Unmarried disabled sons of ECHS beneficiaries eligible for medicare facilities even after 25 years age

NEW DELHI: The defence ministry on Wednesday decided that unmarried permanently disabled and financially dependent sons of Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) beneficiaries will be entitled to medical benefits even after they have attained 25 years of age.

Till now, unmarried permanently disabled and financially dependent sons of ECHS beneficiaries after attaining the age of 25 years were not considered as dependant and hence, were not eligible for availing medical facilities under the scheme. The decision is as per the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) Rules which are followed by the ECHS, a defence ministry statement said.

The statement, citing a January 1 order, said the CGHS had declared as dependent such sons of CGHS beneficiaries who have become disabled after attaining the age of 25 years. Hence, they were declared eligible for availing medical benefits subject to fulfilment of conditions laid down in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare office memorandum dated May 5, 2018, the

The decision is as per the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) Rules which are followed by the ECHS, a defence ministry statement said

order said.

It has now been decided by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare (DESW), to similarly treat unmarried permanently disabled and financially dependent sons of ECHS beneficiaries who have become disabled after attaining the age of 25 years as dependant, the statement said.

They will now be eligible for availing benefits under the ECHS, subject to fulfilment of conditions laid down in the health ministry office memorandum in 2018, it said.

The unmarried permanently disabled and financially dependent sons of ECHS beneficiaries will also be able to avail benefits after 25 years, as per conditions laid down in the memorandum, sources said.