What is Fixed Medical Allowance?
It is a monthly payment made to government and family retirees to help with their ongoing medical costs. It is obvious that Central Civil Pensioners and Family Pensioners require a fixed medical allowance. Pensioners are finding it difficult to pay for the necessary medical care and prescription drugs due to increased medical costs. For senior pensioners who do not have access to other income sources, this is particularly true. This financial strain may be lessened and retirees could be sure they can get the treatment they require with the support of a fixed medical stipend. Furthermore, retirees would feel more secure with a fixed medical allowance. They would be less stressed and be able to concentrate on their health and well-being if they knew they had access to a trustworthy source of money for medical bills. Those who have impairments or chronic illnesses would benefit most from this in particular.
FMA Increase 1000 to 3000 Per Month!
The Railway Senior Citizens Welfare Society (RSCWS) has recently written a letter to the Secretary of Finance (Expenditure) requesting an increase in the Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) for Railway retirees and family pensioners from Rs.1000 to Rs.3000 per month.
No Proposal to increase Fixed Medical Allowance for Central Civil Pensioners and Family Pensioners
The Fixed Medical Allowance has been enhanced from Rs.500 per month to Rs.1,000 per month as of July 2017, as stated by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.
A monthly Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) of Rs. 1,000 is provided to Central Government Civil Pensioners and Family Pensioners who live in areas not serviced by the Central Government Health Scheme administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and its corresponding health schemes administered by other Ministries/Departments for their retired employees.
The monthly Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) of Rs.1,000 is intended to cover out-of-pocket medical costs that cannot be avoided without a hospital stay. The allowance was first established in 1997 at Rs. 100 per month and has been increased several times since then, most recently in 2008 to Rs. 300 per month and again in 2014 to Rs. 500 per month. Effective 01.07.2017, the FMA has been raised to Rs.1000 (about Rs.13) every month.
FMA Rate Chart for Pensioners
| 1997 | Rs. 100 per month |
| 2008 | Rs. 300 per month |
| 2014 | Rs. 500 per month |
| 2017 | Rs. 1000 per month |