‘Govt-led awareness drive is key factor to increase outreach in rural areas’

 

 

In view of poor services at Government-run hospitals, it can be said a vast number of people seek care from private providers rather than government owned as underfund led to compromised facilities at later. To bear financial burden is not an easy task for patients’ families. Government has a decentralised approach to health care and that allows health insurance to be optional. As a study, over 50 per cent of the total healthcare expenditure in the country was from out-of-pocket expenses in fiscal year 2020. In the fiscal year of 2023, over 550 million people across India were covered under health insurance schemes.

 

Although, majority of people are insured under government-sponsored health insurance schemes but at the same, people are also opting for other private options also. “Government’s focus and mega campaign on health insurance is playing major role in maximising health coverage in the country. As lack of awareness was one of the main hurdle among mass to get insured. Now, they understood the importance of health insurance and their number is increasing in the country and in states, said Sanath Kumar, Executive Director, Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited, exclusively talking to ‘The Hitavada’. Replying to ‘The Hitavada’s’ query about companies reach in rural areas, he said “After LIC, we are largest retail health insurance with 33% market share and Rs 6,339 net worth. Our claim settlement figures tells story behind our success. First health insurance company to settle over one core claims and total disbursal amount of Rs 44,000 crore.

 

These factors can be attributed to our position as first standalone company in this sector in the country. “In view of increasing premium cost, there are other options in various plans for people so that they can opt for the slot convenient to them. company is expanding its services for instance telemedicine and home care are the core facilities that have been initiated in recently. Launched its home health care service in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Ujjain as far as Madhya Pradesh is concern and widening its footprint in rural areas also late. It allows customers to access affordable, high quality health care from the comfort of their homes. In Madhya Pradesh as compare to other south states e.g. Chennai etc there was lack of awareness towards health insurance but with government’s initiative now more & more people are getting insured.”