NORKA Roots CEO Ajith Kollassery said the government is actively examining the inclusion of returned expats and parents, with more reforms expected soon. Enrolment is set to reopen in October
The Kerala government is considering expanding NORKA Care, a low-cost health and accident insurance scheme, to include returning expatriates and the parents of existing members. The move comes after growing demands from Malayalis who have come back to the state after working abroad and are currently unable to enrol.
NORKA Care was launched by NORKA Roots in November 2025 to provide affordable insurance support to Non-Resident Keralites. Under the scheme, members receive health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh and accident death coverage of ₹10 lakh for one year. The scheme has been widely welcomed, but several eligibility restrictions have led to dissatisfaction among returnees.
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At present, only Malayalis living abroad or in other Indian states can newly enrol
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Those who return to Kerala after joining are allowed to continue, but fresh enrolment is closed to people who are already back home
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While spouses and children can be added to a policy, parents are excluded, which many members say is a major gap
The annual premium is ₹8,101 for an individual and ₹13,411 for a family of four, with an extra charge for additional children. People up to the age of 70 are eligible. Cashless treatment is available at around 11,000 hospitals across India, including nearly 700 in Kerala, with reimbursement options elsewhere. All treatments are covered from day one, without any waiting period.
However, some expatriates have pointed out that the hospital network is limited to India and does not include major hospitals abroad. There have also been complaints about a few listed hospitals not offering full benefits, though NORKA Roots says such cases are rare.
As of November 30, 2025, about 1.37 lakh expatriates had enrolled, and total membership, including family members, has reached around five lakh. In just two months, ₹43 crore was paid out in medical claims.
