Governments all across the world strive to provide their citizens with high-quality healthcare. The government’ constructive initiatives for the welfare of the people include raising public knowledge about health problems, providing a robust infrastructure, and encouraging health insurance. From time to time, the Indian government takes similar steps.
What is Government Health Insurance Scheme?
A Government Health Insurance Scheme (GHIS) is a health insurance programme run by the state or federal government for its residents. Its goal is to improve the area’s healthcare quotient by providing low-cost insurance policies with a large sum insured. These plans are often available on a yearly basis.
Ayushman Bharat:
The National Health Policy offered recommendations that led to the creation of this programme. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana was created with Universal Health Coverage in mind (UHC). In India, health care is highly segregated, and Ayushman Bharat aspires to make it more complete. It is about looking at the health sector as a whole and ensuring that the people of India receive continuous treatment.
Ayushman Bharat has two main components: Health and Wellness Centres (HWC) and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). In order to provide better healthcare to the public, 150000 HWCs have been established. These HWCs are reincarnations of previous programmes such as Sub Centers and Primary Health Centers. The PM-JAY is a poor people’s health insurance programme. It provides a health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year at a premium of Rs. 30.
Awaz Health Insurance Scheme:
This is a health insurance programme for migrant workers that was started by the Kerala government. It also provides coverage for workers who die as a result of an incident. The scheme, which began in 2017, was designed to help 5 lakh cross migrant workers working in Kerala. Awaz Health Insurance provides Rs.15000 in health insurance coverage and Rs.2 lakh in death insurance coverage.
Workers between the ages of 18 and 60 are eligible for this coverage. After submitting and processing enrolment details such as biometric information and other work-related documents, they will be given an Awaz Health Insurance card.
Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana
The Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY) is for those who work in various trades like carpentry, fishing, and handloom weaving, among others. There are 48 distinct careers to choose from. AABY and Janashree Bima Yojana were two similar programmes that existed prior to 2013. (JBY). JBY was merged with AABY in 2013.
The annual premium for a Rs.30,000 insurance policy is Rs.200. The qualifying conditions for this policy are that you must be a family head or an earning member of your family (living on or near the poverty line) and work in one of the 48 vocations listed.
Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS):
This policy is launched by India’s central government, as the name implies. Employees of the federal government are covered under this policy. Judges of the Supreme Court, officials of the Railway Board, and others are examples. This programme has been in effect for over six decades and covers approximately 35 lakh employees and retirees.
The terms and conditions of this program cover both hospitalisation and domiciliary care. Allopathy and Homeopathy are covered by the Central Government Health Insurance Scheme. It’s currently available in 71 cities, with plans to expand to more.
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana:
This scheme was created to provide accident insurance to Indian citizens. In 2016, it was discovered that only 20% of Indian citizens were covered by insurance. The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, on the other hand, wants to change this statistic for the better.
This initiative is open to those between the ages of 18 and 70 who have a bank account. For a premium of Rs. 12, this policy provides an annual cover of Rs. 1 lakh for partial disability and Rs. 2 lakhs for total disability/death. The premium is automatically deducted from the insured’s bank account.
Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana:
This programme is aimed towards persons who work in the unorganised sector. They are frequently not covered by any insurance policy. In this situation, if they become ill – which happens regularly – their money will be depleted. As a result, they are never able to assure that they have enough money in the bank. This is where having health insurance can come in handy.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment of the Indian government launched the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. People who work in the unorganised sector and are poor are covered by this programme. Their family is also covered by the policy (maximum of five members).