With a stable and functional government, a country can take care of its citizens' demands and needs that arise in the health category. That is why the government of India is trying to do its best to introduce various health insurance schemes which would help the citizens claim different benefits depending upon their requirements. Here in this article, we will be discussing all the government health insurance schemes in India which have been introduced till now for the people to acclaim as per their preference.

One of the primary tasks of a running government is to help all its citizens maintain a healthy and productive life. It's done by supplying them with various benefits in terms of health insurance in time of need. Below, we have listed all the Government Health Insurance Schemes in India, along with brief details.

List of Government Health Schemes

There are various government health schemes in India, some of them being:

• Ayushman Bharat Yojana: The Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a health insurance program initiated by India's Central Government health scheme. Its primary objective is to provide universal healthcare coverage to the most underprivileged and vulnerable sections of society, comprising more than 40% of the country's population.
  This comprehensive coverage includes expenses related to medicines, medical treatment, diagnostic tests, and pre-hospitalization expenses. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana allows the poorest families in India to receive medical treatment and healthcare services. They can do so without worrying about its high costs. Moreover, it is one of India's most popular government health insurance schemes.
  This scheme also provides free medical treatment in public and private hospitals to families belonging to the lower income group. Families earning more than Rs 5 lakh per year are not eligible for this scheme. The scheme also offers complimentary transportation to and from the hospital and accommodation in case the patient needs to be hospitalized.
• National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS): The National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) is a health insurance scheme that aims to provide annual health coverage of up to INR 5 Lakhs per family to over ten crore vulnerable families in India. The central government of India launched this scheme in 2018 to provide financial protection against health shocks and reduce out-of-pocket expenses on medical treatments. The NHPS offers insurance coverage for both secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. This scheme applies to all Indian citizens below or below the poverty line.
  NHPS also covers pre and post-hospitalization expenses; the cost of medicines, diagnostics tests, and transportation are also covered under this scheme. It also provides free treatment to persons above the age of 60 years. The scheme also encourages preventive health check-ups.
• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana: The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana is a scheme designed to offer accident insurance coverage to Indian citizens. The policy is available for individuals between 18 and 70, provided they hold a bank account. Within this scheme list of government health insurance policyholders can avail of an annual coverage of Rs 2 lakh in the event of total disability or death and Rs 1 lakh in the case of partial disability.
  The premium amount for the policy is auto-debited from the bank account, making the process hassle-free. Overall, the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana serves as a vital financial safety net and is also within the crucial list of schemes by the Modi government for individuals and families in India, providing them with the necessary support in case of accidents and disabilities.
• Central Government health scheme: This central Indian government health insurance policy has operated for over 60 years, providing coverage for over 35 lakh employees and pensioners. Under this government, schemes for health, hospitalisation, and domiciliary care are covered, subject to the terms and conditions of the plan. Additionally, the policy covers both allopathic and homoeopathic treatments.
  Moreover, these government schemes for health plans are currently available in 71 cities across India, and there are also talks to expand their scope to cover more areas down the line. When this central government health scheme starts protecting more people under this wing, most of us wouldn't have to worry about medical treatment in the future.
• Universal health insurance scheme: The Universal Health Insurance Scheme was designed to assist families living below the poverty line. They do so by covering the medical expenses of every family member. It also includes a cover in case of accidental death. This type of medical scheme in India is primarily driven by four public sector general insurance companies, which aim to improve healthcare for underprivileged and economically disadvantaged citizens in India.
  Suppose a family member is hospitalised. Medical expenses of up to 30,000 rupees could be covered under this universal health insurance scheme introduced by the Indian government health insurance sector. However, if the family's primary earner is hospitalised, the Universal Health Insurance Scheme compensates 50 rupees per day for 15 days.
• National AYUSH Mission (NAM): The National AYUSH Mission (NAM) is a scheme by the Indian government focused on providing access to Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) systems of health care. It offers financial support for the developing and upgradation of infrastructure in the AYUSH sector.
  The mission aims to improve the availability and access to AYUSH services, given that the Indian healthcare system mainly focuses on allopathic treatments. This government health insurance policy strives to provide AYUSH services in rural areas and make them accessible to the public.
  It also supports research and development activities in AYUSH, emphasising traditional knowledge and its application for modern healthcare. Overall, the National AYUSH Mission is a significant step forward and an important initiative by the Modi government to improve healthcare in India and make it more comprehensive.
• Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana: The Ministry of Labour and Employment of the Indian government launched the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. It aims to provide health insurance coverage to workers in the unorganised sector. These people often do not have access to any insurance policy.
  Moreover, these individuals are frequently unable to save money as their earnings are low, and they tend to exhaust their savings when they fall ill, which happens quite often. The scheme covers individuals below the poverty line and those working in the unorganised sector. The government insurance schemes in India, like Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, intended to offer financial protection to these individuals and their families.
  It was done in the event of an illness or injury, reducing the burden on their savings. The scheme ensures that these workers can access medical care by providing health insurance. They can do so without worrying about the cost of the later part of their treatment.
• Employment state insurance scheme: India's National Health Insurance Scheme is a comprehensive, multi-dimensional social security program. This has been designed to provide healthcare and socio-economic protection to workers and their families. Such a category of the Indian government health insurance scheme offers medical care insurance to all workers in India.
  This happens at the beginning of their first day of insurable employment and cash benefits in times of physical distress or disability. This insurance scheme also provides a monthly pension, known as dependent benefits, to women who have lost the ability to earn a living and dependents of individuals injured in occupational accidents.
  This scheme's benefits are extended to all the worker's family members, ensuring they are protected. Moreover, the National Health Insurance for govt employees scheme in India is an important social security program that provides healthcare and financial protection to workers and their families, ensuring they can lead healthy and secure lives.
• Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS): The Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme in India is another government health insurance scheme. It was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to provide coverage to senior citizens over 60. This scheme provides comprehensive healthcare coverage for these individuals, including hospitalisation and other related costs.
  The scheme also provides additional benefits such as preventive health check-ups and free spectacles in case of visual impairment. The scheme is aimed at providing financial security to the elderly who are unable to access health insurance due to their age or economic circumstances.
  The Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme in India is an important initiative by the government and provides much-needed financial support to elderly citizens. Senior citizens must understand their eligibility criteria, benefit coverage, and the documents required to access this scheme.

Conclusion

One of the primary duties of a government in India is to look after its citizen's health and welfare benefits. That is why various sections of government are constantly trying to improve their health care unit or sector. Moreover, they provide better facilities to all the patients who need them.

India is an entirely vastly populated country, where poor people can be found at many corners of the road if you try to find some. For those people, it becomes impossible to find suitable treatment with the money they have. Hence, it is the responsibility of the government in India to look after such people.

They must ensure they also receive the same treatment at the right time as other country citizens. Thus, after reading this article, you can now gather all the information you have been looking for regarding the list of government health insurance schemes introduced to date.

FAQs

What is the purpose of a health scheme?

The primary goal behind the introduction of so many health insurance schemes by different types of government in India is to ensure all their citizens are treated with the best medical facilities at all times. With such insurance schemes, it might get more accessible for some people to find a suitable treatment for themselves.

Which health scheme is for the poor in India?

Among all the other health insurance schemes deployed by the government of India, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana is tailored and made for all the poor citizens of India. It is mainly for people who are below or near the poverty line set by the government of India.

What are the benefits of health insurance schemes?

The primary benefit of such insurance schemes is that they provide financial security to individuals who can access them. Moreover, in some cases, the schemes also offer additional benefits such as free medical check-ups and spectacles for individuals with visual impairments. These schemes also offer security to families in the event of an illness or accident.​