Background: The central and state governments have launched new medical insurance schemes, all with different features, to extend coverage to workers in the informal sector, particularly those who are poor. The primary objective all health-care schemes are to provide and improve the access of BPL families to quality medical and surgical care for the treatment of identified disease involving hospitalization, surgeries, and therapies through an empanelled network of health-care providers.
Objective: To study the medical expenditure in slum population and to see the people perception, knowledge and willingness for different health insurance schemes.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2015 until September 2016. Interview in the form of semi-structured questionnaire was used. The questionnaire was pretested infield practice area of BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and was prepared in Gujarati.
Results: Most of the families has an average income of Rs. 6000 to 10,000 with mean income of Rs. 8520 with average family size of 5.7.33.9% households has to suffer from catastrophic health expenditures, 53.6% households have no insurance or assurance cover. People want to participate in insurance schemes that are designed according to their need but want government platform for it.
Conclusion: Health insurance alone is not a remedial measure. Demand for health has to be generated within communities, pooling of resources can be done and let the people manage their own health need according to their priority
Key words: Health Insurance; Health Expenditure; Urban Slums; Health Care Schemes
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