Friday, August 31, 2012

International Workshop on Human Rights of Older Persons - Proceedings

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Fwd: IRDA’s senior citizen initiatives: On the track or off it?

Moneylife » Personal Finance » Insurance » IRDA's senior citizen initiatives: On the track or off it?

IRDA's senior citizen initiatives: On the track or off it?

As per an RTI reply by the ministry of finance, IRDA has taken several initiatives for senior citizens, but has it made the life of senior citizens any easier?


The reply of the ministry of finance to an RTI query by MV Ruparelia gives details ofrecommendations by the Sastry Committee and the action taken by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) for issues faced by senior citizens as far as health insurance is concerned. While some have been implemented, few are in the draft stage and may get into the final guidelines, while the rest have been rejected citing various reasons. Even though IRDA has taken steps in the right direction, the ground situation for senior citizens is far from easy.
 

Following are the recommendations made by the Sastry Committee and action taken by IRDA:

  1. Committee's recommendation: Health insurance should be accessible to senior citizen up to 65 years of age

IRDA's response: Accepted vide circular dated 25 May 2009

 

Ground reality: While mediclaim does offer entry up to 65 years of age and health insurance draft reiterates the same, some insurers are reluctant to underwrite customers above 45 years of age. The "Right to Underwrite" is freely used by insurers to deny mediclaim policy.

  1. Committee's recommendation: No exit age limit on renewal of health insurance policies

IRDA's response: Accepted vide circular dated 7 March 2009, 25 May 2009 and 31 March 2009.
 

Ground reality: Has not been effective yet—many mediclaim policies end at age 70, 75 or 80 years; few offer lifelong renewal, although health insurance draft guidelines do specify lifelong renewal. Many senior citizens do not receive renewalnotice and have to chase the insurance company to accept the premium payment cheque.

  1. Committee's recommendation: The price of health insurance should be fixed at Rs3,000 for sum insured of Rs1 lakh.

IRDA's response: This wasn't accepted completely because in a de-tariffed market, fixing the price is not appropriate. IRDA has issued a circular which restricts insurers to increase premium beyond 75% at the time of renewal of policies for senior citizens.
 

Ground reality: While it is understandable that premium cannot be fixed in an open market, allowing 75% increase in premium at the time of renewal is a major increase. Moreover, premium is hiked every year, which means that the premium can shoot sky high for senior citizens especially for those already suffering from some disease. Claims based loading is still prevalent in mediclaim policies.

  1. Committee's recommendation: Senior citizens should be able to opt for change of TPA, and settlement of claim should be done within 30 days from the date of receipt of claim and seven days from date of acceptance of offer.

IRDA's response: Accepted.
 

Ground reality: While change of TPA may be allowed, many senior citizens do not want services of a TPA and ask for reduction of premium equivalent to the 6% paid to TPA. This is not allowed by most insurers. Also, settlement of claims within 30 days from the date of receipt does not happen in reality. The health insurancedraft guideline specifies the settlement of claims should be within 30 day from the date of receipt of all claims documents. This is a vague statement as "all claims document" is subjective. Insurer/TPA keep raising queries to ask for frivolous documentations, which leads to an enormous delay in settlement of claims. Many a times, the claims file is closed on the pretext of incomplete documentation from the hospital, and the insurance company/TPA does not even take the trouble of informing the same to the insured. It takes a lot of persuasion to get the file reopened, which agonises the insured, despite him not being at fault.

  1. Committee's recommendation: The cost for medical tests at the time of issuance of a policy to senior citizens should be shared equally by the insured and the insurer and also the insurers should establish a separate grievance channel to address complaints from senior citizens.

IRDA's response: Both these points are still in the draft stage and hence not yet implemented. Intimation to TPA/insurer within 24 hours of hospitalisation and claims filing with seven days has led to mechanical rejection of claims.
 

Ground reality: Some claims are rejected even when the insured follows the timelines. No standard processes of confirming intimation from the TPA exist, and the TPA may refuse receipt of intimation by email or assert that the fax was illegible. Government insurers offer an incentive to TPAs for keeping the claims ratio low, which is in direct conflict of interest with the insured and can hamper genuine claims.

  1. Committee's recommendation: Adequate regulations of hospitals. 

IRDA's response: Not within the purview of IRDA. However, MOHF (ministry of health and family welfare), GOI (Government of India) was requested to look into this recommendation.
 

