Vimal Kottakkal
19 September 2025, 07:03 PM IST
The scheme targets 41.7 lakh expatriates, but membership is currently limited to those still living overseas and Malayalis residing in other Indian states.
Norka Care logo | X
Malappuram: The Norka Care health insurance scheme, introduced by Norka for the welfare of expatriates, has come under criticism for excluding those who have returned home after years abroad.
The scheme targets 41.7 lakh expatriates, but membership is currently limited to those still living overseas and Malayalis residing in other Indian states. As a result, nearly 14 lakh returnees will be left out when the scheme comes into effect on September 22.
Ironically, it is these returnees, most of whom came back due to ill health or job loss, who are in greatest need of health insurance. Currently, expatriates employed abroad already enjoy medical coverage through mandatory health insurance tied to their work permits in host countries.
Under the scheme, the benefits extend to the expatriate, spouse and up to two children. However, parents of expatriates are not included, despite being among the most vulnerable due to age and health issues. Another challenge is that returning migrants are not issued Norka identity cards, which are necessary to enroll in the scheme. Expatriate organisations have demanded that these ID cards be provided to returnees as well.
Additionally, beneficiaries can only claim the insurance if they undergo treatment within India, raising concerns about its practicality for those living abroad.
What is Norka Care?
The scheme offers two policies:
Group Mediclaim Policy (GMC): Provides coverage up to ₹5 lakh for any health condition, either for an individual or the family.
Group Personal Accidental Policy (GPA): Offers coverage up to ₹10 lakh for accidents.
The age limit for coverage is between 18 and 70 years. The scheme is tied to 488 hospitals in Kerala and 16,167 hospitals across India.
The premium for an individual is ₹8,101. For a family of four (expatriate, spouse, and two children), the premium is ₹13,411. Additional children can be covered at ₹4,130 each.
‘Do justice to returnees’
The government has been urged to ensure justice for returned expats, who have contributed highly to the state’s development.
“Ignoring the expatriate who built the state’s economy is unjust. They must also be included in the health insurance scheme. Expatriates’ parents should also be brought under the ambit of Norka Care, and hospitals abroad should also be included in the network to make the scheme truly beneficial,” said Haneefa Moonniyur, state president of the Pravasi League.
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