, former CMD and former Member (Non-Life) of IRDAI; and K. Sanath Kumar, former CMD of National Insurance Company.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Keralam government has moved a step closer to rolling out the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme, constituting a technical expert committee to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed universal health insurance programme.
The scheme is envisaged to provide health insurance coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh a year to every family or household in Kerala, with minimal income-based restrictions. It is expected to be implemented through the Kerala State Health Agency, with beneficiaries receiving cashless treatment at empanelled government and private hospitals.
Earlier,Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan introduced Universal Health Coverage under the “Health First” motto, featuring the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme with up to ₹25 lakh coverage per family in the 2026–27 Kerala budget.
The state government has directed the technical committee to submit its report within four months.
The committee will be chaired by the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, with senior officials from the Finance and Planning & Economic Affairs departments as members.
Three insurance-sector veterans have been appointed as expert members: Girish Radhakrishnan, former CMD of United India Insurance Company, P. J. Joseph, former CMD and former Member (Non-Life) of IRDAI; and K. Sanath Kumar, former CMD of National Insurance Company.
The committee will also have to examine how the proposed scheme can be integrated with Kerala’s existing public health financing and insurance arrangements while ensuring broad-based coverage across the state.