Letter to SAIL Chairman on Grievances & Action Plan 241119

FORSE Units Grievances to Director (P)

BhilaiBokaro

Burnpur

Bhadravati

Chennai

Durgapur

Kolkata

Hyderabad

Memo to Steel Minister 280919

Suggestions for action for SAIL Mediclaim Scheme 19-20

Date for deposit of premium has been extended to 

31st August 2019. 

Please pay premium of SMSRE 2019-20 by 31st August 2019 through Net Banking, Debit Card or Credit card in onlinesbi.com 

1. Please note that if a member or spouse has paid the premium he may click on the link https://mdindiaonline.com/sail/SAILEnrollDetails.aspx   after about 3 days to see whether his / her payment is successfully transferred to SAIL/MDI.
2. E-Cards and Guidebook will be despatched after the last date of payment of premium is over. This may start in mid-August.
3. Gap/ discontinued cases may submit their application/ letter, for re-induction into the SAIL Mediclaim Scheme, to their respective Plant/ Unit IRP/ Mediclaim Officer in about a week preferably by e-mail. The contact details of IRPs are available in the link  https://sail.co.in/sites/default/files/mediclaim/IV-List-of-Contact-persons.pdf 
4. Please submit your claim bills for the period April 11-July 10, 2019 to MDIndia on or before 3rd August 2019. Bills may not be entertained thereafter.
5. Please pay premium of SMSRE 2019-20 by 10th August 2019 through Net Banking, Debit Card or Credit card in onlinesbi.com The detailed Scheme can be seen in https://tinyurl.com/medi1920    

Please find SAIL Mediclaim Scheme for a period of one year wef 11-7-2019 to 10-7-2020, received from SAIL website, in the link https://tinyurl.com/medi1920    

As per the info the mediclaim policy for this period shall be operated by M/s. New India Assurance Co. Ltd &  M/s. MD India Health Insurance TPA Pvt. Ltd. has been appointed as Third Party Administrator(TPA) for administration of Mediclaim Scheme under cashless and reimbursement basis.

You are requested to make payment of premium through SB Collect in onlinesbi.com which is the payment portal of State Bank of India.

In case of difficulty please contact 

the Nodal Mediclaim Officer of your Unit/ Plant, given in the link  https://tinyurl.com/medi1920  

SAIL Mediclaim Scheme 2019-20

Please find SAIL Mediclaim Scheme for a period of one year wef 11-7-2019 to 10-7-2020, received from SAIL website, in the link https://tinyurl.com/medi1920   

As per the info the mediclaim policy for this period shall be operated by M/s. New India Assurance Co. Ltd &  M/s. MD India Health Insurance TPA Pvt. Ltd. has been appointed as Third Party Administrator(TPA) for administration of Mediclaim Scheme under cashless and reimbursement basis.

You are requested to make payment of premium through SB Collect in onlinesbi.com which is the payment portal of State Bank of India.

In case of difficulty please contact 

the Nodal Mediclaim Officer of your Unit/ Plant, given in the link  https://tinyurl.com/medi1920  

OR

Sri Pawan Kumar, DGM (P) SAIL CO New Delhi by calling him on Phone No. 09968605173 or writing to him on email pawan.kumar@sailex.com   

