Kerala seeks to expand public health insurance scheme to cover ‘missing middle’

The Kerala government is considering expanding health insurance coverage to include the “missing middle” – those who cannot afford any health insurance but are not currently covered under the Ayushman Bharat-Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhati (AB-KASP) scheme. This expansion may involve collecting a premium from existing beneficiaries to help sustain the scheme, which has been facing financial challenges. While the goal is to move closer to universal health coverage, there are concerns about the impact on vulnerable families who have been receiving free health protection for over a decade. Various options are being explored to ensure that the “missing middle” has access to affordable health insurance without burdening those who cannot afford it.