Clarification On Arrear Payment , Saturday Off And Hospitalisation Expenses

We have been receiving lot many queries from our members, State Committees and Affiliates about the actual implementation of the Salary Revision i.e. about the payment of arrears and two Saturdays off. Though, we have clarified the process in our earlier communications, we would once again like to reiterate that in case of Award Staff the Bipartite Settlement can be implemented immediately after signing and the revised Salary Revision as well as arrears can be paid immediately after that, whereas, in case of officers, the service regulations are required to be amended.

Since the amendment in the OSR is a lengthy process, IBA has already recommended to the Government for payment of the revised Salary and actual arrears on adhoc basis subject to amendments in OSR. The approval of payment of revised salary on adhoc basis and payment of arrears are also required to be approved by the Board of Directors of the Banks.

Department of Financial Services (D.F.S), Ministry of Finance (M.O.F.), Government of India has already started the process of giving in-principle approval asked by the IBA.

We are hopeful that the approval of the Government will be conveyed within a fortnight. Meanwhile, a couple of Banks’ Boards have already adopted the Joint Note and have conveyed their approval for payment of the revised salary and arrears on receipt of approval from the Government.

We have also informed you that NOC from Reserve Bank of India regarding two Saturdays off was received by IBA and IBA has sent the same to Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India along with its recommendation for implementation of 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays off at the earliest. The Government is known to have sent their in-principle approval to the IBA. Actual implementation of 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays off would only be after the issuance of notification for which IBA is vigorously following up. This issue may also take another fortnight.

We once again assure our membership that these issues are very close to our heart and any development in this regard will be conveyed in no time. Our members are requested to rely on the official communications only and should not rely / forward any news received from unauthenticated sources.  

AIBOC 

CIRCULAR NO. 27/ 107/2015/18, 8th June, 2015
To ALL UNITS AND MEMBERS :

Dear Comrades,

New Revised Scheme on Reimbursement of hospitalisation/medical expenses
Our units and members are aware that while formulating the Charter of Demands for the 10tyh BP Settlement, our Wages Sub-Committee had recommended certain priorities and one amongst them was the need to substantially improve the health care scheme to provide for full reimbursement of the medical/hospitalisation expenses. Our Sub-Committee also recommended that we should achieve extension of the scheme to the retired employees also and further that the cost of such health care scheme should be over and above the wage cost agreed in the settlement.  

 We are happy that when the 10th Bipartite Settlement has been signed now, we could achieve all these priority demands as part of the Settlement.  

 The new scheme that has been agreed to be introduced provides for full reimbursement of hospitalisation / medical expenses incurred by the employee / dependent family members including domiciliary treatment. The Scheme would be available to the employees even after their retirement. In addition, all the existing retired employees would also be covered by the Scheme. And further, the entire cost of the Scheme would be exclusive of the wage revision cost agreed to by the IBA.  

 Hence, at a time, when due to the opening up of the health sector and commercialisation of the health services, medical treatment has become extremely costly and unaffordable to ordinary people, this Scheme is a significant achievement.

 We give hereunder the salient feature of the Scheme :

 (i) All existing employees are covered by the Scheme

 (ii) New recruits will be covered from date of joining

 (iii) The Scheme covers Employee + Spouse + Dependents + any two of the dependent Parents /Parents-in-law. 

 (iv) Hospitalization / domiciliary hospitalization and domiciliary treatment expenses will be reimbursed.

 (v) No age limit for dependent children (including step children and legally adopted children). 

 (vi) A child/parents/parents in law would be considered dependent if monthly income does not exceed Rs.10,000/- per month 

 (vii) Widowed Daughter and divorced / separated daughters, sisters including unmarried / divorced / abandoned or separated from husband/ widowed sisters 

 (viii) Physically/mentally challenged Brother / Sister with 40% or more disability shall also be covered as Dependent.

 (ix) Till the new scheme is made effective and gets implemented, the existing provisions as per Bipartite Settlement dated 27.4.2010 will continue to operate.

