Hardik Tokas
Every government owes it to its population to offer inexpensive and accessible healthcare to anybody who needs it. To make this feasible, governments introduce a variety of government health insurance schemes, allowing ordinary citizens to use these services when they are most needed. Similarly, the Indian government has introduced a number of government health insurance schemes with low rates and a large sum insured to make decent healthcare accessible to all.
According to a 2019 study, just about 472 million of India’s 1.3 billion people have authorized medical insurance coverage. As a result, less than half of the population is covered for medical expenditures. Add to that the high poverty rate, and it’s easy to see why a huge portion of society cannot afford excellent healthcare.
What Are Government Health Insurance Schemes?
Governments all around the globe strive to provide high-quality healthcare to their citizens. Increasing public knowledge of health concerns, guaranteeing a solid infrastructure, and promoting health insurance are all beneficial actions carried out by the government for the benefit of the people. The Indian government takes similar steps from time to time. A government health insurance scheme is a health insurance coverage that is funded by the state or the federal government. The goal of such schemes is to provide cheap health insurance to the general public and to improve healthcare services in various strata of society.
A Government Health Insurance Scheme is a health insurance scheme funded by the state or central government for its citizens. It aims to improve the region’s healthcare status by providing low-cost insurance plans with a large sum insured. These plans are often available yearly.
List of Government Health Insurance Schemes in India
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana under Ayushman Bharat- PM-JAY is a specialised health insurance coverage offered to all economically disadvantaged Indian people. By paying Rs.30 in annual payments, one such household can have medical insurance coverage of up to Rs.5 lakh each year. Aside from medical coverage, the plan has resulted in the development of about 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres across the country.
- Awaz Health Insurance Scheme- This insurance programme, which was launched by the Kerala government in 2017, is aimed towards inter-state labourers in Kerala who do not have medical coverage. This programme provides cash help during medical crises as well as a death benefit element to the policyholder’s family members. Medical coverage of up to Rs.15000 is available under such a plan. After the policyholder’s death, the death benefit feature pays out Rs.2 lakh to surviving family members. This facility, however, is only available to labourers between the ages of 18 and 60. As a result, older citizens are ineligible for such coverage.
- Bhamashah Swasthya Bima Yojana- This is a special endeavour to provide healthcare coverage to Rajasthan’s rural inhabitants. Individuals who are qualified for benefits under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana and the National Food Security Act (NFSA) can also participate in this plan. Another thing to keep in mind is that there is no upper age limit for policyholders under this programme.
- Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana- Another highly useful health insurance scheme at a nominal price is the Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana or AABY. However, it is only available to individuals engaged in select professions. The scheme supports 48 different vocations, mostly related to waving, carpentry, fishing and more. Apart from one of the vocations being your profession, the applicant must also be the earning family head. Policyholders can claim up to Rs.30000 as coverage from such a plan by paying an annual premium of Rs.200.
- Central Government Health Scheme- Operated by the Central government, this particular insurance plan is aimed to cater to central government employees only. High ranking employees of Indian Railways, Supreme Court judges and other such important workers under the central government can avail benefits from this plan. It offers hospitalisation benefits, as well as domiciliary treatment coverage. Moreover, you can seek homoeopathy and naturopathy expenses from such a policy as well. Presently, CGHS is available in 71 Indian cities. Nevertheless, expect more cities to be added to this list eventually.
- Employees’ State Insurance Scheme- This government programme is concerned with your well-being if you work in a factory. The government created this insurance service for industrial employees to minimize the number of fatalities and disabilities in Indian industries following the country’s independence. While the initiative was first limited to Kanpur and Delhi manufacturers, it has subsequently been expanded to include more than 7 lakh firms throughout India.
- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana- The Indian government has pledged to expand the number of people who are medically insured in the country. The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, which provides accidental death and disability payments to policyholders, is a start in this direction. Individuals with partial impairments can claim up to Rs.1 lakh from the plan, while those with total disability/death can claim up to Rs.2 lakh. You will have to spend Rs.12 in yearly premiums to obtain such coverage. Applicants between the ages of 18 and 70 with a savings account in any bank are eligible to receive scheme-related benefits.
This article is published in the public interest and is intended solely for informational reasons. Readers are cautioned not to depend on the article’s contents as conclusive and should do additional research or consult for purchasing health insurance.
