Strengthening Of Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY)

August 01, 2017

The mandatory insurance scheme, Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY), aimed at welfare of Indian emigrant workers who need Emigration Clearance for overseas employment has been revamped following extensive consultation with all concerned stakeholders. A gazette notification has been issued and a comparative table indicating existing and revised provisions is enclosed. The strengthened scheme (PBBY,2017) will be effective w.e.f. August 1,2017.

2. The scheme provides an insurance cover of 10 lakhs in case of death or permanent disability and a few other benefits at a nominal insurance premium of Rs. 275 and Rs. 375 for a period of two and three years respectively. The coverage for accidental death/permanent disability has been made global with facility for online renewal and provisioning of submission of claims by Missions and Posts abroad. The Standard Operating Procedure for submission of claims will be circulated shortly.

3. Salient provisions of the strengthened scheme are as follows:

Maximum sum for which insured under the Scheme is Rs.10.00 lakhs in the event of accidental death or permanent disability leading to loss of employment while in employment abroad, irrespective of change of employer/location of insured person

Certification of accidental death or permanent disability by Indian Missions and Posts abroad shall be accepted by the insurance companies.

Medical insurance cover including injuries / sickness / ailment / diseases enhanced to Rs.1,00,000/- (up to Rs. 50,000 per hospitalization)

Repatriation cover for medically unfit/premature termination of employment: Actual one-way economy class air fare to the nearest international airport in India.

Family Hospitalization in India enhanced to Rs. 50,000/-

Maternity benefit to women emigrants enhanced to Rs. 35,000/-

Return economy class air fare to the nearest international airport attendant in case of emigrant’s accidental death or permanent disability.

Legal expenses on litigation related to emigrant’s overseas employment enhanced to Rs. 45,000/-

Provision for On-line renewal of PBBY policy.

Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana Policy, 2017
(I) Policy Coverages
(1)	(2)	(3)
Feature	Existing	Revised
Eligibility	ECR passport holders under the Emigration Act, 1983 (Act 31 of 1983)	No Change in respect of ECR passport holders under the Emigration Act, 1983 (Act 31 of 1983). Will also include emigrants going for overseas employment for various professions falling under work categories covered under Section 2 (o) of Emigration Act,1983
Policy Period	Rs. 275 and Rs. 375 for two and three years respectively	No change
Cover
Personal Accident (a) Death (b) Permanent Total Disablement (PTD)	Rs. 10 Lakhs	No change
Hospitalisation Expenses following accident in India/ abroad	Up to Rs. 75,000/-	Rs. 1 Lakh ( upto Rs. 50,000/- per hospitalization)
Hospitalisation expenses following disease	Up to Rs. 75,000/-	Rs. 1 Lakh ( upto Rs. 50,000/- per hospitalization)
		Cashless facility for hospitalisation treatment in India in the network hospitals. Outside India claims will be reimbursed
Maternity expenses benefit to women insured	Up to Rs. 25,000/-	Rs. 35,000/- in case of normal delivery per policy period Rs. 50,000/- in case of caesarean section per policy period
Hospitalisation cover for dependents of insured in case of his/her death and permanent total disability	Up to Rs. 50,000/- per annum	Rs. 50,000/- per annum during policy period.
Repatriation following loss of employment due to major illness/accident/death	Actual one way economy class air fare for insured and both way economy class air fare for one attendant (if applicable) OR equivalent amount for local burial	Actual one way economy class air fare for insured and both way economy class air fare for one attendant (if applicable) till the nearest international airport in India OR equivalent amount for local burial
Repatriation charges in case of substantive change in employment	Actual one way economy class air fare for insured	Actual one way economy class air fare for insured till the nearest international Airport in India.
Legal expenses in case of substantive change in employment	Up to Rs. 30,000/-	Rs. 45,000/-
Online renewal of Policy	Does not exist	Online renewable.
(II) Claim Procedure simplification (Documentation)	Existing ( in addition to mandatory claim form)	Revised
Death Claims due to accident	1. Attending Doctor's report, 2. Original Death Certificate, 3. Original/Attested Post Mortem.Coroners report, 4. Police Inquest report, 5. Any other document required by Company	In case of death, certificate issued by Authorised Official of Mission/ Consulate will be acceptable. The Certificate should contain (at least) information on 1. identity of the person, 2.date of Accident, 3. Date of death 4. cause of death confirming that the same has occurred due to the accident, as the policy covers only accidental death, 5. Any other relevant information
Permanent Total Disablement claims	1. Attending Doctor's Report, 2. Disability Certificate from Govt registered Medical practitioner, 3. Diagnostic Reports confirming injury, 4. Police Inquest Report, 5. Any other document required by the company.	In case of disablement, certificate issued by Mission/ Consulate/ doctor attached to Mission or consulate would be acceptable. The certificate should contain at least information on 1. identity of the person, 2. date of accident, 3. cause of Accident 4. Certification that disablement was caused due to the accident, 5.extent of disablement renedering insured's incapability to engage in any occupation, 6. Any other relevant information . When the insured is repatriated after injury, certificate issued by the attending Doctor in India will also be acceptable.
Time Period for filing of claims related to accidental death and permanent disability	90 days	1. Claim documents to be filed within 90 days from the date of accidental death/ permanent disability. 2. In case of non-filing of claim within 90 days, certificate from the Indian Mission/Post indicating reasons for the delay will be accepted by the Insurance company. In case of accidental death /permanent disability in India, certificate from Protector of Emigrants will be accepted.
Hospitalisation claims	Based on document evidenced	No Change
Increasing Awareness		Standardised pamphlets may be printed in Hindi, English and vernacular languages. The insurers can publicise this policy in their respective web portals. Claims documents and procedural aspects can be displayed in Insurance Co's portals as well as E-Migrate portal. Simplified procedure can be circulated with policy
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The insurance shall remain valid irrespective of change of employer or the subscriber’s location during the policy period. The insurance shall also remain valid during visit of subscriber to India or any third country during the currency of insurance cover.
Certification of accidental death by Indian Missions and Posts abroad will be accepted by the insurance companies. While abroad in third country, certification of accidental death by Indian Mission in that country and in case of accidental death in India, certification by concerned POE will be acceptable.
The nominee of the emigrant worker should be informed about the benefits and policy details of the scheme (by Post as well as SMS/E-mail as applicable)
The insurance company shall provide facility of online renewal of the policy and update the data on the e-migrate portal of Ministry.
The Insurance company shall register passport wise claims on the e-migrate portal of the Ministry as and when request for the claim is received by them.