UPSC Express

Consider the following about Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)

1.      It is specifically designed to target only the Below Poverty Line (BPL) households

2.      The beneficiaries under RSBY are entitled to hospitalization coverage up to Rs. 30,000/- per annum on family floater basis, for most of the diseases that require hospitalization.

Select the correct statement/s

a       1 only
b       2 only
c       Both
d       None
Explanation:

Solution (b)

Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) a Health Insurance Scheme for the Below Poverty Line families with the objectives to reduce OOP expenditure on health and increase access to health care.

RSBY was launched in early 2008 and was initially designed to target only the Below Poverty Line (BPL) households, but has been expanded to cover other defined categories of unorganised workers, covering:

Building and other construction workers registered with the Welfare Boards
Licensed Railway Porters
Street Vendors
MNREGA workers who have worked for more than 15 days during the preceding financial year
Beedi Workers
Domestic Workers
Sanitation Workers
Mine Workers
Rickshaw pullers
Rag pickers
Auto/Taxi Driver
RSBY has two fold objectives:

To provide financial protection against catastrophic health costs by reducing out
To improve access to quality health care for below poverty line households of pocket expenditure for hospitalization and other vulnerable groups in the unorganized sector
The beneficiaries under RSBY are entitled to hospitalization coverage up to Rs. 30,000/- per annum on family floater basis, for most of the diseases that require hospitalization.

The coverage extends to maximum five members of the family which includes the head of household, spouse and up to three dependents. Additionally, transport expenses of Rs. 100/- per hospitalisation will also be paid to the beneficiary subject to a maximum of Rs. 1000/- per year per family.

The beneficiaries need to pay only Rs. 30/- as registration fee for a year while Central and State Government pays the premium as per their sharing ratio to the insurer selected by the State Government on the basis of a competitive bidding.