 (x) The new Scheme as applicable to the employees in service would be continued beyond their retirement/ superannuation/ resignation, etc. subject to payment of stipulated premium by them. 

 (xi) The new Scheme would also cover the existing retired employees of the Banks and dependent spouse subject to payment of stipulated premium by them.

 (xii) Reimbursement shall cover Room and Boarding expenses as provided by the Hospital/Nursing Home not exceeding Rs. 5000 per day or the actual amount whichever is less.   

 (xiii) Reimbursement shall cover Intensive Care Unit (ICU) expenses not exceeding Rs. 7500/- per day or actual amount whichever is less. 

 (xiv) Reimbursement shall cover Surgeon, team of surgeons, Assistant surgeon,

Anaesthetist, Medical Practitioner, Consultants, Specialists Fees, Nursing Charges, Service Charges, Administration Charges, Nebulization Charges, RMO charges, Anaesthetic, Blood, Oxygen, Operation Theatre Charges, surgical appliances, OT consumables, Medicines & Drugs, Dialysis, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Cost of Artificial Limbs, cost of prosthetic devices implanted during surgical procedure like pacemaker, defibrillator, ventilator, orthopaedic implants, Cochlear Implant, any other implant, Intra-Occular Lenses, infra cardiac valve replacements, vascular stents, any other valve replacement, laboratory/ diagnostic tests, X-ray CT Scan, MRI, any other scan, scopies and such similar expenses that are medically necessary or incurred during hospitalization as per the advice of the attending doctor. 

(xv) Hospitalization expenses (excluding cost of organ) incurred on donor in respect of organ transplant to officers/ employee/dependent would also be covered for reimbursement.

 (xvi) Pre and Post Hospitalization expenses payable in respect of each hospitalization shall be the actual expenses incurred subject to 30 days prior to hospitalization and 90 days after discharge. 

 (xvii) Alternative systems of treatments other than treatment under Allopathy or modern medicine shall include Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Naturopathy for Hospitalization and Domiciliary treatment.

 (xviii) CASHLESS FACILITY: The scheme also includes the benefit of cashless treatment facility in hospitals covered by the scheme.

 (xix) CONTRIBUTION: The officers / employees shall not be required to share the cost of such benefits under the new scheme. 

 (xx) However, in the case of officers / employees retiring from the Banks after the scheme is introduced and those who are already retired from the services of the banks and who opt to avail the benefits of the scheme, the amount of contribution by such persons shall be decided at the respective Bank level.

 (xxi) Day care Treatments shall be covered under the scheme 

 (xxii) DOMICILIARY HOSPITALIZATION: Domiciliary Hospitalization shall be covered under this scheme and would mean medical treatment for an illness/disease/injury which in the normal course would require care and treatment at a hospital but is actually taken while confined at home under any of the following circumstances :

 (xxiii) The condition of the patient is such that he/she is not in a condition to be removed to a hospital or  

 (xxiv) the patient takes treatment at home on account of non-availability of room in a hospital.

 (xxv) DOMICILIARY TREATMENT shall also be covered under this scheme i.e. treatment taken for specified diseases which may or may not require hospitalization as mentioned herein below.

         Domiciliary Hospitalization / Domiciliary Treatment : Medical expenses incurred in case of the following diseases which need Domiciliary Hospitalization /domiciliary treatment as may be certified by the recognized hospital authorities and bank's ’medical officer shall be deemed as hospitalization expenses and reimbursed to the extent of 100%.

