Know Your ESIC Coverage
ESIC provides comprehensive medical care plus sickness, maternity, disability, and dependants’ benefits to employees earning ₹21,000/month or less (₹25,000 for persons with disabilities) — for a contribution of just 0.75% of wages (employer pays 3.25%). This guide explains what counts as “wages” for the ceiling calculation (a common source of payroll errors), the full range of benefits available, the often-misunderstood rule that benefits continue for roughly six months after an employee crosses the wage ceiling, how ESIC and private health insurance complement rather than replace each other, and how to check your own coverage via your payslip, e-Pehchan card, or the ESIC portal.