Arising out of demands made by AIRF, NFIR, many individuals and Associations of Pensioners etc. the subject of extension/re-opening of the Retired Employees Liberalised Health Scheme (RELHS-97), for those retired employees who have not joined the RELHS-97 scheme earlier, has been under consideration of the Board for some time. After careful examination of the matter it has been decided that all retired Railway employees, having qualifying service period and who have not joined the RELHS-97 scheme earlier, will be given another last and final chance to join RELHS-97.
The period during which the scheme has been made open is from the date of issue of this letter and upto 31.12.05 (Thirty first December two thousand five only).
The scheme has been approved by Railway Board with a special condition that there will be a “lock in” period of six months from the date on which a retired employee joins the scheme i.e. the date of depositing the fees. During this period the retired employee will be provided medical treatment as available in Railway hospitals and other Govt. hospitals including Govt. owned autonomous hospitals and Govt. medical college hospitals only. They will not be referred to private hospitals, which are recognised for Railway employees and other RELHS cardholders. In any circumstances and in any medical condition, during the “lock in” period, reimbursement of medical claims for treatment taken in private hospital including the private recognised hospitals will not be permitted.
· All other terms and conditions contained in Board’s letter No.97/H/28/1/ dated 23.10.97 and subsequent orders No.97/H/28/1 dated 17.5.99 and 27.12.99 will remain unaltered.
· RELHS (Medical identity) card will be issued by the Personnel Branch of concerned Railways. The RELHS Card issued to beneficiaries with lock in period should clearly indicate the designation, amount deposited and name and designation of issuing authority/signatory.
· Lock in period to be clearly and prominently mentioned on the card alongwith the conditions.
· The retired employees who are willing to join this scheme must give a clear declaration alongwith application that he/she is joining the scheme with full knowledge about the “lock in” period. He/she should also give clear declaration that during the lock in period he/she will not submit any reimbursement claim for treatment taken in private and private recognised hospitals and would not challenge the orders of Railway Board to this effect in any court of law.
· This also applies to spouses of Railway employees who died in harness.
The above instructions are only for those retired employees who retired earlier and did not join RELHS-97 scheme. This will not be applicable to railway employees now retiring and giving their option for joining RELHS-97 Scheme.
The scheme is open from the date of issue of this letter upto 31.12.2005 and would not be extended further in any circumstances.
A wide publicity should be given.
This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.