National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS)

National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS)

Higher life expectancy has led to the growth of diseases. As you grow older, the chances of suffering from multiple illnesses are more. Moreover, rapidly rising health conditions have resulted in unaffordable medical expenses. The severity of sickness and medical costs, has made health insurance the need of the hour. Therefore, the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) is introduced in the Union Budget, 2018 to provide financial assistance during the breakouts of severe diseases.

The Ayushman Bharat Yojana consists of the NHPS Scheme formulated by the Government of India. The Ayushman Bharat Scheme is the largest government initiative to support the poor families in India. Here is everything you must know about the Ayushman Bharat NHPS.

What is the National Health Protection Scheme?

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, the Indian citizens are offered health coverage of Rs. 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.

What are the objectives of the national health protection scheme?

• To decrease the out-of-pocket expenditure of every resident of India.

• To provide the citizens with quality medical services as well as medications.

Before enrolling the AB-NHPS, every India citizen must know the numerous features of the scheme. Learning the various features of the plan beforehand will allow an individual to make informed decisions in the future. Hence, go through the features of the AB-NHPS Scheme specified below.

Salient features of AB-NHPS

• It strengthens the primary healthcare by transforming sub-centers into Health and Wellness Care Centers.

• It covers at least 40% vulnerable population of India with 1,347 treatments

• It allows the beneficiaries to choose from a public hospital and empaneled private hospitals.

• It consists of the current health sponsored programs like Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme.

A majority of people opt out of the plan irrespective of its progressive features. Moreover, certain individuals are unaware of the scheme. Therefore, go through the following mentioned below, which explains why to avail the NHPS.

Why NHPS Scheme?

• The National Survey Sample report of 2017 states that Indian citizens spend over 70% on healthcare. Moreover, 7% of the Indian population is drowning into poverty, which is why they can’t afford the expensive medical costs.

• It has been observed in the SECC data of 2011 that over 21% of the annual income is spent on medical expenses by the poor families.

• In India, public health expenditure is 1.3% as compared to other nations like the United States of America (USA).

• The NHPS will ensure the reduction in poverty with adequate and quality medical facilities to the needy.

What are the entitlements under the National Health Protection Scheme?

• The NHPS provides the beneficiaries with a definite cover of Rs. 5 Lakh every year.

• The beneficiaries can avail the cashless benefits either in public hospitals or empaneled private hospitals.

• The cashless benefits offered by the scheme include the investigation, pre and post hospitalization expenses as well as any pre-existing disease.

The NHPS has been raised with the sole motive of the security of the poor. Therefore, it covers the maximum number of vulnerable families.

Who will be benefited under the NHPS scheme?

• It focuses on covering over 10 crores of poor and deprived rural families.

• It targets the recognized occupational categories of urban worker’s families like sweepers, peons, deliverymen, and so on

• It covers every member of the family irrespective of the age and the size of the family.

• It considers the future SECC changes concerning the occupational criteria, inclusions, exclusions, and deprivations.

 How will NHPS be implemented?

• The NHPS works on the principle of co-operative federalism. Hence, it offers the states covered under the scheme with flexibility.

• Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission Agency can establish and co-ordinate 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 buyers. Hence, take a look at the difference between the policies mentioned below.

NHPS vs RSBY