Every government aspires to provide its people with access to first-rate medical care. The government acts to protect the welfare of the people regularly. It entails providing enough infrastructure, informing the public about health-related issues, and promoting health insurance alternatives. The Indian government also occasionally puts these policies into effect.
What is a government health insurance plan?
It is an initiative by the federal or state governments to provide adequate health coverage at an affordable insurance price. Annually, these health insurance policies are frequently offered.
Types of Government Health Insurance Programmes
To find out more about the various health insurance plans that the Indian government offers, keep reading:
1. Ayushman Bharat Yojana:
The government of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is in charge of Ayushman Bharat, which is a national health insurance scheme. PMJAY aims to provide free medical care to more than 40% of the country’s population. A health insurance of Rs 5 Lakh is provided under the policy.
This plan covers medical treatment, prescription medications, pre-hospitalization expenditures, and diagnostic fees. The poorest households in India can benefit from this healthcare program.
2. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana:
The goal of this program is to provide accident insurance coverage to Indians. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 70 who has a bank account is eligible for this program.
This policy offers a yearly compensation of Rs 2 lakh for total disability and death, and Rs 1 lakh for partial impairment. The insurance premium is promptly taken out of the policyholder’s bank account.
3. AABY, or the Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana:
This is one of the newest National Health Insurance programs, having been introduced in October 2007. It refers to all those who are between the ages of 18 and 59. The AABY insurance plan is intended for all citizens living in upland and rural regions.
Landless tenants who live in both rural and urban areas are also included. It also involves giving scholarships to kids from underprivileged families.
The earner or head of the family is essentially the individual covered by this plan. The 200 rupee yearly premium is equally divided between the central and state governments. In the event of a natural death, the family is compensated with thirty thousand rupees. If there is a lifelong disability that results in death, the family gets 75,000 Rs.
4. The CGHS, or Central Government Health Scheme:
This program, which was started in 1954, provides comprehensive healthcare services to central government workers and retirees who live in metropolitan areas. Cities like Delphi, Nagpur, Pune, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Nagpur are served by this plan.
Residents of India are required to be the program’s beneficiaries. Health education is a right for participants in this National Health Company Online Renewal program.
All services related to dispensaries, including domiciliary care, are the main components of this plan. Moreover, those who gain from this system have the right to be admitted to the hospital if they are sick.
However, this particular plan would cover the cost of any necessary X-rays and laboratory tests. The main advantage of this National Health Insurance program is that expert consultations at hospitals and dispensaries are provided at no cost.
5. State Insurance Programme for Employment:
This comprehensive national health insurance program provides socioeconomic protection and social security to all Indian workers. Moreover, it provides the same advantages to those who depend on the program’s covered workers.
This insurance plan begins on the first day of employment for any employee who is eligible for coverage. They are fully covered by health insurance for their family and themselves.
But those covered by this program—, workers—also get access to a range of financial benefits. They include monetary support at times of physical adversity, such as illness, or even in the case of a short-term or long-term incapacity.
In addition, women who lose their ability to support themselves or whose dependents suffer injuries while they are at work are entitled to a monthly allowance known as dependents payments.
This strategy isn’t suitable for every person or company. It only applies to permanent factories with more than ten employees. A greater range of businesses, including eateries, retail establishments, car and truck transportation firms, and newspaper organizations with more than 20 employees, are now part of the program.
6. Janshree Bima Yojana
The target audience for this program is anyone between the ages of 18 and 59 who qualifies as being in poverty. Women SHG Groups and the Shiksha Sahyog Yojana are two unique features of the scheme. This program now covers 45 occupational categories.
7. Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Insurance Scheme:
The state of Tamil Nadu is the provider of this program. It was introduced in cooperation with United India Insurance Company Ltd. The purpose of this family floater insurance is to provide people with access to top-notch healthcare. Under this plan, nearly a thousand medical treatments are covered.
