40 Cr “missing” have no financial protection for health: Niti Aayog

New Delhi, October 31 At least 30 percent of the population or 40 million people, known as the “missing link”, lack any financial health protection, according to a report by Niti Aayog.

In her report “Health Insurance for the Missing Center of India”, Niti Aayog said that expanding health insurance or insurance coverage is a necessary step and a path in India’s efforts. to achieve universal health coverage (UHC).

“About 20 percent of the population 25 crore individuals are covered by social health insurance and private voluntary health insurance. The remaining 30 percent of the population have no health insurance; the actual uncovered population is higher due to existing coverage gaps in PM-JAY and the overlap between plans, ”the report said.

According to the report, the “missing link” is mainly self-employed workers in the agricultural and non-agricultural informal sector in rural areas, and a wide range of informal, semi-formal and formal jobs in urban areas.

In the absence of a low-cost health insurance product, the “missing link” remains to be discovered despite the ability to pay nominal premiums, according to the report.

The report further suggests that a comprehensive product designed for this segment, which may be an improvement over the existing Aarogya Sanjeevani plan and providing coverage to patients, may extend health insurance coverage.

The Niti Aayog report states that most Indian health insurance plans and products are not designed for the “missing link”.

Voluntary private health insurance is designed for high-income groups, costing at least two to three times the affordable level for the “missing link”. Affordable contributory products such as ESIC and government subsidized insurance including Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PM-JAY) are closed products. They are not available to the general population due to the risk of adverse selection, suggests the Niti Aayog report.

Disclaimer: This article was posted automatically from an agency feed without any text changes and has not been reviewed by an editor

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