Health insurance coverage in India has increased significantly over the last eight years, with rural areas surpassing urban coverage, according to a health survey released by the statistics ministry on Monday.
In rural areas, the share of people covered by atleast one health insurance scheme rose to 47.4% in 2025 from 14.1% in 2017-18. In urban areas, it went up to 44.3% from 19.1%.
Government-sponsored schemes accounted for the majority of enrolments, covering 45.5% of the rural population in 2025 compared with 12.9% in 2017-18. In urban areas, such schemes covered 31.8% of people, up from 8.9% earlier, according to the 80th round of the National Sample Survey on Health.
The average out-of-pocket expenditure per hospitalisation case (excluding childbirth) stood at Rs 34,064 in 2025, with rural spending at Rs 31,484 and urban at Rs 38,688.
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The report noted that in public hospitals, the average cost per hospitalisation case (excluding childbirth) was Rs 6,631 at the national level, while half of the patients incurred expenses of Rs 1,100 or less.
Morbidity levels have also increased, with 13.1% of people reporting ailments, including chronic conditions, during the last 15-day period in 2025, up from 7.5% in 2017-18. The rate was higher in urban areas (14.9%) than in rural areas (12.2%).
The incidence of ailments was highest among those aged 60 years & above (43.9%), followed by the 45-59 age group (22.5%) and children aged 0-4 years (9.9%). Non-communicable diseases such as cardio-vascular and endocrine/metabolic diseases were most commonly reported after the age of 30.
Among states, Kerala recorded the highest morbidity rate at 39.7%, followed by West Bengal (24.5%), Andhra Pradesh (21.1%) and Goa (18.7%).
Infections were the leading cause of hospitalisation at 20.7%, followed by injuries (11.2%), and cardio-vascular and gastro-intestinal conditions (10.9% each).
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Further, the report noted that institutional deliveries were nearly universal, with around 96% of births in the past 365 days occurring in hospitals. “In rural areas, 95.6% of births occurred in institutions, while only 4.4% took place at home. In urban areas, institutional deliveries were even higher at 97.8%, with just 2.2% at home,” the ministry said in a statement.
In rural areas, the share of people covered by atleast one health insurance scheme rose to 47.4% in 2025 from 14.1% in 2017-18. In urban areas, it went up to 44.3% from 19.1%.
Government-sponsored schemes accounted for the majority of enrolments, covering 45.5% of the rural population in 2025 compared with 12.9% in 2017-18. In urban areas, such schemes covered 31.8% of people, up from 8.9% earlier, according to the 80th round of the National Sample Survey on Health.
The average out-of-pocket expenditure per hospitalisation case (excluding childbirth) stood at Rs 34,064 in 2025, with rural spending at Rs 31,484 and urban at Rs 38,688.
Also read | Rural India braces for West Asia affect; Centre sets in motion series of countermeasures
The report noted that in public hospitals, the average cost per hospitalisation case (excluding childbirth) was Rs 6,631 at the national level, while half of the patients incurred expenses of Rs 1,100 or less.
Morbidity levels have also increased, with 13.1% of people reporting ailments, including chronic conditions, during the last 15-day period in 2025, up from 7.5% in 2017-18. The rate was higher in urban areas (14.9%) than in rural areas (12.2%).
The incidence of ailments was highest among those aged 60 years & above (43.9%), followed by the 45-59 age group (22.5%) and children aged 0-4 years (9.9%). Non-communicable diseases such as cardio-vascular and endocrine/metabolic diseases were most commonly reported after the age of 30.
Among states, Kerala recorded the highest morbidity rate at 39.7%, followed by West Bengal (24.5%), Andhra Pradesh (21.1%) and Goa (18.7%).
Infections were the leading cause of hospitalisation at 20.7%, followed by injuries (11.2%), and cardio-vascular and gastro-intestinal conditions (10.9% each).
Also read | IFC, domestic funds back Brookfield India REIT’s Rs 2,600-cr QIP
Further, the report noted that institutional deliveries were nearly universal, with around 96% of births in the past 365 days occurring in hospitals. “In rural areas, 95.6% of births occurred in institutions, while only 4.4% took place at home. In urban areas, institutional deliveries were even higher at 97.8%, with just 2.2% at home,” the ministry said in a statement.
