Vayah Vikas is happy to announce our advocacy efforts on behalf of senior citizens. Vayah Vikas & the Association of Healthcare Providers-India (AHPI), has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, 3 recommendations for improving the quality of life of senior citizens
The Association of Healthcare Providers India [AHPI] is a not-for-profit organization and represents the vast majority of healthcare providers in our country. The AHPI works with all stakeholders, and strives towards establishing a national system wherein people of all age groups can seamlessly avail of assured universal access to basic health services.
There are an estimated 140 million elderly in India and about 30% of the rural elderly from BPL households are recipients of old-age pension benefits. Just 30% of households are covered by some form of health insurance in India and nearly 40% of the elderly are working especially in urban areas (26%), and mostly in the unorganized sector.
Three recommendations to improve the quality of lives of elderly population are:
1. Considering the medical requirements and the cost of treatment, the government may please consider exemption from GST for all those Senior citizens who have to pay upto Rs. 25000/- per year as Medical Insurance Premium. Rate of the premium itself goes up every year as age progresses and hence the 18% GST on it is a big financial burden on Senior Citizens. It is necessary to exempt the existing GST on health insurance policies.
2. It is requested that under the National Health Insurance Scheme namely, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) the coverage should be extended to all women above age of 65 and all men above 75 years.
3. It is also suggested that ‘Additional waiver or tax rebate’ should be provided to those who buy health insurance for their older adults.
Reference Documents:
**Suggestions for improving the Quality of Life of Senior Citizens: **https://bit.ly/3IrUId3
**Letter to Finance Minister: **https://bit.ly/3k6fLIS