By e-mail FORSE/SAIL-C/ 1019 July 07, 2019        To Sri Anil Kumar Chaudhary, Chairman, Steel Authority of India Ltd, Ispat Bhavan, Lodhi Road,  New Delhi – 110 003.        Sub: Incomplete and unsatisfactory SMSRE 19-20 Dear Sir,     This has reference to the SAIL Mediclaim Scheme for Retired Employees (SMSRE) issued yesterday which, even on surficial reading, appears to be going from bad to worse by the day both in presentation of contents and its effect on the retired employees. Most important of them is the exponential increase in the Premium to be paid by the individual retiree/ spouse without improvement in the services and coverage of Healthcare parameters. Further, it is difficult to comprehend SAIL: Member (below 70 year age) on 70:30 formula or any other Ratio for other age groups which, as communicated by us in the past is a serious violation of provisions of natural justice and other standing laws of the land as much as it is against the SAIL’s commitment to proper care taking of Retirees as per Agreements and provisions of employment conditions. The issue of payment of ever-increasing premium has put all the ageing retirees disparaged and panicky. Other issues are stated below: 1.   It is something peculiar that the SMSRE circular does not have the names of Insurance company nor that of the TPA. 2.     The mode of payment excludes the use of Debit Card for online payment through SBI collect. It is not clear why SAIL is allergic to use of Debit card 3.     I understand that even the Premiums mentioned are wrong and will be corrected through a Corrigendum. 4.     As a follow up of SMSRE circular dated 10th April this year, (a) it has no provisions to enforce 6-point Role and responsibilities on HoPs and different personnel including appointment of Nodal Officers. (b) Also bi-monthly meetings between SAIL and FORSE-affiliated Retirees Associations are visible nowhere. 5.      Mediclaim coverage between April 11-July 10, 2019: SAIL stand in respect of OPD and IPD treatment during the period 11th April to 10th July 2019 period and entertainment of claim bills for the expenses incurred by the retirees is absent. This is in complete violation of principle of natural justice, unethical and against consumer act and IRDA as already pointed out. It should be specifically spelt out as such bills are not being accepted by the TPA /Insurance company It is strongly felt that SAIL should bear such expenses or prevail upon Insurance company to reimburse such cost as the members have paid their part of premium for three months period for having such coverage It intrigues our mind where such money so collected has gone The members should get back the amount. This  issue needs to be tackled by SAIL and Insurance   company and certainly the members continue to suffer as SAIL Personnel Directorate remains a mute spectator as usual The responsibility for dealing and tardy implementation of whole scheme of so sensitive a nature involving more than lakh of retirees needs to be fixed as early as possible When someone at that level at decision making authority takes a lukewarm attitude and lacks the competence and vision, our Federation help and involvement could have been sought which were offered from initiation stage Sir, the issues raised above indicate that SAIL is adopting non-helpful attitude/ policies towards the retired employees by (i) imposing ever increasing premium that too, without increase in the facilities and cappings, (ii) reducing coverage under IPD/ Cashless. Further, the above 5 paras indicate that SAIL has adopted casual approach even in preparing and circulating mediclaim circular so sensitive in nature. It may please be noted that the insensitivity and casual approach by SAIL in issuing SMSRE circular in April ended, as mentioned in para 5 above, for all practical purposes in fiasco which continues to haunt the Retirees even today. Sir, we request you to kindly review the circular and take appropriate actions, in light of your own assurances given to us on 29th Dec 2019, by removing payment of premium by Retirees and permitting them a Healthcare policy at par with serving employees, improving Healthcare systems, facilities and communications, settling Mediclaim coverage issue wefApril 11, to July 10, 2019 within a fixed time-frame and issuing a fresh circular complete by all means.    With thanks and kind regards, Yours faithfully, For & on behalf of Federation of Retired SAIL Employees (V.N.Sharma)     Chairman (Ram Agar Singh) General Secretary Copy to: Director (P), SAIL, Director (F), SAIL

Correspondence with SAIL on Mediclaim & Action Plan

May please click on

https://tinyurl.com/sail130619  and 

https://sailex.blogspot.com/2019/05/mediclaim-issues-with-sail-uiic.html

to update yourself  for better understanding of the following correspondence

email to : Industrial Relations & Welfare<ir.corporate1@gmail.com> 

15/06/2019

Dear Sir,

     This has reference to your today's mail in the mail trail after stoic silence on this sensitive issue.

It may be recalled that our mail to Director ( Pers)  dt 23 rd April and reminder dt 8th May 2019 posing serious predicaments and seeking his immediate intervention with clear cut solution to address grave anxiety of large number of ailing members remained unresponded. This had precipitated the situation and hastened the Federation to finalising the first phase of agitational programme with due intimation to Chairman SAIL on 4th June 2019 which also remained unresponded. Our letter dt 13th June 2019 was ultimately sent with finalisation of dates etc. 

      Your mail ultimately has been sent today only mentioning the background of the case which leaves lot of gaps and question mark on which we do not wish to comment at this stage as we have never been associated with the finalisation of scheme despite our request many many times in the past.

      You have also not come out definitely how SAIL would like to deal with the case during the uncovered period of 90 days when already 65 days have elapsed in between when as per your demand premium have been paid by our members for full 90 days. Your dialogue with UIIC for entertaining the claims for unutilised money for the members of last year is frivolous and placid. This does not have any meaning at all. If SAIL and the Insurance company are so benevolent we wish this unspent money may be allowed to be utilised by the concerned members and added to their ceiling limit for tbe year 2019-20 finalised afresh.

