Evaluating the Impact and Awareness of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme in Bihar

Abstract

The Ayushman Bharat Scheme, India's largest health insurance initiative, was launched in 2018 with the goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage as outlined in the National Health Policy 2017. This scheme comprises two components: the National Health Mission, which focuses on strengthening health services and promoting awareness in rural and urban areas, and the National Health Protection Mission, which provides free treatment up to Rs. 5 lakhs for 50 crore individuals from economically disadvantaged families. A survey conducted in four districts of Bihar—Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, and Khagaria—revealed that rural areas have a higher registration rate (58%) compared to urban areas (37%). Social media (31%) and newspapers (21%) are the primary sources of information about the scheme, while gender participation is relatively balanced, with 44% women and 56% men registered. Despite these positive indicators, issues such as paperwork, Aadhaar card problems, and lack of information hindered some from registering. The scheme received an average rating of 3.83 out of 5, reflecting general satisfaction and strong trust (97%) among respondents, though no respondents had yet used the card. To improve the scheme’s reach and effectiveness, it is recommended to increase awareness through targeted social media and newspaper campaigns, simplify the registration process, expand information dissemination, address technical issues, and encourage active usage of the Ayushman Bharat card.