Mysuru: Registration for the state govt’s ambitious Yeshasvini health insurance scheme for the year 2026-27, which aims at providing cashless treatment up to Rs 5 lakh for cooperative members, began on Jan 3 across Karnataka. This year, the department of cooperation has targeted 50 lakh people. Cooperative sector members in both rural and urban areas, including dairy farmers and fishermen, can enrol under the scheme to avail benefits. About 47 lakh cooperative members enrolled under the scheme last year. In the initial years of the relaunch of the scheme in 2022-23, about 30 lakh cooperative members enrolled across the state.A total of 68,159 cooperative members availed various types of cashless treatment worth Rs 117.79 crore after its relaunch, and availed treatment in 2024-25 in the state, with an average cost of Rs 17,000 per treatment.The scheme covers a total of 2,191 surgical procedures, including interventional radiology, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery. Beneficiaries can avail treatment at empanelled 786 private and govt hospitals across the state. In addition to surgical procedures, beneficiaries can also avail general services, including ICU care, under the scheme.Chief executive officer of Primary Agriculture Cooperative Credit Society (PACCS) Horalahalli in T Narasipura taluk, Gavigowda, said that cooperative members, including dairy farmers, farmers engaged in cooperative fish farming, agriculture producer societies, credit cooperative societies, as well as beedi rollers, weavers’ cooperative society members, wool and sheep cooperative society members, and housing, agricultural and non-agricultural credit cooperative society members in both urban and rural areas, can enrol under the scheme.Cooperative members and their dependent family members, including their spouse, parents, children and grandchildren, can avail the health insurance cover benefit. The state cooperative department fixed an annual contribution of Rs 500 for family members up to 4 in rural areas. They must pay an additional Rs 100 extra charge for each extra member beyond 4 members.Cooperative members in urban areas must pay an annual contribution of Rs 1,000 for a family up to 4 members. An additional Rs 200 is charged for each extra member beyond 4.The enrolment for the Yeshasvini scheme will be open until March 31 this year, he said.Speaking to TOI, G Ranganth, under secretary for state cooperative department, said that directions were given to the deputy registrar of cooperative societies in all districts, including all chief executive officers of cooperative societies, to cover the maximum number of cooperative members and their dependent family members to avail the benefit under the health insurance scheme.
