(a) whether the Government has any proposal to expand Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to universal health coverage policy;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to come into force; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH)
(a) to (c): The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) was launched on 1st October, 2007 to provide smart card based
cashless health insurance cover of Rs. 30,000/- per annum on a family floater basis to BPL families (a unit of five)
in the unorganized sector. The scheme became operational from 01.04.2008.
During the course of implementation, apart from BPL families, RSBY coverage has been extended to following additional
categories:
(i) Building & Other Construction Workers
(ii) Railway porters
(iii) Street Vendors
(iv) MGNREGA beneficiaries who have worked for more than fifteen days during preceding financial year
(v) Beedi workers
(vi) Domestic workers
It is the endeavor of the Government to expand social security cover gradually to more and more segments in the
unorganized sector in a phased manner. However, there is no decision to universalize health coverage under the scheme.