Social Exclusion and (RSBY) Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana in Maharashtra

Out-of-pocket payments make up a large proportion of total health expenditure leading to inequity amongst the poorer sections. Recently government of India has instigated various demand side financing innovations which predominantly target the poorest of the poor. Some of the major innovative financing arrangements practiced are subsidies and health insurance for poor. The prepayment mode of health financing is present in the form of state sponsored targeted social health insurance or community based health insurance schemes. However limited coverage and target based approach often excludes various groups. These existing health protection mechanisms are reported to be poorly successful in mitigating inequities in health outcomes.