Author(s): Manivannan Babu, R. Brintha, J. Gayathri, G. Indhumathi, J. Sathya
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. Estimation of overall risk of health care and health system expenses, among the interested groups can help an insurance company towards developing a consolidated expenditure and income structure, which includes monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that sufficient cash is available to pay for the health care benefits specified in the insurance agreement. Even though Health Day is celebrated on 7th April every year, majority of individuals are unaware of health insurance benefits. The effectiveness of the schemes depends on the awareness and utilization of these schemes by the general public. Despite having several health insurance plans, by both the Government and private parties, there is still lack of penetration of health insurance in India, particularly in a densely populated state like Tamil Nadu. Elite people of the society could afford expensive medical treatment, whereas the middle and low income groups suffer a lot due to certain health problems, which require heavy medical expenses. For the successful implementation of health insurance coverage and to get higher market share, it is necessary to understand basic dynamics of policy holders’ awareness, preference, perception, satisfaction, quality of health insurance services in TamilNadu. No individual should be deprived of at least the standard type of health care, and thereby patient and his family are protected from a financial disaster. The mode of payment can be simplified and more affordable in the form of yearly premium, especially in case of serious medical illness and it helps to eliminate sickness as a cause of poverty in India.