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Dr. Devi Nair
Asst. Professor Hospital Administration, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Ethiopia
Phone.0922876206, Email- drdevirnair1@yahoo.co.in
Abstract
Kerala, the South Indian state is well known its achievements in health and education. Despite the better outcomes in certain indicators Kerala is facing the high risk burden of non-communicable diseases among all Indian states. Recent studies show that the highest prevalence is shifting from the more affluent to the less affluent.
Kerala at present has a free public health system but poor and vulnerable populations are often excluded from accessing fair quality health care. High economic cost of health care often preventing to seek health care and highly developed for –profit sector deters many who cannot have the capacity to pay for quality health care. The vulnerability of the poor and informal workers increases when they have to pay full for their medical care without any subsidy.
Thus, Health insurance could be a way of overcoming financial handicaps, improving access to quality medical care. Comprehensive Health Insurance is a unique health insurance scheme introduced by Government of Kerala in 2008, expected to increase access to health care and reduce the burden of cost of treatment.
Methods: analysis of secondary data , in-depth interviews with key informants five case studies
Results: The first year, the scheme covered 22 lakhs families in 14 districts and second year scheme coverage was 35 lakhs families. This scheme is currently operational in 140 public and 160 private hospitals in kerala. Total 26,178 cases, claims about 7.62 cores and reimbursement about 4.26 cores on 15 Sep 2009. Kerala government is the award winner of this scheme.
Key words: Health insurance Health inequalities, financial protection
Words : 299
Learning Objectives: reducing health inequalities through community based health insurence schemes.