NEW DELHI: Moving towards the rollout of the world’s first comprehensive health insurance scheme, the government plans to expand Ayushman Bharat health insurance coverage to more than 40 people currently not covered by any insurance scheme. any private or government health insurance.
While more than 50 crore people (10.74 crore families) were covered by Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides free annual health insurance of Rs 5 lakh for every family, the government now plans to expand this coverage with small premium for those who cannot afford insurance medical at retail price. An official said the plan is to reduce insurance premiums by more than a third of the retail price and make it affordable for ‘lack of middlemen’, who currently don’t have any protections. Any finance for health.
Board of Directors of National Health Service (NHA) – the implementing agency of AB-PMJAY – approved this proposal in a meeting earlier this month. The DENTAL currently planning to start pilot projects in selected states in the next few months, after which the coverage will be extended to India.
The move is significant as it will mean that high-end government medical facilities as well as the private sector will soon be accessible to people without any income. It is likely that private clinics in government hospitals will also be provided under the scheme.
Currently, the Ayushman Bharat health insurance plan and state government expansion programs provide comprehensive hospitalization coverage for the bottom 51% of the population – about 69 people. Besides, about 19% of the population – 25 people – are covered by social health insurance and private voluntary health insurance. The remaining 30% of the population has no health insurance. In fact, the actual undercover population is likely to be higher due to existing coverage gaps in PMJAY and overlap between schemes.
In the absence of cheap health insurance, the ‘middle loss’ is still exposed despite being able to pay.
While more than 50 crore people (10.74 crore families) were covered by Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides free annual health insurance of Rs 5 lakh for every family, the government now plans to expand this coverage with small premium for those who cannot afford insurance medical at retail price. An official said the plan is to reduce insurance premiums by more than a third of the retail price and make it affordable for ‘lack of middlemen’, who currently don’t have any protections. Any finance for health.
Board of Directors of National Health Service (NHA) – the implementing agency of AB-PMJAY – approved this proposal in a meeting earlier this month. The DENTAL currently planning to start pilot projects in selected states in the next few months, after which the coverage will be extended to India.
The move is significant as it will mean that high-end government medical facilities as well as the private sector will soon be accessible to people without any income. It is likely that private clinics in government hospitals will also be provided under the scheme.
Currently, the Ayushman Bharat health insurance plan and state government expansion programs provide comprehensive hospitalization coverage for the bottom 51% of the population – about 69 people. Besides, about 19% of the population – 25 people – are covered by social health insurance and private voluntary health insurance. The remaining 30% of the population has no health insurance. In fact, the actual undercover population is likely to be higher due to existing coverage gaps in PMJAY and overlap between schemes.
In the absence of cheap health insurance, the ‘middle loss’ is still exposed despite being able to pay.
