Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana

Background

• The workers in the unorganized sector constitute about 93% of the total work force in the country. The Government has been implementing some social security measures for certain occupational groups but the coverage is miniscule. Majority of the workers are still without any social security coverage. Recognizing the need for providing social security to these workers, the Central Government has introduced a Bill in the Parliament.
• One of the major insecurities for workers in the unorganized sector is the frequent incidences of illness and need for medical care and hospitalization of such workers and their family members. Despite the expansion in the health facilities, illness remains one of the most prevalent causes of human deprivation in India. It has been clearly recognized that health insurance is one way of providing protection to poor households against the risk of health spending leading to poverty. However, most efforts to provide health insurance in the past have faced difficulties in both design and implementation. The poor are unable or unwilling to take up health insurance because of its cost, or lack of perceived benefits. Organizing and administering health insurance, especially in rural areas, is also difficult.

Objective

Recognizing the diversity with regard to public health infrastructure, socio -economic conditions and the administrative network, the health insurance scheme aims to facilitate launching of health insurance projects in all the districts of the States in a phased manner for BPL workers.

Salient features

Funding Pattern

• Contribution by Government of India: 75% of the estimated annual premium of Rs.750, subject to a maximum of Rs. 565 per family per annum. The cost of smart card will be borne by the Central Government.
• Contribution by respective State Governments: 25% of the annual premium, as well as any additional premium.
• The beneficiary would pay Rs. 30 per annum as registration/renewal fee.
• The administrative and other related cost of administering the scheme would be borne by the respective State Governments

Implementing Agency & Formulation of Projects

Eligibility

• Unorganized sector workers belonging to BPL category and their family members (a family unit of five) shall be the beneficiaries under the scheme.
• It will be the responsibility of the implementing agencies to verify the eligibility of the unorganized sector workers and his family members who are proposed to be benefited under the scheme.
• The beneficiaries will be issued smart cards for the purpose of identification.

Benefits

The beneficiary shall be eligible for such in-patient health care insurance benefits as would be designed by the respective State Governments based on the requirement of the people/ geographical area. However, the State Governments are advised to incorporate at least the following minimum benefits in the package / scheme:

• The unorganized sector worker and his family (unit of five) will be covered. Total sum insured would be Rs. 30,000/- per family per annum on a family floater basis.
• Cashless attendance to all covered ailments
• Hospitalization expenses, taking care of most common illnesses with as little exclusion as possible
• All pre- existing diseases to be covered
• Transportation costs (actual with maximum limit of Rs. 100 per visit) within an overall limit of Rs.1000.

Revamped RSBY

A revamped RSBY was launched in October 2014 to include the following.

1. Enrollment with RSBY to be linked with opening of bank account and issuance of Aadhaar card.
2. Scheme currently covers 3 crore workers. It will be expanded to include construction sector also.
3. Single central smart card to be issued to include other welfare schemes like Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana and National Old Age Pension Scheme.

Health and Family Welfare Ministry to Implement RSBY Scheme from April 1, 2015

The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY ) of the Labour and Employment Ministry will be implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In pursuance of a recent policy decision of the Government, the Labour and Employment Ministry is handing over the RSBY scheme to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with effect from 1st April 2015.

The RSBY, the health insurance scheme for BPL (below poverty line) families was launched for the workers in the unorganized sector in the FY 2007-08 and it became fully operational from 1st April 2008. It provides for IT-enabled and smart–card-based cashless healthy insurance, including maternity benefit cover up to Rs. 30,000/- per annum on a family floater basis to BPL families (a unit of five) and 11 occupational groups in the unorganized sector. The "Unorganized workers social Security Act, 2008" came into operation w.e.f 31st December 2008 and it encompassed ten social security schemes benefiting the unorganized workers including the RSBY.

FAQs about RSBY

• About the scheme
• Enrollment process
• Medical procedures
• Service delivery

Source : Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana