We reproduce below the copy of our letter dated March 23.2026 emailed to The General Manager Human Resource Management Department Central Office, Mumbai. about Direct credit of OPD amount to Pensioners. Members may also send emails / letters to HRDM on these lines .

” We respectfully draw your attention to the circular CO. HRMD. EHS. No.S14753 /19‑06‑008/2024‑2025 dated March 28, 2025, regarding the Group Mediclaim Policy for OPD expenses for the period April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.

We appreciate the Bank’s continued support for the health needs of its retirees. However, feedback from retirees shows that Super‑senior pensioners, family pensioners, Class IV retirees, and those who are not comfortable with online or offline procedures face serious and recurring difficulties in filing their legitimate claims.

For these vulnerable groups, the current TPA‑based reimbursement process has become very burdensome. It requires multiple documents such as receipts, prescriptions, diagnostic reports, chemist bills, and GST‑compliant invoices. Many elderly pensioners depend on others even for basic tasks. In several cases, the effort and cost of arranging documents is more than the reimbursement itself. We have feedback that pensioners -mostly family pensioners and class IV  pensioners give up their rightful claims on account of the hassles involved.

As elderly pensioners already suffer from chronic and age‑related illnesses. repeatedly collecting papers, filling forms, and meeting procedural requirements adds to their hardship. Instead of providing timely medical relief, the process often causes avoidable stress at a stage when their physical and emotional capacity is limited.

In this context, we humbly request that the Bank consider allowing a simplified or optional process for pensioners who genuinely require such relaxation. Even if extended selectively, such need‑based flexibility would provide meaningful relief to the most vulnerable retirees without affecting the integrity of the overall system. This would be fully in keeping with the Bank’s long‑standing tradition of supporting its retired employees with dignity and sensitivity.

We therefore request that the Bank kindly consider extending a direct credit facility for OPD medical expenses, at least for chronically ill, bedridden, or otherwise vulnerable pensioners who are unable to manage repeated documentation.
Such direct transfer of OPD amounts would, of course, remain fully subject to the applicable income‑tax provisions governing medical benefits provided by employers to employees and pensioners. Even if implemented on an optional basis, this measure would significantly reduce hardship and ensure timely access to essential medical care.

We remain confident that the Bank will view this request with empathy and consider an appropriate mechanism that balances administrative requirements with the genuine difficulties faced by elderly pensioners in its GMP effective April 1, 2026.”