Insurance cover, still ₹ 34,064 out of pocket for treatment: In hospitals, the patient often has to pay the expenses of medicines, tests and follow-up.

Symbolic photo.

Health insurance coverage has increased rapidly in recent years in the country. The government claims that this insurance coverage has reached almost half of the country’s population. But the burden of treatment is still heavy on the pockets of common families. According to the NSS Health Survey 2025, an average out-of-pocket expenditure still remains at Rs 34,064 for a hospitalization in the country.

According to the survey report, the number of people reporting the disease has doubled in recent years. In 2017-18, 7.5% people fell ill within 15 days. This number will increase to 13.1% in 2025. This increase is not only a sign of more diseases, but also of increasing awareness, increasing access and increase in non-communicable diseases like diabetes-hypertension.

Symbolic photo.

Average expenditure in private hospitals up to 8 times higher The average out-of-pocket expenditure in government hospitals is ₹~6,631. In half the cases it is ₹1,100 or less. The average in private hospitals is ₹50,508. There is a difference of about eight times. Even in case of delivery, the average cost in a government hospital is ~₹2,299, while in all hospitals it is ~₹14,775.

Average cost per treatment in private hospitals ₹50,508

Note: Median means average expenditure in half the cases, Source: NSS Health Survey 2025

Health cover to 47% rural, 44% urban A lot of success has been achieved on the health insurance front. Rural coverage to increase from 14.1% in 2017-18 to 47.4% by 2025 and urban coverage to increase from 19.1% to 44.3%. 45.5% people in rural areas and 31.8% in urban areas are covered by government insurance. Despite this, having insurance does not mean complete financial security, as medicines, tests and follow-up expenses often have to be paid out of pocket.

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