Recently, we came across news in an online Publication, hindustantimes.com

Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana

In 26 months, RSBY has enrolled more than 60 million people in 22 states; by next year that should double to 100 million. This is the first use, on this scale, of India's technology prowess to run a national socal-security programme. If RSBY succeeds, it could be the precursor for reforms in other schemes.

The scheme accepts five people per family — can walk into 5,000 public and private hospitals across India, produce the RSBY card and get healthcare. No paperwork. No cash. No questions asked.

It is India's first social-security scheme that embraces a profit motive, involving 20 insurance companies, private and public hospitals, state governments and the centre, each acting as a check on the other. The World Bank is bringing it to global attention as the largest use of smart cards to provide the poor with nationwide health insurance.

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Experts from Medimanage.com give their opinion:

Sudhir Sarnobat:

Sudhir Sarnobat from Medimanage.com

RSBY has been one of the best things that has happened to micro health insurance field. Many poor families become debt ridden if bread winner of the family falls sick & need secondary or tertiary level treatment. RSBY provides much needed help for all such families.

The health insurance penetration in rural India is miniscule which would definitely go up with this initiative. The challenge is making affordable healthcare available to all these members as the limit of this scheme provides cover of just Rs. 30,000.

We hope that this penetration will increase multi-fold & thus risk spread better to ensure that the higher coverage / higher sum insured is offered to all members insured.