Free Rs.5 lakhs health cover for India’s senior citizens aged 70 years and above !

KAKALI DAS

Free Rs.5 lakhs health cover for India’s senior citizens aged 70 years and above !

Is it possible for the most populous country in the world to provide free healthcare for all? With over 1.4 billion people, it may seem like an insurmountable challenge, yet India is making a bold attempt.

The government recently announced that it will provide free health insurance coverage for all Indians aged 70 and above.

This is not a new scheme; rather, the government is expanding the scope of an existing program called Ayushman Bharat. “Ayushman” means having a long life.

Ayushman Bharat was launched in 2018 with the aim of assisting lower-income groups, specifically targeting around 100 million poor and vulnerable families, which represent the bottom 40% of the population in India.

These families were provided with health coverage of ₹5 lakhs, which is approximately $6,000. The coverage was completely free, with the premiums paid by both the central and state governments.

The same health coverage will now be extended to senior citizens, regardless of their income or social standing. As long as they are 70 years or older and a citizen of India, they can access this insurance at no cost.

The government states that this will benefit 60 million Indian citizens. The scheme checks most of the boxes, covering all citizens without any preconditions, including those with pre-existing diseases.

Seniors over 70 are a vulnerable group, with many suffering from various ailments. The health cover will be provided to them without any preconditions. Even if you already have a health insurance policy, you are still eligible for Ayushman Bharat, and it will not affect your existing policy in any way.

Where can this health coverage be used? Ayushman Bharat has a network of nearly 30,000 hospitals, including over 12,000 private facilities. For senior citizens without existing health coverage, this provides significant relief, as they are at the highest risk of medical emergencies.

Currently, 98% of senior citizens in India lack health coverage. If they fall ill, they risk depleting their entire life savings. Therefore, this

However, India is still a long way from achieving universal healthcare. Out of 195 countries, 72 have some form of universal health coverage. Broadly, there are two main models for universal healthcare.

In countries like the UK, healthcare costs are fully covered by the government. In other cases, healthcare is funded through a combination of private and public contributions. For example, in Germany, both employers and employees contribute to a fund that covers healthcare for everyone. Private insurance is available for those who want it, but all Germans receive the same level of treatment.

In comparison, Ayushman Bharat has its limitations. The coverage is capped at ₹5 lakhs, which may not be sufficient for individuals over 70 years of age. Additionally, if two members of the same family are over 70, the ₹5 lakhs coverage will be shared between them. This type of insurance is known as a family floater.

Additionally, the quality of care may vary from one hospital to another. There have also been complaints about the implementation of the scheme. Earlier this year, some private hospitals raised concerns about delays in receiving payments.

State governments were criticized for not allocating enough funds for the health insurance scheme, which created problems for hospitals. However, it was the intended beneficiaries who suffered the most, as hospitals ended up reducing the services provided under Ayushman Bharat.

The government has been working to address these issues, including establishing a health insurance regulator. This would serve as a watchdog for the entire sector, overseeing both private and government insurance schemes. The sector could certainly benefit from such an oversight body.

Today, over 40 crore Indians lack health coverage, and 68% of those who do have insurance do not have adequate coverage. For many, the cost remains a major hurdle.

What’s more, health insurance premiums are subject to an 18% GST on goods and services. The government is reconsidering these taxes, which could provide relief.

In conclusion, Ayushman Bharat marks the beginning of a reset for India’s healthcare system. It is a step in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go.

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