Introduction to Karunya Arogya Suraksha Paddhati (KASP)

The Karunya Arogya Suraksha Paddhati (KASP) is the flagship health assurance scheme of the Government of Kerala, launched in 2019. It provides a health cover of ₹5 Lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 42 Lakhs poor and vulnerable families (approximately 64 lakh beneficiaries), forming the bottom 40% of the state's population.

KASP effectively converges and integrates previous state-sponsored health schemes like RSBY (Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana), CHIS (Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme), Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme, and the Karunya Benevolent Fund (KBF) with the central government's Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). From July 1, 2020, the scheme is implemented directly by the Government of Kerala under a trust mode, through the newly constituted State Health Agency (SHA).

Key Features and Benefits of KASP

• Health Cover: Provides a cashless health cover of up to ₹5 Lakhs per family per year on a family floater basis for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. This means the entire amount can be utilized by one or all family members.
• No Cap on Family Size or Age: Unlike some previous schemes, KASP has no cap on family size or the age of its members, ensuring comprehensive coverage for all eligible family units.
• Pre-existing Diseases Covered: All pre-existing diseases are covered from day one of enrollment, meaning beneficiaries can receive treatment for existing medical conditions immediately.
• Cashless Treatment: Beneficiaries receive cashless access to medical services at empanelled public and private hospitals across Kerala and in other states where PM-JAY is implemented.
• Treatment Components Covered: The scheme covers various components of treatment, including:
  • Pre-hospitalization expenses (e.g., medical examination, consultation, diagnostic tests up to 3 days prior).
  • Hospitalization expenses (e.g., medical treatment, intensive and non-intensive care services, medicines, medical consumables, diagnostic and laboratory investigations, surgical charges, OT, equipment, physician fees, accommodation benefits).
  • Post-hospitalization care up to 15 days.
  • Complications arising during treatment.
  • Medical implantation services.
• Extensive Procedure Coverage: KASP covers approximately 1,573 medical procedures.
• Network Hospitals: Treatment can be availed in over 195 public hospitals and 542 private hospitals empanelled under the scheme in Kerala (numbers may vary, check official list for latest data).

Eligibility Criteria for KASP

The scheme primarily targets poor and vulnerable families in Kerala. Eligibility is determined based on:

• Residency: Applicant must be a permanent resident of Kerala.
• Socio-Economic Criteria:
  • Families identified based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas are automatically eligible (as per PM-JAY guidelines).
  • Families holding a Below Poverty Line (BPL) Ration Card.
  • Above Poverty Line (APL) families with an annual family income of less than ₹3 Lakhs (income certificate is required). This includes families covered under the former Karunya Benevolent Fund.
  • Certain other categories as decided by the State Government.
• Existing Health Cards: Families already possessing RSBY or CHIS cards are generally covered under KASP.

Eligible families are provided with a KASP-PMJAY e-card or a similar identifier to avail benefits.

Application Process and Required Documents

For most eligible beneficiaries (especially those identified through SECC data or with BPL cards), there is no separate application process. The identification is often automatic. However, APL families falling under the income criteria might need to apply or register.

Generally, to avail benefits or register, beneficiaries need to visit an empanelled hospital or a designated enrollment center. The process is designed to be cashless at the point of service.

Required Documents (for identification and verification at empanelled hospitals):

• Aadhaar Card (for all family members)
• Ration Card (BPL/Priority Household ration card)
• Income Certificate (for APL families with annual income below ₹3 Lakhs, obtained from the Village Office/Tahsildar)
• Any other ID proof or address proof if required.
• Passport-sized photograph.

Beneficiaries do not typically need to "apply online" for the scheme. They need to ascertain their eligibility and then directly approach an empanelled hospital with their identification documents to avail cashless treatment.

How to Avail Treatment under KASP

1. Check Eligibility: Confirm if your family is covered under KASP (check SECC list, BPL card, or income criteria).
2. Find Empanelled Hospital: Locate a government or private hospital empanelled under KASP in Kerala. The official SHA website usually provides an updated list.
3. Visit Hospital: Go to the chosen empanelled hospital. At the KASP/PMJAY desk (or admission counter), present your Aadhaar card and Ration Card.
4. Verification: Hospital authorities will verify your eligibility using their system.
5. Cashless Treatment: Once eligibility is confirmed, you can avail cashless treatment for covered procedures up to ₹5 Lakhs.

For any issues or queries at the hospital, contact the Arogya Mitra at the hospital help desk or the KASP helpline.

Associated Schemes and Initiatives

• Karunya Benevolent Fund (KBF): While converged into KASP, KBF previously provided financial aid for poor people suffering from serious ailments (e.g., Cancer, Haemophilia, Kidney, Heart diseases) by raising funds through the Kerala lottery. This original fund structure still supports the larger KASP umbrella for APL families.
• Arogyakiranam Scheme: A state-run health entitlement scheme specifically for children aged 0 to 18 years, providing free healthcare in government hospitals of Kerala. It covers all diseases (OP/IP) beyond the 30 covered under RBSK.
• Sruthitharangam (Cochlear Implantation Scheme): Provides free cochlear implantation surgery and auditory verbal habilitation for hearing-impaired children aged 0-5 years. Now implemented by State Health Agency.
• MEDISEP: A separate health insurance scheme specifically for serving employees of the State Government, High Court, pensioners, and certain aided school/college staff.

Contact Information & Official Portals

State Health Agency (SHA), Kerala (Implementing Agency for KASP):

• Address: State Health Agency, 5th & 8th Floor, Artech Meenakshy, TC 24/187(2), Opp. Vydyuthi Bhavan, K.S.R.T.C Road, Thiruvananthapuram - 695001, Kerala.
• KASP Helpline Number: 1056 (Toll-Free) or 0471-2552056
• SHA Kerala Helpline Numbers: 0471-2960221, 0471-4063121, 0471-2301181

Important Official Portals:

• State Health Agency (SHA) Kerala Official Website (KASP Information): https://sha.kerala.gov.in/ (Look for "Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP)" or "Schemes" section)
• PM-JAY Official Portal (for national information): https://pmjay.gov.in/
• Official Kerala Government Portal: https://www.kerala.gov.in/
• Land Services (Relevant): Including JharBhoomi for land records, e-Nibandhan for property registration, and Jharkhand Municipal for property tax payment.

For the most accurate and up-to-date lists of empanelled hospitals and detailed guidelines, always refer to the official State Health Agency (SHA) Kerala website.