What is the RSBY Scheme in India?

Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana: Affordable Healthcare for All

The RSBY Card (Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana Card) is a biometric-enabled smart card issued to people under the RSBY scheme, which was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. This scheme was introduced to provide cashless health insurance cover to people below the poverty line.

Hence, it is very important for you to know the steps to follow to check the RSBY card status. Read ahead to learn more about the card's features, benefits, and eligibility criteria.
 

What is the RSBY Scheme?

The RSBY scheme, introduced by the Indian government in 2008, covers the health insurance benefits of people below the poverty line (BPL). This scheme ensures that individuals working in the unorganised sector can avail of high-quality medical care without paying a huge amount of money.

The beneficiaries are also issued a smart card that helps in the identification process through photos and fingerprints. It also stores certain important information about the patient. The main function of this card is to enable cashless transactions at the listed hospitals throughout India.

What are the features of the RSBY scheme?

The following section lists some of the important features of the RSBY scheme:

• The RSBY scheme allows BPL beneficiaries to choose their place of treatment, whether public or private.
• People enrolled under the RSBY scheme may use their RSBY smart card to facilitate cashless transactions for treatment at any of the empanelled hospitals throughout India.
• The RSBY scheme provides security and safety owing to biometric-enabled smart cards. This ensures that only the rightful beneficiary has access to all facilities.
• Schemes such as the RSBY model are known to promote long-term viability and expansion of the scheme.
• The beneficiaries also needed to renew the RSBY card annually.
   

What are the eligibility criteria for the RSBY scheme?

Individuals falling under the following conditions are eligible to apply for the RSBY scheme:

• The applicant should have a BPL card and be an Indian citizen.
• The applicant may be a worker in the unorganised sector with a BPL card. The worker's family members are also included in the scheme.
• To avail themselves of the benefits of the RSBY card, the beneficiaries must pay a sum of ₹30 annually, which facilitates cashless treatment benefits.
   

What are the benefits of the RSBY scheme?

People enrolled under the RSBY scheme get access to the following benefits:

• The scheme covers the expenditures for the beneficiary's pre-existing diseases.
• The RSBY scheme includes a five-day hospitalisation cost, a one-day pre-hospitalisation cost, and a transportation cost of a maximum of ₹100.
• The RSBY scheme covers up to five family members: the head, the spouse, and three dependents, providing coverage of up to ₹30,000 annually.
• The beneficiaries receive a biometric-enabled smart card known as the Swasthya card.
• When provided with the RSBY card details to the authorities, the beneficiaries can claim cashless benefits to cover medical expenses.
• The scheme covers basic health facilities as well as maternity care, normal and caesarean deliveries, and newborn care.
   

How does the RSBY work?

The following points explain how the RSBY scheme works:
 

• A list of eligible families is prepared by the state government that receives health benefits.
• The enrolment dates are announced by the selected insurance companies.
• To facilitate enrolment, mobile units are set up in every village for the potential beneficiaries.
• Beneficiaries line up and provide biometric details and photographs, along with a registration fee. After that, they receive a smart card and an information pamphlet about the scheme.
• Each smart card gets verified by a government official and an insurance company representative who are present during the process.
• The state nodal agencies receive a final list of families that are enrolled to maintain proper records.
• From the list, BPL families are identified, and insurance companies are selected through a bidding process.
• The beneficiaries are enrolled at certain local centres, and the smart cards are issued thereby.
   

The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is a significant step towards improving healthcare, enabling people below the poverty line to access quality healthcare. Some of the important features include cashless healthcare and a nationwide network. Overall, it is a great initiative to support low-income families.

Also Read:

→ How to Check RSBY Card Status

→ How Do I Get an RSBY Card

→ What is the Sum Insured in the RSBY Scheme