Alarming gaps in health insurance coverage for persons with disabilities: Survey

A recent survey conducted under the ‘Ayushman for All’ campaign has uncovered alarming gaps in health insurance coverage for persons with disabilities in India. The findings reveal that 80 per cent of disabled people lack health insurance, while 42 per cent have not even heard of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). It said only 19.5 per cent of total respondents had health insurance policy.

The survey conducted by NCPEDP said that only 28 per cent of surveyed individuals with disabilities have applied for the scheme. The findings were shared at the National Disability Network (NDN) meeting that was attended by civil societies and organizations of people with disabilities from more than 20 states. The survey sample includes over 5000 disabled people from 34 states and union territories.

“These numbers aren’t just a statistic; they represent real people left behind by the system. Health insurance is not a privilege for persons with disabilities; it’s a necessity for survival,” said Arman Ali, Executive Director, NCPEDP.

The survey found that the majority of the respondents were from the disability types of Thalassemia (37.3 per cnet), Locomotor Disabilities (23.3 per cent), and Sickle Cell Disease (10.9 per cent). On the other hand, less represented conditions included Specific Learning Disabilities (0.19 per cent), Speech and Language Disabilities (0.28 per cent), and Dwarfism (0.31 per cent).

The findings from the primary research survey have provided invaluable insights that are crucial for advocating the inclusion of all persons with disabilities under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), without income and age restrictions.