The government authorities have come up with a new facility that will provide you with money when you have an immediate need at the time of a medical emergency or during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The members of the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) can take out an advance sum of 1 lakh during an urgent medical emergency from their Provident Fund account and to avail of this service, they need not pay any kind of cost estimate.
Earlier, on July 1 the organization stated that they would provide the service of providing Rs 1 lakh in advance relating to any sudden hospitalization for the treatment of fatal disease, COVID-19 being no exception.
Previously, the decision to provide money for medical emergencies were based on estimates or only on the reimbursement of medical bills. However, now during any medical emergency, the members of the EPFO don’t have to furnish an estimate or provide any bill. They only have to apply for the amount and the money will be deposited in their account.
So, how can the EPF members apply for this scheme during a medical emergency?
1. The patient should be admitted to Government/Public Sector Unit/CGHS Panel Hospital for treatment. If he/she has been admitted to a private hospital in an emergency, then an investigation will be held by an officer, and after that his/her medical advance will be issued.
2. The employee or any family member will have to submit an application giving details of the medical hospital and the patient, with a mention that there is no estimate of the cost of expenditure on the treatment and then only a medical advance should be issued.
3. This amount will be received within an hour after the application from the member or any of his family members for help in hospitalization is submitted.
4. This is completely different from the COVID-19 Advance of EPFO Board in May. In this, you can get 75% of the total fund, and it is non-refundable.