Letter to Chairperson on MediClaim

To                                                                                                                                               17/3/2022

Chairperson,

L I C of India,

Mumbai

 

Dear Sir,

Re: Appeal arising out of implications of CO circular no CO/Per/ER-A/286/2022 dated 8/3/2022&subsequent circular Ref:CO/Per/ER-A/CL/82 dated 17/3/2022

After going through the above circulars, I thought I should write to you on a few points. The circular states that the option for inclusion of the independent children can be exercised by the retiree covered by the Scheme. The circular also provides that the cover on independent children will continue up to the death of both the retiree and spouse (family pensioner) or up to age 45 last birthday whichever is earlier. But the family pensioner having independent children aged upto 45 are not allowed to opt for their inclusion in the Mediclaim cover. This creates a situation where there will be a set of independent children covered by the scheme who will continue to enjoy the cover even after the unfortunate death of the retiree as long as the spouse (family pensioner) is alive, while there will be eligible independent children of deceased retirees whose spouses are covered by the scheme as family pensioners and  these independent children are denied the benefit of Mediclaim cover. This causes discrimination against the independent children of deceased retirees who are denied the cover merely because  their retiree-parents are  unfortunately  not alive to opt to include them for the cover. So I request you to kindly consider permitting the spouses (family pensioners) to exercise this option.

While on this, as submitted to you earlier, there are a number of retiree officers some of whom took voluntary retirement and were not covered by the Mediclaim Scheme. They could not also avail of the option given on 9/3/2011 for lack of communication or some other reason. During the past two years where the whole world was afflicted by the Covid  pandemic, a number of them had to suffer from Covid along with their family members and spend huge amounts of money for their treatment. Considering that these retirees are also recognized as employees covered by LIC Pension Rules 1995 after putting in a service of more than 20 years in the Corporation  and now in the changed situation when 'outsider' independent children are provided an opportunity to be covered by the Scheme, it will be only fair and proper that these left- out retirees should also be provided one more option  to be covered by the LIC Group Mediclaim subject to whatever conditions the Corporation may deem proper to lay down for exercising the option. Their inclusion in the scheme will remove the incongruity of bringing in a new set of beneficiaries while excluding a set of beneficiaries who have a more legitimate claim to be admitted into the Scheme.

These points occurred to me as an officer proudly associated with the Corporation for over 56 years both as a serving officer and a retiree.

I am sure that my suggestions will receive a favourable consideration of the Corporation which has a great reputation of being a model employer.

Thanking you,

C H Mahadevan

Executive Director (LIC)(Retd)

Chennai