The Georgian government plans to increase minimal monthly pension for 67 years old and above from the current GEL 100 to GEL 125 starting from September, 2012, PM Nika Gilauri told President Saakashvili at a meeting on November 9.

In addition state will fund GEL 15 health insurance policies for all the pensioners from next September, PM Gilauri said.

The retirement age for women is 60 and 65 for men. Minimal monthly pension increased to GEL 100 starting from this September.

Both, the planned pension increase for 67 and older pensioners and state-funded health insurance for all of the pensioners, will be part of “pension package”, the Prime Minister said.

He said that every pensioner would be eligible for the state-funded GEL 15 health insurance policy starting from next September, which would provide free medical consultations, free medical checks and urgent surgeries. The same insurance package, he said, would also provide 80% coverage for chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as 50% coverage of medicines within the GEL 200 limit.

There were 686,800 people of retirement age registered at the Georgian Social Service Agency as of October, 2011.

PM Gilauri also told President Saakashvili that the planned “pension package” – both increased pension and insurance – would be close to USD 100, the amount which President Saakashvili has promised ahead of 2008 presidential election to make the minimal monthly pension. Global economic crisis and the August war were cited by the authorities for a failure to keep the promise.

“I have not forgotten about my promise; whatever crisis we may face, we should always think - at least during my presidential cycle, which ends in 2013 – about continuing further increase in pensions in order to come closer [to USD 100] and fulfill the promise, which we made in January 2008,” Saakashvili said while meeting with the Prime Minister.