EPFO alert: Ayushman Bharat (Modicare) benefits likely for lakhs for EPF subscribers! Details here

EPFO alert: Lakhs of EPF subscribers can soon enjoy the benefits of PM Narendra Modi-led Union government's ambitious Ayushman Bharat (or Modicare) scheme. Zee Business TV reports that the Union Ministry of Labour is currently holding talks with the Health department for providing benefits of Ayushman Bharat scheme to eligible EPFO subscribers. 

Mediclaim facility for EPFO subscribers has been a longstanding demand. The report says that which EPFO subscriber will get the benefit of Ayushman Bharat or not may depend on the legal structure of the scheme. However, the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of EPFO has not yet formally approved any such proposal. Currently, this is being seen as an option as to whether eligible EPFO subscribers can get medical benefits under Ayushman Bharat. According to CBT, this will depend on the category of the pension holder. 

"The feature of Ayushman Bharat has been designed in such a way that all eligible persons, including EPF pensioners, will get the benefit of the scheme," Brajesh Upadhyay, member, CBT, told Zee Business TV. 

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Ayushman Bharat benefit will come as a huge relief for as many as 70-80 per cent EPF pensioners, who get less than Rs 1500/month as pension. 

In the next CBT meeting, a formal talk on the matter is expected to take place. Optionally, it is also being discussed whether Employee Deposit-linked Insurance Service, in which employer deposits for the employee, can be used for extending Ayushman Bharat benefits by increasing the premium from pensioners, the report said.  

Data released by EPFO in April this year had shown that during September, 2017 to February, 2018, 31.10 lakh new subscribers were added across all age groups in the payroll. "Given that the data for recent months are provisional due to continuous updation of employee records, this could be called a conservative estimate. The actual figures may well be more than this," a PIB release had said.