Title: HEALTH INSURANCE IN INDIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Author: Dr. Sonali Roy
Abstract:
The health insurance sector in India has witnessed significant policy and market-driven expansion in recent years, emerging as a crucial instrument for financial risk protection and healthcare access. Despite these developments, the sector continues to grapple with persistent challenges such as high out-of-pocket expenditure, low awareness levels, poor scheme utilization, and inadequate coverage among rural and informal populations. This research paper undertakes a critical review and synthesis of existing literature to provide an integrated understanding of key themes including coverage, utilization, awareness, and policy impact within the Indian health insurance landscape. The findings reveal that while several studies highlight the rapid growth and diversification of health insurance products—both public and private—their effectiveness in translating coverage into meaningful financial protection remains questionable. Moreover, the literature reflects a heavy reliance on secondary data and descriptive analyses, with limited empirical research addressing regional disparities, behavioral dimensions, or long-term scheme outcomes. By identifying underexplored areas such as digital transformation, insurance literacy, consumer behavior, and decentralized implementation, the study underscores the need for more robust, interdisciplinary academic engagement. It advocates for field-based, longitudinal, and mixed-method approaches to bridge the knowledge gaps. The paper concludes by emphasizing that addressing these gaps through evidence-based research is essential to inform more inclusive and effective policy design, regulatory innovation, and sustainable health financing reforms in India.
Keywords: Health Insurance, India, Financial Protection, Research Gaps, Policy Development
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38193/IJRCMS.2025.7346
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Date of Publication: 02-07-2025
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Published Vol & Issue: Volume 7 Issue 3 May-June 2025