Lok Sabha Question No. 1068 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-26
Subject: Denying Super Speciality Treatment
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1068 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2021

## DENYING SUPER SPECIALITY TREATMENT

## 1068. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

## Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether  it  has  come  to  the  notice  of  the  Government  that  the  super speciality treatment benefit has been denied to the Insured Persons and their  dependents  due  to  lack  of  contribution  and  attendance  as  per  the existing norms;
- (b)if so, the action taken for providing super specialty treatment during the period from July 1st 2021 to December 31st 2021;
- (c)whether it has also come to the notice of the Government that the lack of attendance  and  non  remittance  of  contribution  is  due  to  the  Covid-19 restrictions;
- (d)if  so,  the  action  taken  to  relax  from  remittance  of  contribution  and attendance for providing super speciality treatment; and
- (e)whether the Government proposes to exempt the period from October 1st 2020 to March 31st 2021 from remittance of contribution and number of attendance and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) & (b): Considering  Covid-19  pandemic  situation  and  subsequent  nonpayment  of  contribution  by  employer/employees  as  a  result  of  nationwide lockdown,  the  Employees'  State  Insurance  Corporation  (ESIC)  has  relaxed contributory conditions during the period starting from 1st April 2020 to 30th September 2020 so that medical benefit including super specialty treatment is not denied during the corresponding benefit period w.e.f. 1st January 2021 to 30th  June 2021.

2. Super specialty treatment benefit during the period from 1st July 2021 to  31 st   December  2021  corresponds  to  contribution  period  starting  from  1 st October 2020 to 31st March 2021. Entitlement for super specialty treatment benefit  during  this  period  is  governed  by  prevailing  normal  contributory conditions under ESI Scheme.
2. (c) & (d): ESI Corporation has given some relaxation in the payment of ESI contribution  during  the  Covid  pandemic.    The  date  of  payment  of  monthly contribution was extended as follows:
- i. The contribution for the current calendar month is to be paid on or before 15th  of the next calendar month by the employer.
- ii. The ESI contributions for the  month of  February,  2020  and  March,  2020 were allowed to be filed and paid upto 15th April, 2020 and 15th May, 2020 respectively, as against 15th  March and 15 th  April, 2020 respectively.
- iii. The filing & payment of ESI contribution for the month February, 2020 was further extended to 15th May, 2020, as against the 15th April, 2020.
- iv. The ESI contribution for the month of April, 2021 was allowed to be filed and paid up to 15th  June, 2021, as against  15 th  May, 2021.
- v. No interest or damages was payable by the employer during the extended period for payment of contribution.
2.        There  are  two  contribution  periods  in  a  financial  year,  viz.  April  to September and October to March. Employer has to file return of contribution for a contribution period within 42 days of the termination of the contribution period to which it relates. Following extension were provided for period of filing of Return of contribution:
- i. One-time relaxation was given to those employers who did not file return of ESI contribution for the contribution period April, 2019 to September 2019 within 42 days after end of contribution period.  Employers were allowed to file return of contribution upto 15.05.2020, as against 11-11-2019.
- ii. Employers  were  allowed  to  file  the  return  of      contribution  for  the contribution period October, 2019 to March, 2020 till 11.06.2020 which was later extended upto 15.07.2020 instead of 12-05-2020.

One-time opportunity was also given to those Employers who could not file ESI contribution for the contribution period April, 2020 to September, 2020 within 42 days after end of the contribution period, Employers were allowed to file contribution upto15.01.2021 instead of 11.11.2020.

- (e): There is no such proposal.

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