A new community-based health insurance scheme has been proposed in the Union Budget for 2003-04 to provide easy access to health facilities and services to the less advantaged citizens.

Under the scheme, public sector general insurance companies have been encouraged to pilot the programme, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh said while presenting the Budget in Parliament.

He said a premium equivalent to Re 1 per day for an individual, Rs 1.50 per day for a family of five, and Rs 2.00 per day for a family of seven, will entitle eligibility to get reimbursement of medical expenses up to Rs 30,000 towards hospitalisation, a cover for death due to accident for Rs 25,000 and compensation due to loss of earning at the rate of Rs 50 per day up to a maximum of 15 days.

To make the scheme affordable to below poverty line families, the government has decided to contribute Rs100 per year towards their annual premium.

PTI