Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA): Game-Changer for Access to Quality Healthcare

In September 2018, India launched Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA), a scheme aimed at providing access to quality healthcare for millions of people living below the poverty line. The scheme aims to cover more than 100 million vulnerable families and provide them with affordable health insurance. ABHA has been a game-changer for access to quality healthcare in India by addressing several key challenges faced by the Indian healthcare system. One of the major challenges faced by the Indian healthcare system is the lack of affordable healthcare. Many people living below the poverty line cannot afford to pay for healthcare services, which leads to inadequate healthcare utilization. ABHA addresses this challenge by providing a health insurance cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. This means that individuals and families who could not afford healthcare services can now access quality healthcare without worrying about the cost. Another challenge faced by the Indian healthcare system is the uneven distribution of healthcare facilities. Many healthcare facilities are concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural areas with inadequate healthcare facilities. ABHA Health Card addresses this challenge by providing healthcare coverage for individuals living in both rural and urban areas. This has helped to improve access to quality healthcare for people living in rural areas who would have otherwise been unable to access healthcare services. The ABHA scheme has also been a game-changer in terms of improving the quality of healthcare services. Under the scheme, healthcare providers are required to meet certain quality standards to be empanelled under the scheme. This has helped to ensure that only quality healthcare providers are empanelled under the scheme, and individuals who receive healthcare services are assured of quality care. In addition, the scheme has also promoted the use of technology in healthcare service delivery, which has helped to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare services. One of the unique features of ABHA is its focus on preventive healthcare. The scheme includes a package for primary healthcare, which includes preventive and promotive services. This package includes services such as regular check-ups, screening for common diseases, and health education. By promoting preventive healthcare, ABHA aims to reduce the burden of disease and improve the overall health of individuals and communities. India is a developing country with a population of over 1.3 billion people, and ensuring access to quality healthcare for all is a daunting task. However, with the launch of Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA), the government has taken a significant step towards improving access to quality healthcare.

What is Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA)?

Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) is a healthcare financing scheme that was launched by the Government of India in September 2018. The scheme aims to provide financial protection to the underprivileged and vulnerable sections of the society against the high cost of healthcare services. The scheme provides cashless health insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary healthcare services. The scheme is targeted at poor and vulnerable families in the country, and it covers more than 10 crore families or approximately 50 crore individuals. The scheme covers hospitalization expenses, including pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization expenses, along with day-care procedures, and even some of the non-emergency procedures. The scheme provides a wide range of medical services, including inpatient care, daycare procedures, and follow-up care.

The scheme has two components: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs).

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

  PM-JAY is the flagship component of ABHA, which provides financial protection against catastrophic hospitalization expenses. The scheme covers more than 1,600 medical procedures, including surgeries, therapies, and diagnostics. The scheme provides cashless and paperless access to healthcare services, and the beneficiaries can avail of these services at any of the empaneled hospitals across the country. The scheme has more than 23,000 empaneled hospitals across the country, and the beneficiaries can access these services through their ABHA card.  

Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)

  HWCs are primary healthcare centers that provide preventive and primary healthcare services to the beneficiaries of ABHA. The centers provide a wide range of services, including maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, and communicable diseases. The centers are staffed with trained healthcare professionals who provide quality healthcare services to the beneficiaries. The centers also provide free essential drugs and diagnostic services to the beneficiaries. Creating an Ayushman Bharat Card using the Bajaj Finserv Health platform is a simple and hassle-free process. First, you need to visit the Bajaj Finserv Health website and click on the "Ayushman Bharat Health Account" option. Then, you will be prompted to enter your Aadhaar card number, after which you can proceed to create your account. You will need to provide some basic information such as your name, age, and contact details to complete the registration process. Once your account is created, you can access a range of healthcare benefits including free medical checkups, consultations, and treatment for various illnesses. Overall, creating an Ayushman Bharat Health Account card using the Bajaj Finserv Health platform is a convenient way to avail of affordable and accessible healthcare services in India.