      Para 1-3 of your message , detailing what all transpired between SAIL and UIIC does not help the sufferers. I hope and believe that you understand the intricacies of SAIL collecting the premium from Mediclaim members and not providing them service is against the express provisions of natural justice and law of the land. 

     Be that what may be at this stage when we have already chalked out our plans and programmes being forced to embark upon to resort to this, commmunicating to all our centres spread over far flung places all over the country, garnering the energy of our ageing members and scant resources that our present programme is being kept in abeyance is a difficult proposion speceially in absence of your any definite assurance on how to deal with the claim cases. 

    Referring to your claim in para 4 of your message which reads as It may also be appreciated that comprehensive medical care at SAIL Hospitals and dispensaries is available, which can be availed by ex-employees and their spouses we can only repeat that this statement is totally incorrect. What we have been saying in the past for such long years that treatment in SAIL hospitals to SAIL retirees and non-availability of medicines on some basis or the other has been very poor and unsatisfactory. Please add specially the woes and difficulties of those not availing the Plant Hospital facilities during these 3 months uncovered period  as mentioned by you. In spite of our repeated requests in our letters under reference SAIL failed to issue any advisory to SAIL Hospitals to permit full Healthcare coverage to all plant and non-plant location (like city, town) retirees at par with serving employees.

    However, we assure you that the text of your mail and our reply will be read out to the members during our non-violent peaceful Dharna, on the dates given in our letter to SAIL Chairman, and their opinion sought about our future second phase of the agitational programmes. 

We appreciate your response anyway after long long gap

With regards,

--

For & on behalf of Federation of Retired SAIL Employees (Regd)

Dr.V.N.Sharma, Chairman 

शनि, 15 जून 2019 को 2:42 pm बजे को Industrial Relations & Welfare <ir.corporate1@gmail.com> ने लिखा:

Dear Sir,

Please refer to your e-mails dated 4th June, 2019 and 13th June, 2019, addressed to Chairman, SAIL regarding your agitation programme at Plants/Units of SAIL with regard to SAIL Mediclaim Scheme.

2. We have examined the matter and would like to inform as under:

(a) SAIL has been operating a Mediclaim Scheme since 1991, for its retired employees and their spouses. As the last Scheme in operation was expiring on 10th April, 2019 (midnight), activities were initiated to finalise the Insurance Company to run and administer the SAIL medical scheme further. However, due to high premium quoted by L1 party, the agency could not be finalised within the stipulated time-frame

(b) Accordingly,  SAIL Mediclaim Scheme (2018-19) was extended for a period of three (3) months i.e. from 11th April, 2019 to 10th July, 2019 in order to maintain continuity in medical facilities  to ex-employees and their spouses, with timely submission of premium

(c) However, M/s UII made wrong interpretation of the terms and conditions of Work Order and decided to give coverage with respect to balance sum insured on 10.4.2019 only.

(d) SAIL has made efforts to persuade M/s UII at every level to honour the Terms & Conditions of the contract and provide full coverage for the extended period. A letter was also written by Director [Personnel], SAIL to Chairman of M/s UII to provide claim as per work order.

(e) However, as M/s UII continued to insist on its stand, legal recourse in the matter has also been taken.

3.         It may be seen that SAIL management has taken actions in the past and is making all efforts to ensure continued medical benefits to its ex-employees and their spouses. Further, action for putting in place an Insurance Agency for running the Mediclaim Scheme w.e.f. 11th July, 2019 for a further period of one year has already been taken and an open tender has been floated in this regard.

4.         It may also be appreciated that comprehensive medical care at SAIL Hospitals and dispensaries is available, which can be availed by ex-employees and their spouses.

5.         Company is sensitive towards the concern of ex-employees. It may be appreciated that for providing continuous medical facility to ex-employees and their spouses, the teams at corporate level and at Plants/Units have been making sincere efforts. Further, Company is also at an advanced stage to roll out the SAIL Pension Scheme for ex-employees even in a stressed liquidity position.

