In a move aimed at bolstering healthcare accessibility, the Indian government is actively contemplating expanding the beneficiary base of its flagship Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. Official sources told PTI that the plan involves doubling the coverage over the next three years, starting with the inclusion of all individuals aged 70 and above. Additionally, there are discussions to increase the annual insurance coverage from the current Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per beneficiary.
According to the report, these proposed enhancements, estimated to cost an additional Rs 12,076 crore annually as per the National Health Authority's projections, are expected to be unveiled during the upcoming Union Budget presentation later this month.
Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.
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The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), launched to provide secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually, was allocated Rs 7,200 crore in the interim Budget of 2024. This initiative currently benefits 12 crore families across the country.
President Droupadi Murmu recently announced that all individuals above 70 years of age will now be covered under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, potentially extending coverage to an additional 4-5 crore beneficiaries. The move to double the coverage amount aims to address inflationary pressures and provide financial relief for high-cost medical treatments such as transplants and cancer care.
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Highlighting the gaps in health insurance coverage, the NITI Aayog's 2021 report 'Health Insurance for India's Missing Middle' emphasized the need for extending coverage to approximately 30% of the population currently without health insurance. The report identified the "missing middle," comprising predominantly self-employed individuals in rural areas and various informal sector workers in urban settings, as a priority group for targeted healthcare financial protection.
With the Ayushman Bharat scheme and state government extensions already covering the bottom 50% of the population, efforts are underway to bridge gaps and ensure more comprehensive healthcare access across all segments of society.
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