An Analysis of Health Insurance Coverage in India, with a Special Focus on Chhattisgarh

Good health encompasses not only physical well-being but also mental wellness. Achieving and maintaining good health often necessitates a financial investment in essential health services. For economically disadvantaged segments of society, health-related expenditures can deplete savings and potentially thrust individuals into poverty. Health insurance offers financial protection when accessing healthcare services. This study aims to analyse health insurance coverage in India over the past two decades using secondary data from NFHS 3, NFHS 4 and NFHS 5. The findings indicate a significant increase in enrollment in health insurance; however, it is noteworthy that the majority of those covered are beneficiaries of the Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) or government-funded health insurance programs. Higher enrollment rates are observed in rural areas, primarily due to these government-sponsored health insurance initiatives. Most states exhibited an increase in beneficiaries, with Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh emerging as the top-performing states. However, there is considerable variation among states; many states, such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, have among the lowest coverage rates. Chhattisgarh stands out for having one of the highest coverage levels, largely attributed to the government-funded health insurance schemes (RSBY and the State Health Insurance Scheme), which have led to increased coverage in rural areas.