Ground reality: IRDA has completely washed its hands off on hospital pricing even though the Air Force Medical College (AFMC) submitted its report on hospital pricing to IRDA after a detailed study. Cashless feature was removed by government insurers in July 2010 without informing the insured about the move, leaving policyholders in lurch—IRDA did not get involved in settling of the issue. Few hospitals are added to Preferred-Provider-Network (PPN) of government insurers, and majority of high-end hospitals are not willing to be part 

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Source:

http://www.moneylife.in/article/irdas-senior-citizen-initiatives-on-the-track-or-off-it/28164.html



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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Sayani Surgicals - One stop shop for Disability Aids

Recently a friend of mine asked me to refer a shop where her friend can buy Folding type of Walker. She said  the requirement was urgent. I gave two addresses and contact numbers: one Balaji Surgicals near Bata Show Room in Vikram Puri and another Sayani Sugicals near Shadaan College in Khairatabad - both in Hyderabad.

After a week I rang up my friend to find out whether the addresses were useful. Normally I never do any follow up - be it giving info on Old Age Homes, suppliers of breakfast / meals at doorstep, agencies hiring bedside assistant / ayahs (semi skilled persons to take care of bed ridden old people), fixed deposit rates etc.I was pleasantly surprised  to learn that two persons immediately bought foldable walkers from Sayani Surgicals. They are Dr Gouri Namburi and Dr Hatti - both senior citizens with mobility problems, members of Senior Citizens Forum.

What was surprising is that both were senior citizens, doctors and as well patients / customers themselves; but they did not know that folding type of walkers are available. You can carry it in your car and start using it when you reach the destination. This info was a great relief and they bought it immediately.

My inkling is that merchants do not publicize much. They need to advertise. It is useful not only to them but also to others!!   www.sayanisurgicals.com has a whole range of mobility aids and worthwhile place to visit by senior citizens and their wards.

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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Fwd: SCF Annual Day Celebrations at Sweekaar Upkaar

SCF Annual Day Celebrations at Sweekaar Upkaar

 

Senior Citizens Forum. Secunderabad celebrated their 19th Annual Day on 18th August 2012 at Sweekaar Upkaar with great gusto and enthusiasm. More than 145 members and guests participated. The large hall was nearly full. The stage was well decorated by Ms Kamakshi Hatti. The Master of Ceremony did a marvelous job – never fumbled for appropriate words. Col Kumar welcomed the gathering and for a  change, which was observed and appreciated by all, spoke very little. He gave interesting data: SCF has 565 registered members but 109 of them have already joined the Majority! Another unique attraction that SCF can boast of is that there are 109 lady members; therefore any SCF meeting has a good measure of these coy and colorful, gay graceful and, good old ladies. Dr Vasunder Reddy made a special mention of the invaluable contribution of lady members especially in the area of keeping members happy with a variety of things to eat in every meeting. No wonder membership is increasing fast.

 

Members who were 90+ and members who crossed 80 were honored. The Managing Director of Visaka Industries (they manufacture cheaper and better substitute for brick walls) who made a substantial donation of Rs 30000/- for the function, was also specially, rightfully, honored.

 

The entertainment had variety peppered with songs, skits, jokes, tableaus and what not. Kolattam by a eight member team was delightful. Festivals like Shankaranthi, Deepavali, Ramzan were selected and their important unique features were enacted / explained by groups of members. Their dress sense deserves special mention. Enthusiasm of persons on the stage oozed over to participants in a visible manner. I can recollect that Sivaram, Shanti, Srivalli and Dr Krishnamurthy were among the singers. Col Arun Moghe and Ms Mohini Moghe stole the show – they were star attractions as ever. The couple gave a short play on how a senior citizen plays a trick to have some quality time with her grand son. This was in Hindi.

 

Unfortunately I had to be away   quite a few times: once to give a telephonic interview to a news reporter from Postnoon (refer story: "Glimmer of Hope for Senior Citizens" on Lok Adalat in Postnoon 19th August 2012); again to make arrangements for a video shooting by TV9 team at Malkajgiri on our Protest DAY activities. Therefore I missed a few entertainment items.   

 

The event ended with a tasty, hot and wholesome vegetarian meal served under a large Shamiana providing ample space for all to sit and eat comfortably. On the whole, it was very enjoyable day.  Many sets of photographs taken have already been circulated by me and Ms Kamakshi Hatti in Google Plus / sss-global and some of you may have read many appreciative comments. Some may be seen here:

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sss-global/attachments/folder/2075234986/item/506956409/view

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sss-global/attachments/folder/1928441292/item/1086179799/view

 

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Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278.

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Monday, August 20, 2012

SCNPD - 2012 Official site for most information

Following is the list of posts in Senior Citizens National Protest Day 2012 blog at posterous.com

http://scnpd-2012.posterous.com

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Glimmer of Hope for Senior Citizens

Glimmer of hope for senior citizens

 | August 19, 2012 | 0 Comments

GLIMMER_OF_HOPE_FOR_THE_SENIOR_CITIZEN_POSTNOON_NEWS

A Lok Adalat that exclusively deals with the problems faced by the elderly is being initiated

In an age where the youth enjoy undivided attention and praise, we as a race have left little space for the aged and the elderly. The growing number of crimes being committed against senior citizens, especially in Hyderabad, reflects how we have left their fate to the cold and cruel ways of the world.

For the first time in the history of the Indian judiciary, a Lok Adalat meant exclusively for senior citizens has been initiated in Hyderabad. The first of its kind in the entire country, it will deal with the many problems that assail the aged in the city. Constituted under the AP Legal Service Authority, the Lok Adalat will have a bench of four retired judges.

Among the many facilities and services that the Lok Adalat promises here, the fact that the Lok Adalat is a fast track court and also deals with these cases under Human Rights Violations acts is most significant. All the services offered here begin and end only with an application form.

This simple procedure clears the much dreaded and lengthy ways of the Indian judiciary. P. Vyasamurthy, President of Society for Serving Seniors said, "Being the first of its kind, they have decided to take the simplest measures to serve the aged in the best manner possible. The fact that the services of the Adalat offers amicable settlement of cases by exploring all legal avenues comes as a relief to the elderly."

The burden of going through the rigours of a court case has been further simplified by the fact that it has the facility to settle things out of court.

M Sai, 62-year-old retired engineer says, "After a certain point, we have no guaranteed security. Most people of my age are completely dependant on their children and it is not surprising that they are ignored or uncared for. It is not possible for people like me to go through the tiresome legal battles for custodianship or domestic abuse or financial fraud. To me, this Adalat is a welcome judgement."

What they really miss out on is attention and care which is replaced by domestic abuse and suffering. For a section of the society that had spent their lives in building and shaping the world we live in, the aged and the elderly are perhaps right in thinking that youth is often wasted on the young.

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Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278.
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Monday, August 13, 2012

List of Old Age Homes - number and amount Grants by MOSJE

Details of grants disbursed by MOSJE towards Old Age Homes - Number and Amount State wise for 2009-10 to 2011-12 are furnshed the table attached. Can someone make intelligent comments?
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MOSJE – Old Age Homes – number and amount of Grant disbursed
– State wise for the years 2009-10 to 2011-12

S.
No.

Name of State/UT

No. of OAH assisted

Amount Released
States
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
1.        
Andhra Pradesh
87
77
112
347.81
280.68
403.93
2.        
Arunachal Pradesh
0
1
0
0
1.49
0
3.        
Assam
16
17
11
71.78
67.08
46.65
4.        
Bihar
1
1
1
4.88
1.42
2.44
5.        
Chhattisgarh
2
3
2
5.08
7.76
9.03
6.        
Haryana
9
7
7
34.25
25.67
18.74
7.        
Himachal Pradesh
0
3
1
0
9.51
3.66
8.        
Karnataka
45
48
50
207.86
216.36
208.75
9.        
Kerala
0
6
2
0
16.03
5.72
10.      
Madhya Pradesh
5
2
4
9.23
6.13
14.79
11.      
Maharashtra
8
15
16
27.69
47.06
76.28
12.      
Manipur
15
18
15
56.80
76.20
66.35
13.      
Orissa
44
38
44
173.17
168.15
157.97
14.      
Punjab
4
2
5
9.29
3.76
9.98
15.      
Rajasthan
4
4
2
11.77
13.48
7.48
16.      
Tamil Nadu
54
49
42
220.70
207.60
178.85
17.      
Tripura
3
3
4
10.85
13.75
10.81
18.      
Uttar Pradesh
21
22
15
65.31
71.96
25.11
19.      
Uttarakhand
0
3
2
0
11.03
5.87
20.      
West Bengal
27
18
26
111.41
86.35
84.90

Union Territory






 21
Delhi
0
1
1
0
1.15
1.17

Total
345
338
362
1367.88
1332.62
1338.48

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