New model for Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana

A new trust-based model for the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) has been proposed by the Health ministry. It is an insurance based healthcare scheme for poor and migrant workers. The new model has been proposed just as it seemed to have stabilized seven years after its launch.

Based on this proposal, the trusts run by state with funds contributed by the Centre and states will process and settle claims related to hospitals which provide services to the poor. These trusts will replace the insurers in this case.

A cabinet proposal has been launched by the Health Ministry to change the implementation model as per the recommendation of a committee of secretaries. The committee was apparently inspired by the Arogyasri scheme in Andhra Pradesh and Yeshasvini programme in Karnataka. Both these initiatives have been self-funded initiatives and received support from the states without any cover from the insurance companies.

RSBY was shifted to the health ministry from April 1. It was earlier with the Labour ministry. The shift was made with plans to start a National Health Assurance Mission to provide universal healthcare. RSBY was originally launched in 2008 to provide health cover to households that under BPL. It also allows cover of Rs.30,000 for beneficiaries. Various diseases are covered in it including pre-existing conditions of up to five members in a family are covered.

Indian Winter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shri_JP_Nadda.png