CHENNAI: Nearly 1.57 lakh families across the State, who were affected by the tsunami, have been provided medical and accident insurance by the United India Insurance Company. Of this, about 6,500 families are in the city.

Addressing presspersons here recently, the company's chairman and managing director G.Srinivasan said that about 16,000 families across the State have benefited from the insurance cover over the past one year.

The Tsunami Jan Bhima Yojana was launched in March 2007 in association with the Central Government.
Disbursed

Insurance claims worth Rs.7.12 crore have been disbursed so far and the cost has been sponsored by Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

On the benefits, he said the tsunami affected families have been provided a photo identity card which they could use to avail of medical facilities.

Each family is provided with an insurance cover up to Rs.30,000 a year.

About 180 hospitals in the State have been enlisted based on the quality of healthcare and their location.

The yearly premium of Rs.800 a family is provided by the Central Government, Mr.Srinivasan said.

A total of three lakh families have been provided the insurance cover in Tamil Nadu, including those in Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts, and in Kerala.

It would soon be expanded to Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry, he added.