A rapid evaluation of the Rajiv Aarogyasri community health insurance scheme in Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

In 2007, the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh introduced the Rajiv Aarogyasri community health insurance scheme (RAS) in order to break the vicious cycle of ill health, poverty, indebtedness and bankruptcy among families who are below the poverty line (BPL). The purpose of the scheme was to improve access to treatment of certain medical and surgical conditions for BPL families through a network of health care providers. We conducted a rapid evaluation of RAS at the request of government of Andhra Pradesh. The purpose of the evaluation was to provide insights into the current performance of the scheme, to examine whether it is meeting the overall objectives and to suggest ways by which it may be further strengthened.