6.         In view of the foregoing, it is requested that you may desist from the agitational programme at this stage. This endeavor of yours would go a long way in dealing with the issues jointly. Assuring you of our best services always

Regards

(Pawan Kumar)
DGM (Personnel)

Draft Circular for SAIL Pension Scheme

An Online portal https://sampark.sailrsp.co.in/Pension/ has been developed which can be accessed from internet.  
In case of difficulty please contact Sri Pawan Kumar, DGM (P) SAIL CO New Delhi by calling him on Phone No. 09968605173 or write to him on email pawan.kumar@sailex.com  since the Circular has been signed by him.
Alternatively, Retirees can contact HoP of their Plant/ Unit

Members may please take cognisance of a response from Sri Pawan Kumar, DGM(P): 


Sir the link is part of preparation for the Rolling out of SAIL pension scheme. The draft circular which was sent to the plants has been made public. However the website is ready and we have asked plants to check up 
the data before it is made public. We will be coming out with the circular after incorporating the suggestion of plants very soon. Regards 

SAIL Pension Scheme

May please see a Power Point Presentation on SAIL Pension Scheme in 
https://saileea.blogspot.com/2019/05/sail-pension-scheme.html  

I am not sure how educative or informative it is but this is a copy of the Power Point presentation dated 10th May 2019.

Mediclaim Issues with SAIL & UIIC

By E-Mail

May 08, 2019

To

Sri Atul Srivastava,

The Director (P)

SAIL, New Delhi

          Sub: Urgency requested in decision making on Cashless treatment and settling Mediclaim Bills

Dear Sir,

Further to our request dated 23rd April 2019 in the mail trail we are in receipt of a good number of queries from individuals as also from our Member Associations as to what is SAIL doing for cashless service and reimbursement of Medical Bills under SAIL Mediclaim Scheme once the Premium was paid by the Members against a Circular from SAIL and UIIC has loudly refused to honour the extension of the Scheme and pay the Bills.  

In absence of a favourable response  from or complete silence of SAIL on this issue Retirees are not only anxious but becoming desperate by the day esp because apart from regular treatment there are some exigent situation where CABG, surgical intervention in head injury, bone fracture / replacement etc may be emergently needed to protect further damage, loss of limb or even to guard against fatality. We understand that two urgent cases are pending - one Bye pass surgery of heart and another knee replacement. Naturally this is expected to increase in the coming days. In such eventuality, SAIL is legally and morally expected to come forward to take care of the treatment fully in their listed hospitals if required as referral cases like serving employees.

Sir, the Retirees have paid their part of the medical premium and complied with such formalities as asked for to avail the insurance coverage. If UIIC or TPA is disowning it is sheerly due to incompetency or indolence of SAIL and it is their sole responsibility to sort out the problem without further delay. In case of any loss/damage to vital organs or loss of life one can sue SAIL in court and seek justice. One can also approach IRDC. However, we would not like to advise or follow this route but would certainly expect SAIL to follow its commitment and responsibilities and help save the Retirees life.

In view of the above I request you once again to kindly decide with some urgency on taking care of the Healthcare of the Members of the Scheme by taking care of the treatment fully in SAIL's listed hospitals if required as referral cases like serving employees using SAIL's own resources.

With regards,

For and on behalf of Federation of Retired SAIL Employees

(V. N. Sharma)

 Chairman               

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

By E-Mail

23/04/2019

To

Sri Atul Srivastava,

The Director (P)

SAIL, New Delhi

         Sub:  SAIL to take care of Mediclaim Scheme Members if UIIC disagree with terms of extension of Mediclaim Scheme and refuses payment of Bills/ approve Cashless

Dear Sir,

Members of the SAIL Mediclaim Scheme, going for regular / routine treatment like dialysis etc, are being refused approval for Cashless treatment and have been told by the TPA that UIIC has issued circular/ advisory not to honour the terms and conditions circulated by SAIL dated 11th April 2019 for extension up to July 2019 even after the required amount
(https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-OgRTYEqypsze_SFyFqknEojI32jArm5/view) 

 of premium has been paid by the concerned and would pay for OPD/IPD Bills and Cashless only if there is unspent amount left out in April 2018-March 2019. Informal communication with TPA by some of our representatives confirm that UIIC has issued such an advisory, copy endorsed to SAIL.

It is really shocking and surprising to know that the SAIL circular was issued after month-long processing of Tender and deliberation and negotiation with the Insurance companies and still UIIC refuses to honour the terms of extension after the process of premium payment has gone more than half-way. As it stands, it has put lots of retirees esp those in advanced age-group to uncalled for difficulties.

In view of the above I request you to kindly take up the issue with the appropriate authorities and get the moratorium by UIIC removed. I further appeal that in case of unexpected delay in settlement with UIIC, SAIL Members of the Scheme are paid / taken care of by SAIL's own resources to be recovered from the Insurance co. later.

With regards,

For and on behalf of Federation of Retired SAIL Employees

(V. N. Sharma)

 Chairman