Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan asks Keralam govt. to reverse premium hike for NoRKA Care insurance scheme

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday asked the State government to take immediate steps to address the concerns of the expatriate community regarding the sharp increase in the premium for the ‘NoRKA Care’ insurance scheme. In a social media post, he said that the United Democratic Front (UDF) government has adopted a policy that strips away existing support for expatriates who are already grappling with the crisis caused by the war-like situation in West Asia.

The government has refused to even allow a discussion on this matter in the Legislative Assembly and continues to maintain a negative stance, despite unanimous demands from various expatriate organisations. The premium for a ‘family floater’ policy (with a coverage of ₹5 lakh) has been hiked from ₹13,411 to a range between ₹35,664 and ₹77,773. This steep increase has become an unbearable financial burden for ordinary expatriates in the Gulf, who often earn meagre wages, as well as for senior citizens who have returned home, he said.

“The government justifies this by claiming that insurance companies are unwilling to continue the previous agreement due to the high value of claims filed. The previous government had included a provision in the NoRKA Care scheme that allowed even those with existing medical conditions to enrol. By labelling this specific provision, which provided immense relief to struggling, low-income expatriates and their families, as the root of the problem, the government is effectively echoing the language of private insurance companies,” said Mr. Vijayan.

Instead of engaging in negotiations with these companies to ensure quality service for the beneficiaries, the government has chosen to surrender to the interests of the insurance firms. The hike in premium rates, which is unaffordable to large sections, could jeopardise the entire scheme. The government should consider their reasonable demand to revise the rates downward, he said.