Title: Landmark Healthcare Initiative Provides Full Hospitalization Coverage for Iranian Retirees
In a significant move to bolster social welfare, the Iranian Social Security Organization has successfully implemented a comprehensive financial support plan for hospitalized retirees over the age of 65. The initiative, which underscores the government’s commitment to its elderly population, has already provided substantial relief to tens of thousands of pensioners.
Widespread Support for the Elderly
Dr. Farid Habibi Roudsari, the Managing Director of Social Security in Gilan province, announced that since the plan’s inception in the winter of 2020, approximately 85,000 elderly citizens in the province have received full financial coverage for their hospitalization costs. The total value of this support has exceeded 550 billion tomans, significantly easing the economic burden on retirees and their families during medical treatment.
A Proactive Approach to Healthcare
The program is part of a broader expansion of Social Security’s medical coverage. Dr. Habibi highlighted several key developments, including the establishment of a dedicated Administration for Chronic and Geriatric Diseases, the launch of specialized diabetes clinics within Social Security medical centers, and the activation of screening programs for cancers and chronic illnesses that predominantly affect the elderly.
“These measures demonstrate the organization’s focused attention on preventing the onset of serious health issues, thereby avoiding heavy treatment costs for this valuable segment of our society,” Dr. Habibi stated.
Core Principles of the Initiative
The official elaborated on the core objectives of the support plan, which are:
- Reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses for Social Security beneficiaries over 65.
- Enhancing service satisfaction and safeguarding the dignity of pensioners and insured individuals.
- Ensuring the fair and equitable distribution of resources to facilitate access to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Additional Support Mechanisms
Dr. Habibi also emphasized the supportive role of the Hard-to-Treat Diseases Fund in covering additional patient costs. “With the activation of this fund, we are witnessing a notable reduction in the financial burden on patients with complex medical cases, especially the elderly,” he said.
Furthermore, in a gesture of respect for the elderly, approximately 10% of all appointment slots at Social Security medical centers in Gilan province are now preferentially allocated to senior citizens.
Ongoing health and prevention programs, including health stations and screening schemes, are also being continuously carried out by the Administration for Chronic and Geriatric Diseases to ensure the well-being of retirees under the Social Security umbrella.