Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana: Eligibility, Coverage & Benefits

PBBY policy is a compulsory health insurance individual plan for all emigrant Indian workers under the visa category of Emigration Check Required.

What is Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana?

This special PBBY policy scheme is administered by the Ministry of External Affairs and covers all Indian workers against all sorts of hospitalisation expenses, accidental death, maternity costs, permanent disability, etc. while working in any ECR country.

Which countries fall under the ECR category?

At present, 18 countries across the world fall under the ECR category. These countries include:

• Thailand

• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

• Lebanon

• Kuwait

• United Arab Emirates

• Bahrain

• Libya

• Indonesia

• Malaysia

• Syria

• South Sudan

• Afghanis

• Oman

• Yemen

• Iraq

Benefits of the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana

Some of the significant benefits of Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana are:

• Safeguards The Interests of Emigrant Workers:

The financial support is offered by this special scheme for Indian emigrant workers working abroad under the ECR category.

• Comprehensive Coverage:

PBBY policy allows comprehensive coverage for Indian emigrant workers working overseas. It targets offering financial support in the case of medical adversity, disability, loss of job, or accidental death.

• Affordable Premiums:

The premium for PBBY policy is comparatively far more affordable than any regular global health plan. Depending on the plan tenure, the premiums may vary.

• Simple Process For Death and Disability Certification:

Under the PBBY policy terms, all the Indian health insurance providers will accept the permanent disability or accidental death certificate as issued by the Indian Missions and Posts for the concerned emigrant worker. This eventually simplifies the certificate-acquiring procedure leading to rapid claim settlement.

• Online Plan Renewal:

You can easily renew the PBBY policy using online mode without any hassles.

What’s Covered and What’s Not Covered?

A. Inclusions:

PBBY policy can be utilised under the following circumstances:

a. Accidental death and disability

b. Hospitalisation costs

c. Maternity costs up to INR 50000

d. Family hospitalisation in India

e. Legal expenses for up to INR 45000

f. Repatriation covers medically unfit or premature termination of employment.

g. Compassionate travel, etc.

B. Exclusions:

a. Any claims related to accidents or events before the plan purchase

b. OPD treatment coverage

c. Treatment of any venereal ailments

d. Self-inflicted injuries

e. Accidental injuries resulting from war, riots, civil unrest, etc.

f. Any medical expenditure that is incurred when travelling against medical advice

g. Any ailment arising due to ionising radiation or nuclear activities

h. Treatment of asbestosis

i. Claims resulting from involvement in any illegal or criminal activity in the respective country of employment.

PBBY Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria to get enrolled under the PBBY policy are:

• All Indian citizens falling under the ECR category or needing an emigration clearance under the Emigration Act of 1983

• All Indian citizens of several professions that fall under the categories of work as listed under Section 2 (O) of the Indian Emigration Act of 1983 employed abroad

• Indians aged between 18 and 65 years.

Reasons for PBBY Claim Rejections

Some reasons why PBBY claims are rejected are:

• If there is any discrepancy of false information regarding the country of employment, employer, or profession, in the proposal form

• If the visa or passport expires during the PBBY tenure and is not renewed during a claim

• If you travel abroad despite being diagnosed with a terminal ailment

• If you travel despite a ban on travel issued by the Indian government.

Waiting Period of Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana

There are specific waiting periods under the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana scheme:

• For pre-existing ailments, it is 4 years

• For specific ailments, it is 1 year

• For maternity expenses, it is months.

Conclusion

Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana is a special individual health insurance scheme that has been specifically crafted to cater to the unique requirements of all Indian emigrant workers working in ECR countries.

FAQs

1. How to acquire a PBBY policy?

You can easily purchase a PBBY plan online by contacting any Indian health insurance provider. You just need to fill out the form and pay the required premium online.

2. Do you need any health check-ups before buying a PBBY policy?

Yes, depending on the plan terms you may need to undergo certain specific health tests before purchasing the plan, depending on your current health condition and age.

3. Do I need to visit the Indian embassy abroad for the renewal of the PBBY policy?

No, that is not essential. You can easily renew it online using your insurer’s company website.

4. Are children covered by the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana?

Yes, the PBBY policy allows hospitalisation coverage for up to 2 children of the concerned Indian emigrant worker till 21 years.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.