Health in Rajasthan – All about Bhamashah Insurance Scheme

Health insurance in India is a growing segment of India’s economy. In 2011, 3.9% of India’s gross domestic product was spent in the health sector, lowest of the BRICS economies. Health insurance in India is still for the privileged few and is largely in the form of a plain vanilla cover, mediclaim, introduced decade-and-half ago.

Rajasthan has taken a lead across all sectors when it comes to giving impetus to Prime Minister’s dream of a cashless digital economy. The idea of social security open architecture through digital cards was in a nascent stage in the last term of CM Vasundhara Raje in 2008 and was seen as a revolutionary step towards providing transparency in social schemes. But the scheme didn’t make much progress as the Congress government under Ashok Gehlot didn’t see much merit in it and tried to stop it. After coming to power in 2013, Raje revived the Bhamashah Yojna at a larger level, also introducing the Bhamashah card into the Public Distribution System and the Health insurance sector. Under the scheme, Rajasthan Government will open bank accounts in the name of the woman of the family through which all government benefits – financial or otherwise – will be sourced.

As many as 1.5 crore women will become financial heads of their families.

BSBY Rajasthan

Seen as an exceedingly good alternative for the ‘Free medicine scheme’, the Bhamashah Swasthya aims to provide hassle-free and quality medical, surgical treatment in empanelled private and public hospitals to the members of all eligible families covered under the National Food Security Act and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY). Informally estimated, 4.5 crore people in the state, at least 67% of the population, shall be benefitted under this insurance scheme. The transaction would be on cashless basis through the Bhamashah Card or NFSA/RSBY identity proof.

Salient features

• The scheme offers a comprehensive coverage, hence would provide a cover for secondary and tertiary illness.
  • Sum insured for secondary illness – INR 30,000
  • Sum insured for tertiary illness – INR 300,000

• The benefits could be availed at public (CHC and above level) or any empanelled private hospital subject to package rates on cashless basis.
• The beneficiaries would be covered for secondary and tertiary illness according to the pre-decided package rates
• Pre-existing conditions or diseases would be covered from day 1 of the scheme
• Transport allowance of Rs. 100 to Rs. 500 for cardiac and poly-trauma cases.
• Pre hospitalization of 7 days and post hospitalization of 15 days is covered under the scheme.
• Patients shall be benefitted for 1045 packages under General Illnesses, 500 packages under Critical Illnesses, and 170 packages reserved for government hospitals.

First of its kind

The Bhamashah Health Insurance Scheme covers 1718 ailments, which are highest in the country.

Highest insurance cover is being provided under the Bhamashah Swasthya Bima Yojana in comparison with other states. The insurance cover for general illness has been set as Rs. 30,000 while Rs. 3 lakh has been set for critical illness. The insurance cover for critical illness is Rs. 1.5 lakh in Tamilnadu and Rs. 2.5 lakh in Maharashtra. The administrative cost for this scheme is also less in Rajasthan in comparison with other states

From cure to prevention – Arogya Rajasthan

From December 2015 to March 2016, Rajasthan government is organizing ‘Arogya Rajasthan’ campaign to improve healthcare by collecting and compiling health data of rural population in the state. Each person in state will get a health card, which will help in development of health information network. E-health cards will be issued under the Arogya Rajasthan Campaign and this card will help in providing quick and effective healthcare facilities.

Rajasthan is the second state in the country after Kerala to launch such a campaign.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is making colossal efforts to improve the health sector and encourage a healthy, preventive lifestyle. With Arogya Rajasthan and Bhamashah insurance scheme in the pairing, Rajasthan perhaps will be able to turn the aspiration of ‘sarve santu niramayah’ to reality.