Kerala’s Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi A Health Protection Initiative

Current Affairs National

Posted by newadmin on 2025-02-18 08:49:22 |

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The Kerala government has made significant advancements in healthcare with the launch of the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASAP). This integrated health protection scheme aims to offer comprehensive coverage to the state’s most vulnerable populations. With an additional allocation of Rs 300 crore, the total funding for KASAP this financial year has reached Rs 978.54 crore, ensuring coverage for over 64 lakh beneficiaries, primarily targeting the poorest 40% of the population.

KASAP is designed to provide health coverage of Rs 5 lakh annually per family, benefiting approximately 41.99 lakh families. It covers secondary and tertiary healthcare services, helping to reduce the financial burden of medical expenses on low-income households. The scheme provides hospitalisation coverage for various medical treatments, including cashless services at 197 state-run hospitals, four central hospitals, and 364 private hospitals across Kerala. In addition to hospitalisation costs, the scheme covers pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation expenses for up to 15 days after discharge.

KASAP integrates several government-sponsored health schemes, including the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS), Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS), and the Karunya Benevolent Fund (KBF). By converging these schemes, KASAP streamlines health services under a unified framework. The scheme offers notable advantages such as covering pre-existing conditions from day one, having no restrictions on family size or age, and including a broad range of medical services, with approximately 1,573 procedures covered. Beneficiaries can access treatment at any empanelled hospital across India.

The Karunya Benevolent Fund (KBF) plays a critical role by providing additional financial assistance for severe ailments like cancer, kidney disease, and heart conditions. Funded through Kerala’s lottery system, KBF supports individuals facing critical health challenges, complementing KASAP and addressing the healthcare needs of the underprivileged.

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