Government Health Insurance Schemes in India

The primary purpose of government health insurance schemes in India is to make sure everyone has access to health insurance. These schemes are especially for the poor and needy families. They ensure the needy can get good medical treatment without worrying about large bills.

While anyone can opt for health insurance plans from the government, they are especially targeted towards the vulnerable sections of society. That said, if you fulfil the eligibility criteria, you can easily enrol in such schemes.

No. Not all government schemes are initiated by the central government. Some are initiated by the state government, too, for residents residing in that particular state.

Yes. A valid Aadhaar card can serve as proof of identity to avail of government health insurance schemes in India. That said, there are certain other documents that you might be required to submit. Ensure that you submit the documents to easily avail of the scheme.

The sum insured in government health insurance plans isn't fixed. It varies across schemes.

Different schemes have different exceptions. It’s essential for you to read the policy wordings carefully and go through the scheme documents to understand the schemes. Understanding the exclusions in schemes is crucial to minimising the chances of claim rejection.

You can obtain more information about government health insurance schemes from the respective government portals offering the scheme (central or state). You can also get information about the scheme online.

Government health insurance schemes differ in terms of coverage offered, hospital networks under their ambit, waiting period for pre-existing ailments, tax benefits and much more. Their coverage amount is comparatively lesser than the ones offered by regular health insurance policies.

Enrolling in government health insurance schemes provides access to low-cost and affordable coverage. You can access healthcare services at private and public hospitals, along with a low waiting period.

Ayushman Bharat Yojana, Central Government Health Scheme and Employees' State Insurance Scheme are some of the popular government health schemes in India. Some other popular ones include the Aam Admi Bima Yojana, Swasthya Sathi, and Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana.

The eligibility criteria differ across government health insurance schemes. Go through the respective scheme under which you want to enrol to know the specific criteria.

Limitations can vary across policies. While some may not cover cosmetic procedures, others might limit coverage to daycare procedures, among others. Read the policy wording carefully to understand the limitations.

Yes. PMJAY and Ayushman Bharat are the same. It’s a central government scheme that provides a cover of ₹5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.