Telangana police seek health insurance cover overhaul
HYDERABAD: Telangana Police personnel have sought a review of restrictions imposed under the Arogya Bhadratha Scheme and demanded the introduction of a comprehensive corporate health insurance policy for serving staff and their dependents.
In a representation submitted to the state government, police personnel flagged growing anxiety following a circular issued on March 20, 2025 (No. ABS/31/2025), read with related government orders. They said the recent clarifications had intensified concerns over affordability, access to treatment, and sustainability of medical support.
High stress, rising medical burden
Police personnel pointed out that the force operates under continuous occupational stress, with round-the-clock duties, irregular working hours, limited weekly offs, and inadequate rest. This, they said, has led to a steady decline in physical and mental health among personnel and their dependent family members.
They highlighted that in the open insurance market, individual health insurance premiums range between ₹6,000 and ₹23,000 annually for young adults with higher coverage, while older individuals and families face significantly higher costs. Despite facing higher occupational health risks, police personnel do not receive corporate health insurance benefits extended to many public and private sector employees.
Concerns over recoveries and treatment limits
The representation flagged high monthly recoveries from salaries under the Bhadratha subscription, ranging from ₹1,600 to ₹3,200. It also cited treatment ceilings of ₹1 lakh for medical management cases and ₹182 lakh for major procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting, cancer treatment, neurosurgery, and kidney transplantation.
Parents, included as beneficiaries since 2015, now account for nearly 44% of total Arogya Bhadratha Scheme expenditure, the representation said, resulting in denial or restriction of care in several cases.
Police personnel also raised concerns over mandatory referrals to the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences for prolonged or high-cost treatments, and the summary rejection of special sanction requests, which they said caused severe mental distress during medical emergencies.
They further pointed out that several empanelled private hospitals exhaust the approved ceiling amounts within one or two days, making continued treatment financially unviable for families.
Key demands to the government
The representation urged the state government to introduce a comprehensive corporate health insurance scheme for Telangana Police personnel and their dependents, in line with their service conditions and occupational risks.
Other demands included enhancing treatment ceiling limits, especially for dependents and critical illnesses; reducing delays in government reimbursements to the Arogya Bhadratha Trust; allowing flexibility in hospital choice during emergencies instead of mandatory referrals; and constituting a high-level committee with police representatives to review the scheme’s functioning and sustainability.
“Police personnel form the backbone of internal security. Ensuring their health security is not a concession but a necessity for effective policing and public safety,” the representation said.
