What is the National Health Protection Scheme?
The NHPS PMJAY scheme offers every Indian citizen an insurance cover of ₹5 Lakhs. Additionally, it offers a wide range of medical services to over 50 Crore Indians. It was launched in 2018 and is now referred to as the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. The NHPS PMJAY scheme covers over 1,393 medical procedures and has a wide network of public and private empanelled hospitals, and a range of sponsored programs. The scheme aims to benefit over 10 Crore rural, economically weaker families. Additionally, it also targets those belonging to lower socio-economic backgrounds in the urban setting.
The Ayushman Bharat NHPS or the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) focuses on maternal as well as child services. It prioritizes women, senior citizens, and children of India. Under the Ayushman Bharat NHPS, Indian citizens are offered health coverage of ₹5 Lakh. Moreover, it covers over 50 crore residents of India with affordable medical services.
The prime objective of the Ayushman Bharat NHPS is divided into two categories. Take a look below to understand the diversified objectives of the plan.
Objectives of the National Health Protection Scheme
Before your AB-NHPS registration in India, you must know the numerous features of the scheme to make an informed decision in the future. So, let’s look at the features of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
Why Should You Opt for the NHPS Scheme?
The out-of-pocket medical expenses account for 62.6% of the total healthcare expenditure in India, which is reported to be the highest in the world
In India, public health expenditure was 1.28% of the GDP in the fiscal year 2018, which is quite low in comparison to many other nations in the world
The NHPS scheme in India can ensure extensive healthcare coverage to more than 10.74 crores vulnerable and poor families that form the bottom 40% of the Indian population
The government health insurance plan aims to help mitigate high expenditure on healthcare which forces nearly 6 crore Indians into poverty every year
Salient Features of NHPS Scheme
It covers the primary healthcare needs of the beneficiaries by transforming sub-centres and primary health centres into Health and Wellness Centers
It offers coverage to the vulnerable and poor population of India and covers 1,393 medical procedures
The NHPS scheme enables the beneficiaries to choose from a public hospital and empanelled private hospitals as per their convenience and requirements
It consists of the current health sponsored programs like Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme

Advantages of the National Health Protection Scheme
National Health Protection Scheme or NHPS in India provides the beneficiaries with a definite cover of ₹5 Lakhs every year
The beneficiaries can avail the cashless benefits either in public hospitals or empanelled private hospitals
The cashless benefits offered by the scheme include the investigation, pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses as well as any pre-existing disease
Who Benefits Under NHPS?
The NHPS scheme aims at covering over 10 crores poor and deprived rural families
It targets the recognised occupational categories of urban worker’s families like sweepers, peons, delivery persons, and so on
It covers every member of the family irrespective of their age and the size of the family
All eligible families listed in the SECC database are covered under the NHPS policy
How Will NHPS be Implemented?
The NHPS scheme offers flexibility to various states to choose their mode of implementation of the plan.
Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission Agency can establish and coordinate the mission at a national level with ease.
State Health Agency is established at the state level or the union territory level. SHA is a new entity to achieve the main purpose of the scheme.
While the Central Government bears 60% of the health insurance premium, the remaining 40% is shared by the State Government.
The generated funds are moved to the SHAs through secured accounts by the AB-NHPS.
Apart from NHPS, the RSBY scheme provides financial assistance to needy families as well. The minor similarity between the two plans confuses a majority of beneficiaries. So, let’s take a look at the difference between the two policies:
National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) Vs Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)
RSBY |
NHPS |
RSBY depends on the enrolment |
NHPS depends on the entitlement |
It covers only five members of the family |
There is no cap on the family size or the age of any family member |
It provides coverage of ₹30,000 |
It offers a coverage of ₹5 Lakhs |
The BPL families cannot afford RSBY since it does not cover the outpatient care |
NHPS has the budgetary support of the State and the Central government |