Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is a health insurance scheme started by the central government to support poor people in India. Under this scheme, unorganized workers who can’t afford medical care get health insurance coverage up to ₹30,000. This helps poor families get cashless treatment in hospitals without worrying about large expenses.
Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana 2025 Overview
This national health insurance scheme covers unorganized sector workers and their families (up to five members). Many workers in this sector suffer from frequent illnesses and cannot afford proper medical care. To help them, the government provides free health insurance, especially for families living below the poverty line (BPL). Using this scheme, poor families can get medical treatment in listed hospitals without paying upfront.
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RSBY Smart Card Details
Poor families get an RSBY Smart Card under this scheme. This card lets them receive free treatment at selected hospitals. Each state creates a list of hospitals where treatment is available. Before going to a hospital, check if it is on the approved list. The smart card helps with cashless payments and can be used anywhere in the country at listed hospitals.
Main Features of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana
| Scheme Name | Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) |
| Launched by | Central Government of India |
| Beneficiaries | Poor and unorganized sector workers |
| Purpose | To provide health insurance to poor families |
| Official Website | http://www.rsby.gov.in/how_works.html |
Purpose of the National Health Insurance Scheme
Many poor people can’t afford proper treatment when they get sick. Sometimes this leads to serious health problems or even death. To reduce this difficulty, the government started Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. This scheme provides health insurance for poor workers and their families so they can get free treatment in listed hospitals. It protects them from large medical expenses during hospital stays.
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Benefits of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana
- The scheme supports unorganized sector families with health insurance.
- Unorganized workers get ₹30,000 health insurance coverage yearly.
- The scheme covers five family members per worker.
- Insurance is valid for one financial year and needs yearly renewal.
- The government pays most of the insurance premium; the beneficiary pays only ₹30 as renewal fee.
- Free treatment is only available at government-approved hospitals.
- It aims to cover about 10 crore poor families and help treatments up to ₹5 lakh.
- More than 1.5 lakh health wellness centers across India will support this scheme with disease screening and training.
Eligibility for Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana
- Applicant must be an Indian resident.
- Must belong to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households with a valid BPL card.
- Unorganized sector workers with low income are eligible.
- The scheme covers up to five family members of the worker.
- To use cashless services, the beneficiary needs an RSBY smart card.
- The smart card can be obtained by paying ₹30.
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Documents Required for RSBY Application
- Aadhaar Card
- Ration Card
- BPL Certificate
- Income Certificate
- Residence Proof
- Mobile Number
- Passport size photo
How to Apply for Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana?
- Government agencies survey all areas to make a list of BPL families.
- The list is given to insurance companies authorised by the government.
- Insurance agents contact families and help them get medical insurance policies.
- Registration centers are set up in different areas; for remote places, mobile camps are arranged.
- Applicants visit registration centers for smart card enrolment, biometric data and photo capture.
- After paying ₹30, beneficiaries receive their smart card with scheme details and a list of hospitals.
- The process usually takes less than 10 minutes, and the card is given in a plastic cover.
- For more info, visit the official website.