KATHMANDU: The Health Insurance Board has started an online service allowing people to enrol in the National Health Insurance Programme, renew their insurance policies and update their personal details, including Know Your Customer (KYC) information.

Board Spokesperson Dr Pawan Kumar Shah shared that while people previously enrolled in the insurance programme with support from the assistants, the new service launched last Friday enables them to access the services online.

“We have introduced a system that allows individuals to fill out the enrolment form themselves online,” Spokesperson Shah said, adding that the insurance aspirants can now avail enrolment, renewal and other related services without the involvement of an enrolment assistant.

He divulged that the online enrolment and policy renewal service has been initiated in accordance with the Procedure on Enrolment in Health Insurance and Renewal of Insurance Policies through Electronic Means, 2083 BS.

According to him, payments for the programme could be made through digital payment platforms such as ‘e-sewa’, ‘Khalti’ and ‘Connect IPS’.

Under the new system, insurance aspirants can enrol themselves or their families in the health insurance programme and renew policies digitally.

Enrolment assistants can also use the digital system to enrol families and renew their policies, he added.

Launched in 2072 BS, so far 5,970,403 people are enrolled in the National Health Insurance Programme, informed Spokesperson Shah.

Under the programme, a family of up to five members can receive health services worth Rs 100,000 upon payment of an annual contribution of Rs 3,500.

Furthermore, an additional Rs 700 is charged for an additional member from the family, with health services worth an additional Rs 20,000 provided each member.

The Board also provides additional coverage of up to Rs 100,000 for eight types of serious illnesses.