Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package : Insurance Scheme For Health Workers Fighting COVID-19
₹50 lakh insurance cover · health workers who die from COVID-19 · no premium required
This scheme provides ₹50 lakh accident insurance cover to healthcare workers — doctors, nurses, paramedics, and support staff — who were on COVID-19 duty and died or became permanently disabled as a result. It is a one-time financial protection measure for frontline health workers from both government and requisitioned private hospitals. Claims are filed through the employing institution and forwarded to the New India Assurance Company.
About This Scheme
This scheme provides ₹50 lakh accident insurance cover to healthcare workers — doctors, nurses, paramedics, and support staff — who were on COVID-19 duty and died or became permanently disabled as a result. It is a one-time financial protection measure for frontline health workers from both government and requisitioned private hospitals. Claims are filed through the employing institution and forwarded to the New India Assurance Company.
Full official description
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, aims to provide financial protection to health workers combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this scheme, an insurance cover of ₹50,00,000/- is provided to healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and other frontline workers. The scheme is implemented by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
This accident insurance scheme covers:
- Loss of life due to COVID-19, and
- Accidental death on account of COVID-19-related duty.
Beneficiary
Public healthcare providers including community health workers, who may have to be indirect contact and care of COVID-19 patients and who may be at risk of being impacted by this.
Private hospital staff and retired /volunteer /local urban bodies/ contracted /daily wage /ad hoc/outsourced staff requisitioned by States/ Central hospitals/ autonomous hospitals of Central/ States/UTs, AIIMS and INIs/hospitals of Central Ministries can also be drafted for COVID-19-related responsibilities.
Benefits
- Insurance cover of ₹50,00,000 (₹50 lakh) for loss of life or permanent disability due to COVID-19 contracted while on duty
- Covers accidental death occurring due to COVID-19-related duty
- Benefit is paid to the deceased worker's family/nominee or to the disabled worker directly
💡 Why Startups Should Care
Healthtech and insurtech founders: this scheme was one of India's first large-scale government-backed accidental health insurance programmes processed digitally — studying its claims pipeline reveals where government health insurance workflows break down under volume.
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Must be a healthcare worker (doctor, nurse, paramedic, support staff, or community health worker) who was directly involved in COVID-19 duties
- Must be an Indian citizen
- Must have been registered under a government health program and working at a COVID-19 designated hospital or care facility
- Covers both government healthcare staff and private hospital staff requisitioned by state/central governments for COVID-19 duties
- Also covers retired, volunteer, contractual, daily-wage, and outsourced staff deployed for COVID-19 work
Exclusions
- Not available to workers who did not die from COVID-19 or did not die while on duty
- Does not cover private health workers unless specifically notified by the state government
How to Apply
- The next of kin or family must report the death of the health worker to the employing institution (hospital, health centre, municipality).
- The institution submits the claim to the insuring agency (New India Assurance Company) with required documents.
- The claim is processed and ₹50 lakh is disbursed directly to the nominee or legal heir.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this Scheme cover?
This accident insurance scheme covers; Loss of life due to COVID19, and Accidental death on account of COVID-19 related duty.
What is the definition of Accident?
An accident is sudden, unforeseen and involuntary event caused by external, visible and violent means.
Who all are covered under the scheme?
- Public healthcare providers including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and who may be at risk of being impacted by this.
- Private hospital staff and retired /volunteer /local urban bodies/ contracted /daily wage/ad-hoc/outsourced staff requisitioned by States/ Central hospitals/ autonomous hospitals of Central/ States/UTs, AIIMS and INIs/ hospital of Central Ministries can also be drafted for COVID 19 related responsibilities.
Who can be a volunteer under this scheme?
Volunteers are those who are drafted by the Government Official authorized by Central/State/ UT Government for care and may have come in direct contact of the COVID-19 patient
Who are ‘Private persons’ under this scheme?
Private persons are those who are engaged by both public & private health care institutions/organization through an agency and were deployed /drafted for care and may have come in direct contact of the COVID-19 patient (with the proof that the service of the agencies were engaged by the institution/organization).
When does insurance coverage policy begins and ends?
The duration of the policy is for a period of 90 days, starting from March 30, 2020.
Is there any age-limit for health workers under this scheme?
There's no age limit for this scheme.
Is individual enrolment required?
Individual enrolment is not required.
Whether an individual is required to pay any premium to be eligible under the scheme?
The entire amount of premium for this scheme is being borne by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
What is the benefit available to the insured persons?
INR 50,00,000/- will be paid to the claimant of the insured person
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- Death certificate of the health worker
- Proof of employment as a health/sanitation worker
- Proof that death occurred while on COVID-19 duty
- Nominee or legal heir identity proof
- Bank account details of the nominee