It is a true saying HEALTH IS WEALTH. A government health insurance scheme is a medical insurance plan that is sponsored and/or supported by the government at any level, central and state level.
Since access to healthcare and health insurance in India is far from ideal, particularly in the rural regions of the nation, the central and state governments have launched several health insurance policies.
The Government Health Insurance Schemes in India provide medical coverage to those from the economically weaker sections of society and financially safeguard them against medical care expenses.
With the rise in medical expenses, health insurance in today’s time has become a must-have.
Providing financial assistance to policyholders during the case of a medical emergency, health insurance has immense benefits.
Moreover, sometimes it might become challenging for individuals to buy health insurance, given its premium costs.
To cater to this and encourage more and more people to buy health insurance plans, the government of India has launched a number of health insurance plans.
These health insurance plans make it easier for individuals to enjoy the benefits of health insurance plans at affordable rates.
1. Ayushman Bharat Yojana
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a flagship healthcare scheme launched by the Government of India on September 23, 2018.
Ayushman Bharat is a universal health insurance scheme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
PMJAY was launched to provide free healthcare services to more than 40% of the country’s population. The scheme offers a health cover of Rs 5 Lakh.
In this scheme, it covers medicines, diagnostic expenses, medical treatment, and pre-hospitalization costs.
The poorest families in India can benefit from this healthcare scheme. Also known as the “ModiCare” scheme, AB-PMJAY is one of the largest government-funded healthcare programs globally.
It aims to provide financial protection and healthcare access to economically vulnerable and underserved families in India.
It is about looking at the health sector as a whole and ensuring continuous care for the people of India.
2. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana aims to provide accident insurance coverage to the people of India. People in the age group of 18 years to 70 years who have an account in a bank can avail of benefits from this scheme.
This policy provides an annual cover of Rs 2 lakh for total disability and death cover and Rs 1 lakh for partial disability. The policy premium gets automatically debited from the policyholder’s bank account.
3. Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY)
This is one of the latest National Health Insurance schemes having been established in the year 2007, October.
It basically covers individuals from the age of 18 years to 59 years.
AABY insurance scheme is tailored for all those citizens living in the upcountry and in the rural areas.
It also covers the landless citizens who are tenants living both in urban and rural areas. It also includes giving scholarships to underprivileged children.
Basically, the head of the family or the earning member is the one protected by this scheme.
The premium of 200 rupees per annum is shared equally by the state and the central government.
Upon a natural death, the family is compensated at 30,000 rupees. However, upon death caused by a permanent disability, the family is compensated at 75,000 rupees.
4. Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)
This scheme was started in the year 1954 and provides comprehensive health care facilities for central government officials and pensioners residing in cities.
Operations of this scheme take place in cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow, Delphi, Nagpur, and Pune.
The people covered by this scheme are required to be residing in India. This is a National Health Company Online Renewal program that includes the privilege of health education to the beneficiaries.
This scheme has the following main components: All dispensary-related services including domiciliary care. In addition, the beneficiaries of this scheme have the privilege of being hospitalized each and every time they fall ill.
On the other hand, whenever you have an X-ray or laboratory examination requirement, they would be provided free under this particular scheme. The most important advantage of this National Health Insurance scheme is that it provides free specialist consultations both at the hospital level and at dispensaries.
5. Janshree Bima Yojana
Janshree Bima Yojana is designed for individuals in the poor category who are within the age group of 18-59 years. The scheme includes special features like Women SHG Groups and Shiksha Sahyog Yojana. At present, there are 45 occupational groups under this scheme.
6. Awaz Health Insurance Scheme:
This is a health insurance cover for migrant workers and is initiated by the Government of Kerala.
It also offers insurance for death by accident for laborers. The scheme was launched in the year 2017 and targeted 5 lakh inter-state migrant laborers working in Kerala.
The health insurance coverage offered under Awaz Health Insurance is Rs.15000, while the cover for death is Rs.2 lakh.
This policy can be obtained by laborers falling in the age group of 18 to 60. They shall be provided with an Awaz Health Insurance card, post submitting and processing enrolment details pertaining to biometric information and other work-related documents.
7. Employees’ State Insurance Scheme:
A huge number of people worked in factories post-independence in India. The working conditions were such that there were injuries and deaths as well.
This is where the concept of insurance proved beneficial. Employees’ State Insurance Scheme was launched in the year 1952 to offer financial cover in case of illness, disability, or death faced by insured workers/employees.
Initially, only Kanpur and Delhi were considered, but the scope of the scheme expanded with time.
This policy got an upgrade in the year 2015. Now, more than 7 lakh factories are a part of this scheme.
8. Universal Health Insurance Scheme
Globally, a lot of developed and developing nations have some sort of healthcare scheme for the benefit of their poor people.
In India, the Universal Health Insurance Scheme aspires to do that and much more. This scheme can be availed by the poorest of the poor in the age group of 5 to 70 years.
Universal Health Insurance Scheme offers individual as well as group health insurance. It covers hospitalization, accident, and disability. The premium varies according to the size of the family.
Those falling under the poverty line need to show proper documentation to avail of the policy.
CONCLUSION
As we all know, the Government of India focuses on providing good quality healthcare for their people.
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There are several central and state government health insurance schemes available in India. With substantial coverage and feasible premiums, these schemes are aimed at providing health insurance coverage to all the citizens of India.
Creating awareness about health issues, ensuring strong infrastructure, and promoting health insurance are productive activities conducted by the authorities for people’s welfare.
The Indian Government also undertakes such measures from time to time.