The insurance scheme for which many Keralaites in Bengaluru paid a premium of Rs 13,411 for a family now are forced to pay significant higher amounts starting from Rs 22,000 based on their age category. A resident above the age of 60 will now have to pay above Rs 48,000. More than a thousand members of the Keralam govt’s Non-resident Kerala Affairs (NORKA) cares insurance scheme are currently furious.
Norka Care, a digital health insurance initiative for non-resident Keralites (NRKs), was announced in Sept 2025 and became operational in Nov of that year. Thousands of Malayalis across India and abroad enrolled, attracted by coverage ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 1 crore and annual premiums starting at Rs 8,101 for individuals and Rs 13,411 for families. Norka claims the scheme recorded a 99.5% claim settlement ratio within a year, the highest in the country. However, from Nov 2026, premiums will be linked to the policyholder’s age, with senior citizens facing the steepest increase. A person aged 51-60 will now have to pay Rs 35,664 annually to insure their family, while those in the 61-70 age group will pay Rs 48,718. A joint committee of Bengaluru Malayali organisations said premiums for families with policyholders above the age of 41 have increased two to seven times.
He also sought their inclusion in the newly announced Oommen Chandy health insurance scheme. It combines group medical insurance and group personal accident coverage. Jojo PJ, president of Bengaluru Malayali Forum, urged Keralam chief minister VD Satheesan to exempt existing members from the hike and allow them to renew at the same premium.
Govt has hiked premiums for other policies as well, even though the Rs 5 lakh claim policy has many members,” the committee said. Because of its low premiums and wide coverage, aswathy Raveendran, a Bannerghatta resident, said she had switched to Norka Care.
“The Norka Care scheme was very attractive as it offered good coverage for very little premium, which made me quit the previous policy which I had.” “The hike is equivalent to looting hardworking migrant Malayalis. She persuaded around five other families to do the same.