With this coverage, you may file claims for medical expenses up to Rs 5 lakh. The beneficiary of this program can choose between government and private hospitals. Participants in this programme must be Tamil Nadu residents and earn less than Rs. 75,000 per year.
8. The UHIS, or Universal Health Insurance Scheme:
Programs of this nature were implemented to support households with low incomes. It covers every family member’s medical expenses. If an accident ends in death, coverage is in place.
The Universal Health Insurance Scheme is primarily driven by the four public sector general insurance companies. They have been attempting to raise the standard of healthcare for the underprivileged people of India, especially the ones who face financial difficulties.
This program can assist with hospital bills of up to 30,000 rupees if a family member is hospitalized. However, when the earning head of the family is hospitalized, the Universal Health Insurance plan pays a total of 50 rupees each day for a maximum of 15 days. Therefore, it is reasonable to say that the intended audience for this insurance program is low-income households.
9. West Bengal Health Plan:
The West Bengal government launched this program in 2008 for its labor force. It is also available to retirees. This coverage is available as an individual and family floater up to an amount insured of Rs. 1 lakh. Medical treatments and OPD care are covered within the terms and circumstances of the insurance.
10. Yeshasvini Health Insurance Plan
The Karnataka state government is promoting this program. This program can help farmers and peasants who are members of cooperative groups. This health insurance plan covers more than eight hundred medical procedures, such as neurology, orthopedics, and angioplasty.
Cooperative groups can help farmers enroll in the Yeshasvini Health Insurance Scheme. Family members of the beneficiaries can access network hospitals for medical care and are eligible to receive coverage benefits.
11. Jyotiba Phule, Mahatma Jan Arogya Yojana:
The Maharashtra government established this health insurance scheme for the benefit of the local populace. The program would assist individuals who are below the poverty line and was created with Maharashtra’s farmers in mind.
The policy offers family health coverage for specified illnesses up to Rs 1.5 lakh. The best thing about this insurance is that there is no waiting time and claims can be filed as early as the first day of coverage, unless otherwise specified in the policy terms.
12. The Amrutam Yojana of Mukhyamantri
The Mukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana was introduced by the Gujarati government in 2012 to aid the state’s underprivileged residents. Those who are below the poverty line and fall into the lower middle-income group are eligible to enroll in the program.
The maximum benefit under this family floater health insurance policy is Rs 3 lakh per household. The insured can get medical care from government and private hospitals, as well as trust-run institutions.
13. Karunya Health Scheme:
The Keralan government launched this program in 2012 to address several chronic illnesses. It is an essential health plan for the poor that covers major illnesses including renal, cancer, heart disease, etc.
Those who are not above the federal poverty line may apply for this program. For the same, copies of the beneficiary’s income certificate and Aadhaar card are needed.
14. Telangana State Government Employees and Journalists Health Scheme:
The Telangana government established this program for its journalists and employees. It benefits everyone—retirees, working people, and pensioners alike. At participating facilities, the program member is entitled to cashless medical care. The recipients don’t have to scramble to get cash together for unforeseen medical expenses.
15. Dr. YSR Aarogyasri Health Care Trust:
In addition to the Dr. YSR Aarogyasri Trust, the Andhra Pradesh government has launched four health welfare initiatives. Many people are covered by these programs for medical expenses, and they also offer assistance to participants in case of an emergency. The schemes are as follows:
- The welfare program of Dr. YSR Aarogyasri for the disadvantaged
- Arogya Raksha, also known as the Above the Poverty Line (APL) Working Journalist Health Scheme, provides cashless healthcare coverage for a variety of therapies.
- Employee Health Scheme provides health insurance to state government workers.
Characteristics and advantages of government health insurance programs
The qualities and benefits of government-run health insurance programs are listed below:
- There are affordable government health insurance plans available.
- Families in BPL can also profit from this coverage’s insurance benefits.
- The poor are assured coverage by the insurance.
- The policy offers treatment at both public and private facilities, resulting in improved healthcare.