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PMJAY Patients Face High Out-of-Pocket Costs
8 Mar
Summary
- Patients spent Rs 53,965 on average in private facilities under PMJAY.
- Out-of-pocket expenses were over double in private versus public hospitals.
- PMJAY patients spent Rs 3,294 less than uninsured individuals on average.
A recent evaluation study commissioned by NITI Aayog has highlighted significant out-of-pocket expenditures for patients utilizing private facilities under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). On average, patients incurred Rs 53,965 per hospitalisation for medicines, transport, and diagnostics.
This figure is more than double the Rs 21,827 average out-of-pocket expense observed in public facilities. The study, conducted by IQVIA, surveyed 2,283 households across 13 states and Union Territories, finding that 65% of PMJAY beneficiaries still faced these additional costs.
Despite PMJAY aiming to provide cashless services up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care, beneficiaries continue to bear costs for medicines and diagnostics. The report indicates that while PMJAY patients spent less on average compared to uninsured individuals, the expenses in private hospitals remain a significant burden.
