Kathmandu. The government is running a health insurance program across the country. The health insurance board was formed and the program started in 2072. Currently, the health insurance program has been implemented in all the seven provinces of the country. In the initial stage, citizens did not show much interest in health insurance, but the latter has started to increase.

Although the expansion of the program could not accelerate according to the target, the number of people providing health insurance in the rural areas has started to increase recently. According to the latest statistics of the Health Insurance Board, the number of health insurance providers across the country has reached 62 lakh 10 thousand 589. According to the board, health insurance has reached only 20.56 percent of Nepalis. Still 79.44 percent of citizens are seen outside the scope of health insurance. The government had set a goal of bringing all citizens under the scope of health insurance within five years of the start of the insurance program. However, it has been seven years since the health insurance program started.

The information officer of the board, Shabhu Prasad Gyawali, informed that since the beginning of the health insurance program, the board has paid more than 25 billion 181 million rupees for health insurance claims. According to him, in the first quarter of the current fiscal year 2079.80, 3 billion 94 crores of claims were paid. Until last year, 21 billion rupees were paid in claims.

The number of women in health insurance is more. According to the statistics of the board, 32 lakh 4 thousand 324 women have taken health insurance. Which is 51.5945 percent of the total insured. The number of men who have health insurance has reached 3 million 5 thousand 503.

So far, 15 billion 66 crore 44 lakh 11 thousand rupees has been collected in the health insurance program. In the total amount of contributions, the highest amount has been collected from Province 1. According to the board, 29.57 percent of the total collection contribution amount from Province 1 is 4 billion 63 million 22 lakh 7 thousand rupees. 18.36% from Bagmati Province, 16.10% from Lumbini Province, 14.28% from Gandaki, 9.42% from Sudurpaschim Province, 7.63% from Madhesh Province and 4.65% from Karnali Province.

According to the facts, among the insured who participated in the program, there are many in the age group of 15 to 29 years. One lakh 48 thousand 819 or 23.8 percent of this age group have been insured participants. According to the board, 23.2 percent or 14 lakh 40 thousand 185 insured participants are above 60 years of age. The age group of 30 to 39 years participated the least. Which is 13 percent of the total insured. Similarly, 21.9 percent of the 40 to 59-year-old age group and 17.2 percent of the 14-year-old age group participated.

According to the statistics of the board, the age group that takes more services is from 40 to 59 years. According to the board, 32.69 percent of claims have been made by this age group. Similarly, more services have been taken by the insured in the age group of 60 years and above.