Rs 5 lakh health cover for expatriates to roll out from November: No. of hospitals, additional coverage, validity

Thiruvananthapuram: Norka Care, a comprehensive health and accident insurance scheme for Malayali expatriates, will come into effect on November 1, Kerala Formation Day. The scheme will benefit around 20 lakh Malayalis living abroad, besides Keralites and their families residing in other Indian states.

Cashless treatment facilities will be available in 1,200 hospitals across the country under the project, which will be implemented through Norka Roots. Insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh will be provided. In addition to the applicant, the policy will cover the spouse and up to two children aged below 25 years.

Validity, beneficiaries and more
The policy will be valid for one year. Beneficiaries include Keralites abroad with Norka Expatriate ID cards and Student ID cards, as well as those holding NRK ID cards in other states.

A Personal Accident Care (PAC) scheme worth Rs. 4 lakh is already in place for Kerala expatriates. A decision has been taken to increase this coverage amount, too. With the rollout of Norka Care, those under the PAC scheme will also be brought into the new insurance umbrella.

The scheme covers hospital room rent, ICU charges, 30 days of pre-hospitalisation expenses, 60 days of post-hospitalisation expenses, medical management and daycare benefits. Importantly, pre-existing conditions will also be covered.

Other features
In case of death due to an accident, dependents will receive the full insured amount. An additional benefit of Rs. 25,000 will be provided for transporting the body from another state, and Rs 50,000 if repatriated from abroad.

Full coverage will be extended for total or permanent disability, while partial disability will be compensated as per the policy schedule. Claims can be filed within 60 days. Enrollment for the scheme is open from September 22 to October 21. The insurance coverage will be effective from November 1, 2025, to October 30, 2026.