Covid-19 Pandemic: Free Of Cost Medical Care, 20% Bed Dedicated For ESIC Members

The Employees' State Insurance Scheme of India is a multi-faceted Social Security Scheme designed to provide socio-economic cover to 'employees' in the organized sector against disability, pregnancy, disablement, and death as a result of a work-related injury, as well as to provide medical treatment to them.

The ESI platform is a self-funding method. Employer and employee contributions are mainly used to finance the ESI accounts, which are charged annually at a fixed percentage of wages paid. State governments are also responsible for 1/8th of the cost of Medical Benefits.

Medical Benefit

In the event that the insured person or his family members become infected with COVID-19, they will receive free medical treatment at any ESIC/ ESIS hospital that has been designated as a COVID-19 dedicated hospital.

In addition to the above, each ESIC hospital has been instructed to use at least 20% of its bed capacity as dedicated Covid beds for ESI IPs, beneficiaries, employees, and pensioners.

In accordance with their entitlement, ESI beneficiaries can obtain emergency/non-emergency medical care from a tie-up hospital without a referral letter.
The repayment of expenses may be sought if the IP or a family member infected with COVID-19 seeks care in a private institution.

Cash Benefit

If the Insured Person is infected with COVID-19 and is unable to work, he is entitled to Sickness Insurance for the period he was unable to work. Sickness benefits are paid at 70% of average daily earnings for a period of 91 days.

If an insured person loses his or her job, he or she may be eligible for relief under the Atal BeemitVyaktiKalyanYojana(ABVKY) for up to 90 days at 50% of average daily earnings. The Insured Person may apply for this relief by submitting a claim online at www.esic.in.

If an insured person becomes unemployed as a result of retrenchment or the closing of a factory or establishment as specified by the ID Act of 1947, he is entitled to unemployment benefits for a period of two years, subject to RGSKY qualifying conditions.

Funeral expenses of Rs.15000/- are charged to the eldest surviving member of any Insured Person's family in the event of his unfortunate death.

Dashboard

ESIC has created a roadmap and implemented a Dashboard to assist vulnerable citizens in finding a bed in its hospitals.