• Cancer,
• Leukemia,
• Thalassemia,
• Tuberculosis,
• Paralysis,
• Cardiac Ailments ,
• Pleurisy ,
• Leprosy,
• Kidney Ailment,
• All Seizure disorders,
• Parkinson’s diseases,
• Psychiatric disorder including schizophrenia and psychotherapy,
• Diabetes and its complications, hypertension,
• Asthma,
• Hepatitis –B,
• Hepatitis - C,
• Hemophilia,
• Myasthenia gravis,
• Wilson’s disease,
• Ulcerative Colitis,
• Epidermolysis bullosa,
• Venous Thrombosis (not caused by smoking)
• Aplastic Anaemia, Psoriasis,
• Third Degree burns,
• Arthritis,
• Hypothyroidism,
• expenses incurred on radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer and leukemia,
• Glaucoma,
• Tumor,
• Diphtheria,
• Malaria,
• Non-Alcoholic Cirrhosis of Liver,
• Purpura,
• Typhoid,
• Accidents of Serious Nature,
• Cerebral Palsy,
• Polio,
• all Strokes leading to Paralysis,
• Hemorrhages caused by accidents,
• all animal/reptile/insect bite or sting,
• chronic pancreatitis,
• Immuno suppressants,
• multiple sclerosis / motor neuron disease,
• status asthamaticus,
• sequalea of meningitis,
• osteoporosis,
• muscular dystrophies,
• sleep apnea syndrome(not related to obesity),
• any organ related (chronic) condition,
• sickle cell disease,
• systemic lupus erythematous (SLE),
• any connective tissue disorder,
• varicose veins,
• thrombo embolism venous thrombosis/ venous thrombo embolism (VTE),
• growth disorders,
• Graves’ disease,
• Chronic Pulmonary Disease,
• Chronic Bronchitis,
• Physiotherapy and
• swine flu

(xxvi) The cost of medicines, investigations, and consultations, etc.in respect of domiciliary treatment shall be reimbursed for the period stated by the specialist in Prescription. If no period stated, the prescription for the purpose of reimbursement shall be valid for a period not exceeding 90 days.

(xxvii) ID CARD: ID Cards would be issued to all the employees/ dependent family members/retired employees/their dependents for the purpose of availing cashless facility in network hospitals. 
 
(xxviii) PRE-EXISTING DISEASE: Pre Existing Diseases would be covered for reimbursement under this scheme.


(xxix) PRE–HOSPITALISATION MEDICAL EXPENSES: Medical expenses incurred immediately 30 days before the employee is hospitalized will be considered as part of a claim

(xxx) POST HOSPITALISATION MEDICAL EXPENSES: Relevant medical expenses incurred immediately 90 days after the employee/ dependent/ retirement employee is discharged from the hospital

(xxxi) Additional Ex-Gratia for Critical Illness : In addition to the reimbursement covered under this scheme, employees (only employees and not their dependents or retired employees) shall be provided additional ex gratia of Rs. 1,00,000 in case an employee contracts a Critical Illness as listed below:

• Cancer including Leukemia
• Stroke
• Paralysis
• By Pass Surgery
• Major Organ Transplant/Bone marrow transplantation
• End Stage Liver Disease
• Heart Attack
• Kidney Failure
• Heart Valve Replacement Surgery
• Hospitalization is not required to claim this benefit.
(xxxii) Expenses on Hospitalization for minimum period of a day are admissible. However, this time limit shall not be applied to specific treatments, such as:
1 Adenoidectomy 19 Haemo dialysis
2 Appendectomy 20 Fissurectomy / Fistulectomy
3 Auroplasty not Cosmetic in nature 21 Mastoidectomy
4 Coronary angiography /Renal 22 Hydrocele
5 Coronary angioplasty 23 Hysterectomy
6 Dental surgery 24 Inguinal/ventral/umbilical/femoral hernia
7 D&C 25 Parenteral chemotherapy
8 Excision of cyst/granuloma/lump/tumor 26 Polypectomy
9 Eye surgery 27 Septoplasty
10 Fracture including hairline fracture /dislocation 28 Piles/ fistula
11 Radiotherapy 29 Prostate surgeries
12 Chemotherapy including parental chemotherapy 30 Sinusitis surgeries
13 Lithotripsy 31 Tonsillectomy
14 Incision and drainage of abscess 32 Liver aspiration
15 Varicocelectomy 33 Sclerotherapy
16 Wound suturing 34 Varicose Vein Ligation
17 FESS 35 All scopies along with biopsies
18 Operations/Micro surgical operations on the nose, middle ear/internal ear, tongue, mouth, face, tonsils & adenoids, salivary glands & salivary ducts, breast, skin & subcutaneous tissues, digestive tract, female/male sexual organs. 36
37 Lumbar puncture
Ascitic Pleural tapping

 (xxxiii) This condition will also not apply in case of stay in hospital of less than a day provided the treatment is undertaken under General or Local Anesthesia in a hospital / day care centre in less than a day because of technological advancement and which would have otherwise required hospitalization of more than a day.

