Govt schemes help boost health cover by 14% in 10 yrs

Expansion in India's health insurance coverage, particularly the government 

schemes, has helped improve various health indicators as more people seek 

treatment and medical services. For instance, insurance penetration has resulted 

in a rise of over 15% in institutional deliveries, thus reducing maternal and infant 

mortality.

Similarly , people in rural areas, the elderly and members of the scheduled castes 

and scheduled tribes are now more likely to seek tertiary care because of insurance 

coverage. Official data shows childbirth in government hospitals increased by 22% 

between 2004 and 2014, led by government policies, whereas `at home' deliveries 

declined by 16%.

India has witnessed a huge jump in health insurance coverage over the past decade. 

While just 1% of population had coverage in 2004, the figure went up to more than 

15% in 2014. Though health insurance coverage continues to be driven by the government 

in India, latest data compiled by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of 

India (IRDAI) shows Indians are increasingly buying private policies too.

According to IRDAI data, the premium collected by health insurers during 2015-16 

jumped by 21.7% to Rs 24,448 crore. This has also encouraged providers to expand 

their base. The number of schemes, the basket of services as well as payment options 

have also been expanded over the past decade, providing people better opportunity to 

seek medical care for critical diseases.

A recent Brookings India study , based on NSSO data, shows a decline in the number 

of people not seeking medical services when sick, from 15.1 per 1,000 people in 2004 

to 12.4 in 2014. The increasing insurance penetration has also helped with the accessibility 

and affordability of healthcare services for the poor and those living in remote areas.

Infrastructure and sustained focus are required to link the available health systems, 

both public and private in rural and remote areas, with health insurance, says IRDAI 

chairman T S Vijayan.

According to the national health profile 2015, compiled by Central Bureau of Health

Intelligence, 67% of those with some form of coverage are under public insurance

companies. Centreand statefunded health insurance schemes covered about 37 crore 

people in 2014 as compared to 5.5 lakh in 2004.

Source: The Times of India