Insurance Firms, Government Sign Deal on New Plan

Government and ten insurance companies signed on February 18 a memorandum to cooperate on the state co-financed health insurance package.

Saakashvili unveiled a new scheme of state co-financed health insurance package during his fifth annual state of the nation address on February 12. According to this new initiative, there will be GEL 5 health insurance policy; the state will cover GEL 3.35 per month and the rest will be paid by an insurance policy holder. Saakashvili said that the target of the initiative was part of the population, which was not eligible for fully state-funded health assurance program available for those living below poverty line.

Insurance companies that signed the memorandum include: Aldagi BCI; GPI Holding; Imedi-L; Irao; Tao; Vesti; IC Group; Partner; Archimedes Global Georgia; People’s Insurance.

According to the government and the companies the GEL 5 insurance package would cover emergency medical aid with GEL 2,000 limit per year; treatment of traumas sustained as a result of accidents with GEL 5,000 per year and urgent and outpatient medical services.

“It is very important for us that each person has an opportunity to receive insurance at a minimal price,” MP Nika Gilauri said after the signing ceremony.

Earlier Finance Minister, Kakha Baindurashvili, said that the government expected to spend roughly GEL 15 million on the plan; on February 18, he, however, said it was not possible to name an exact figures as it was known exactly how many people would apply for the proposed insurance package.

The proposed insurance policies will be available for Georgian citizens between the age of 3 to 60; people willing to obtain the package will have to apply companies from March 1, 2009 to July 1, 2009.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)