 (xxxiv) MATERNITY EXPENSES BENEFIT EXTENSION : Hospitalization expenses in respect of the new born child can be covered within the Mother’s Maternity expenses. The maximum benefit allowable under this clause will be up to Rs 50,000/- for normal delivery and Rs. 75,000/- for Caesarean Section.

 (xxxv) Baby Day one Cover: New born baby is covered from day one. All expenses incurred on the new born baby during maternity will be covered in addition to the maternity limit and up to Rs, 20,000/-.
        
(xxxvi) Ambulance Charges: Ambulance charges are payable up to Rs 2500/- per trip to hospital and / or transfer to another hospital or transfer from hospital to home if medically advised. Taxi and Auto expenses in actual maximum up to Rs 750/- per trip will also be reimbursable.

 (xxxvii) Ambulance charges actually incurred on transfer from one center to another center due to Non availability of medical services/ medical complication shall be payable in full. 

 (xxxviii) Congenital Anomalies: Expenses for Treatment of Congenital Internal / External diseases, defects anomalies are covered under the scheme. 



 (xxxix) Psychiatric diseases: Expenses for treatment of psychiatric and psychosomatic diseases shall be payable with or without hospitalization.

 (xl) Advanced Medical Treatment: All new kinds of approved advanced medical procedures for e.g. laser surgery, stem cell therapy for treatment of a disease is payable on hospitalization /day care surgery.

 (xli) Treatment taken for Accidents can be payable even on OPD basis in Hospital.

 (xlii) Taxes and other Charges : All Taxes , Surcharges , Service Charges , Registration charges, Admission Charges , Nursing , and Administration charges to be payable. 

 (xliii) Charges for diapers and sanitary pads are payable, if necessary, as part of the treatment.  

 (xliv) Charges for Hiring a nurse / attendant during hospitalization will be payable only in case of recommendation from the treating doctor in case ICU / CCU, Neo natal nursing care or any other case where the patient is critical and requiring special care.

 (xlv) Treatment for Genetic Disorder and stem cell therapy shall be covered under the scheme.

 (xlvi) Treatment for Age related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), treatment such as Rotational Field Quantum magnetic Resonance (RFQMR), Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP), etc. are covered under the scheme. 

 (xlvii) Treatment for all neurological/ macular degenerative disorders shall be covered under the scheme. 

 (xlviii) Rental Charges for External and or durable Medical equipment of any kind used for diagnosis and or treatment including CPAP, CAPD, Bi-PAP, Infusion pump etc. will be covered under the scheme. However purchase of the above equipment to be subsequently used at home in exceptional cases on medical advice shall be covered.

 (xlix) Ambulatory devices i.e., walker, crutches, Belts, Collars, Caps, Splints, Slings, Braces, Stockings, elastocrepe bandages, external orthopaedic pads, sub cutaneous insulin pump, Diabetic foot wear, Glucometer (including Glucose Test Strips)/ Nebulizer/ prosthetic devise/ Thermometer, alpha / water bed and similar related items etc., will be covered under the scheme.

 (l) Physiotherapy charges: Physiotherapy charges shall be covered for the period specified by the Medical Practitioner even if taken at home.

 (li) While reimbursement to the employees shall be made by the Banks as hitherto, the Scheme shall be administered by the Banks through a scheme worked out between IBA/Banks and Insurance companies and employees would in no way be directly bound by the terms and conditions of such scheme or arrangements.

 (lii) The above stated scheme would not supersede the continuation of any bank-level arrangement or scheme providing for reimbursement of medical expenses, which is not covered herein, that may be in operation in any Bank.

 With greetings,
Yours comradely,
C.H. VENKATCHALAM
GENERAL SECRETARY