Health Insurance and Ayushman Bharat
Employer, Government and Social Insurance
Government employees have CGHS, formal-sector workers ESIC, and many firms give group cover, while informal workers rely on public schemes or nothing.
A patchwork.
CGHS
The Central Government Health Scheme covers central government employees and pensioners.
ESIC
The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation covers lower-income formal-sector workers.
Group cover
Employers buy group policies, but coverage ends when the job does.
Gaps
The informal sector and the middle ‘missing middle’ remain under-covered.
A job change
An employee loses health cover when she quits and must buy her own.
Assuming employer cover is enough
It ends with employment.
Key takeaways
- CGHS covers central employees.
- ESIC covers some workers.
- Group cover is tied to jobs.
- The missing middle lacks cover.
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