A Guide to Kerala Government's Karunya Insurance Scheme

• The Karunya Health Insurance Scheme offers health insurance coverage to poor families of Kerala.
• A sum insured of up to ₹5 lakhs is allowed and the premium is funded by the State.
• Eligible families can get coverage for medical expenses incurred on hospitalisation, treatments, diagnostics, and critical illnesses.
• You can apply for the Karunya health scheme online by filling out an application form and submitting the relevant documents.
• Claims under the scheme can be made on a cashless basis at empanelled hospitals.

A health insurance plan can provide coverage against expensive medical bills and provide financial security. This makes the plan a must-have for individuals. However, affording the premium for the coverage might not be possible for the poor.Keeping this in mind, the Kerala government launched the Karunya Health Insurance Scheme . The scheme provides free health insurance cover to underprivileged families living in the State. Let's understand what the scheme is all about.

The Karunya Health Insurance Scheme , officially called the Karuna Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP) is an indemnity-oriented health insurance scheme. It covers the medical costs incurred on availing tertiary and secondary healthcare treatments.The Karunya Health Scheme is an amalgamation of different government-sponsored health insurance schemes mentioned below -

• Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)
• Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) of Kerala
• Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS) of Kerala
• Karunya Benevolent Fund
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana or Ayushman Bharat scheme

Some of the salient features of the scheme are as follows -

• The scheme offers coverage to more than 42 lakh poor and vulnerable families in Kerala.
• The scheme is completely financed by the Kerala government. The beneficiary families do not have to pay the premium.
• For funding the scheme, the government has allocated ₹250 crores in its budget. The State Lotteries Department funds the scheme and pays the networked hospitals for the treatments.
• Insured individuals can get cashless treatments under the scheme.
• All family members can be covered under the scheme irrespective of their age and gender. Moreover, there's no restriction on the number of members covered.
• Pre-existing diseases are covered without any waiting period.
• The scheme is applicable across India. Insured members can get treatment at any empanelled hospital across the country.
• You can check the network of empanelled hospitals online through the scheme's official website.
• Both public and private sector hospitals are empanelled under the scheme to offer cashless treatments.

Also Read: Health Insurance 101: Guide on the Basics of Health Insurance

Under the Karunya Health Insurance scheme, eligible families can get enrolled for coverage. They can name their family members and get them covered too. Once covered, the insured individuals can get cashless treatments at networked hospitals.The Kerala government funds the premiums of the health insurance cover. Insured individuals can get treated for their illnesses or injuries and make a claim. The health insurance coverage would take care of the eligible hospitalisation costs.

Eligibility Criteria for the Karunya Insurance Scheme

Are you eligible for the Karunya Health Insurance scheme? Check the eligibility parameters -

• You should be living in Kerala.
• If a family living Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) has an annual income below ₹3 lakhs, they can apply for the scheme.

Documents Needed for Karunya Insurance Scheme

You need the following documents to enrol for the Karunya medical insurance scheme -

• Aadhaar Card or Voter's ID Card
• Income certificate
• Address proof
• Ration Card
• Below Poverty Line (BPL) Card
• A passport sized photograph

Coverage under the Karunya health scheme is offered for the following medical expenses -

• Doctor's consultations
• Medical examination and treatments taken
• Medicines
• Consumables like gloves, masks, etc.
• Pre-hospitalisation expenses incurred 3 days before hospitalisation
• Post-hospitalisation expenses incurred for up to 15 days after being discharged from the hospital
• Diagnostic tests
• Lab investigations
• ICU charges
• Cost of implants
• Complications faced during treatments
• Room rent and accomodation expenses

The KASP scheme is beneficial for the poor population of Kerala. Some of the benefits of the scheme are as follows -

Comprehensive coverage

The scheme covers medical expenses up to ₹5 lakhs which includes 1573 procedures. It includes treatments taken for cardiovascular illnesses, cancer, nephrology, palliative care, among others. Moreover, pre-existing illnesses are also covered without any waiting period, giving you complete financial protection.

Reimbursement facility

If you incur out-of-pocket expenses on medical treatments that are covered under KASP, you will be eligible for reimbursement. You can get reimbursed for last-minute medical costs, extended ICU stays, diagnostic tests, etc.

Complimentary coverage

The BPL and APL families covered under the scheme do not have to incur any costs on premium payments. Since the scheme is funded by the government, they can enjoy free coverage.

Quality healthcare

The scheme provides access to quality healthcare to vulnerable sections of the society. This is a social welfare scheme that aims to provide the poor with basic medical treatments.

If you are eligible for the Karunya scheme, you can apply for it online. The Karunya Insurance registration process is as follows -

• Visit http://karunya.kerala.gov.in/
• Download the application form of the scheme.
• Fill out the form providing all the correct and relevant information.
• Submit the form with the documents and you can apply for the scheme.

After the Karunya Insurance registration , you can check the status of your application by clicking on the 'Application Tracking' tab.

The Karunya Health Insurance Scheme of Kerala makes health insurance accessible to all. It empowers the economically weaker sections of society to afford good medical treatments without suffering financial strain.So, understand what the Karunya Insurance Scheme is all about and how it works. Check your eligibility and enrol in the scheme to enjoy complimentary health insurance coverage. If you are not eligible for the KASP scheme, you can buy a health insurance plan independently and get covered for expensive medical treatments that you might incur. Also Read: Why Health Insurance is Necessary for Senior Citizens?