Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa government has increased the health insurance benefits available under the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY), raising the annual coverage limits for families enrolled under the flagship healthcare scheme.
The Health Department has issued a notification approving the revised coverage, under which families comprising up to three members will now be eligible for medical insurance benefits of Rs 4 lakh per year. Previously, such families were covered for up to Rs 2.5 lakh annually.
For households with four or more members, the annual insurance ceiling has been raised to Rs 6 lakh from the earlier limit of Rs 4 lakh. The notification further states that no beneficiary family will be entitled to claims exceeding Rs 6 lakh in a single year.
The enhancement gives effect to an announcement made earlier by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and is expected to provide relief to families facing increasing healthcare costs.
Introduced in 2016, the DDSSY enables beneficiaries to access cashless treatment at a network of government and empanelled private hospitals. The scheme currently covers services at 11 government healthcare institutions and 67 private hospitals.
Government records show that the programme benefits a substantial section of Goa’s population. During 2025-26, approximately 1.81 lakh families enrolled under the scheme, covering nearly 6.6 lakh individuals. The State reportedly spends around Rs 50 crore every year towards its implementation.
Healthcare experts have often highlighted the importance of insurance-backed treatment as medical expenses continue to rise. The increased coverage is expected to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for patients and improve access to quality healthcare services.
Prior to the introduction of DDSSY, Goans relied on the Mediclaim Scheme, which provided financial assistance for specialised treatment outside the State when such facilities were not available locally.
The latest revision is being viewed as a significant strengthening of Goa’s public healthcare support system, offering families a higher level of financial security during medical emergencies.
