THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The Goa government has expanded medical insurance benefits under the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY), nearly doubling coverage for families across the State.
A notification issued by the Health Department confirms that families with up to three members will now receive annual coverage of Rs 4 lakh, up from Rs 2.5 lakh.
Larger families with four or more members will be eligible for Rs 6 lakh, compared to the earlier Rs 4 lakh. The notification specifies that no family can claim more than Rs 6 lakh in a year.
Other terms and conditions of the scheme have been kept unchanged.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had earlier announced the enhancement, which has now been formalised via the notification.
The scheme, launched in 2016, provides cashless treatment at government and empanelled private hospitals. Currently, the facility is available in 11 government and 67 private hospitals.
According to official data, the scheme costs the State an average of Rs 50 crore annually. In the financial year 2025 26, 1.81 lakh families enrolled, covering 6.6 lakh individuals.
The DDSSY has become a critical pillar of Goa’s healthcare safety net, offering protection against rising medical costs. The latest revision is expected to ease the burden on households and widen access to treatment.
Prior to this scheme, the State government had the 'Mediclaim Scheme' which covered costs of medical treatment availed by Goans outside the State for serious ailments and sicknesses which required super-specialty treatment or expertise not available in the State.
By enhancing insurance limits, the government aims to reinforce public confidence in the scheme and ensure broader health security for Goan families.
