Established in 2008 under the guidance of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is a health insurance program implemented by the Government of India. The objective of the scheme is to extend adequate healthcare coverage to those who are economically disadvantaged, with emphasis on families living below the poverty line (BPL), as well as workers in the unorganised sector. By offering cashless hospitalisation benefits, the scheme endeavours to alleviate the financial strain that arises from unexpected health emergencies and the subsequent need for hospital care. Its primary goal is to safeguard these vulnerable groups from the considerable financial burden associated with medical treatment.
RSBY scheme: Coverage
The RSBY program stands out as an extraordinary achievement in the realm of health insurance, boasting a vast coverage of more than 34 million families and 5 million cases of hospitalisation in March 2013. Through the years, the scheme has demonstrated how social security and universal health coverage can be extended to the disadvantaged and marginalised sectors of society. The scheme has been seamlessly integrated with other initiatives, such as the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), which strives to provide a higher sum insured of ₹5 lakh per family per year, with the ambitious goal of reaching a staggering 500 million people.
RSBY scheme: Benefits
The RSBY scheme provides a range of benefits, including annual coverage for hospitalisation expenses up to ₹30,000 per family. It covers the policyholder and up to four family members, with no waiting period or exclusions for pre-existing diseases. The scheme also covers various medical expenses, provides a smart card for cashless treatment, and allows beneficiaries to choose between public and private hospitals. It involves multiple stakeholders and uses technology to prevent any risk of fraud.
RSBY scheme: Eligibility
To be eligible for RSBY, the person must be in a family listed below the poverty line as defined by the State Government and must work in the unorganised sector. They also need to be members of welfare boards for unorganised workers. If they meet these criteria, they can join RSBY by paying a small registration fee. Thereafter, they will receive a smart card for cashless treatment at any approved hospital in India.
In order to enrol for RSBY program, you must provide certain documents including a ration card to show that you are eligible as a BPL family, an Aadhaar card or PAN card as proof of your identity, an income certificate to verify your income level, a BPL certificate to confirm your BPL status, an address proof like utility bills or a passport, a passport size photo of each family member, and a mobile number for communication and verification purposes.
If you are looking for the helpline toll-free number 1800 2201 02 for RSBY.
It is advisable to verify the most up-to-date information on schemes such as RSBY by consulting the state government website or official sources, as these policies can be modified or substituted.
