Politics of Health Insurance in India: A Narrative Review.

Politics of Health Insurance in India: A Narrative Review. | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 8 November 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Politics of Health Insurance in India: A Narrative Review. Authors : Sarit Kumar Rout [email protected] , Rashmi Das , Amatullah Sana Qadeer , Ananda Meher , and Niranjan Sahoo Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176260157.76107816/v1 224 views 256 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Publicly funded health insurance has arisen as a major health financing mechanism in India. Although health system faces multiple challenges, requiring policy focus, disproportionate attention to health insurance by political parties forms the subject of this paper. This study examines the intersection of insurance policies and political narratives, highlighting how political parties leverage schemes for electoral gains, neglecting long term improvement in health systems. Methods We employed systematic review approach guided by PRISMA framework, to understand why health insurance is a prominent focus by political parties in India. A total of 755 records were identified across five electronic databases, from which 15 studies and two working papers met the inclusion criteria for the final review. Data were also sourced from manifestos(2004–2024), newspaper articles. Results Our analysis suggests that health insurance, as a visible public good, tends to receive greater attention in political agenda and is frequently highlighted during elections. The review of election cycle across two decades shows that health insurance is strategically used as a tool for electoral base expansion, with dominant political parties, carefully timing their implementation to align with election cycles. Though Indian health system has several structural inadequacies to provide primary health care, this has been least prioritized by political parties. Conclusion With the convergence of welfarism and democratic politics, health insurance has emerged as a favored means to entice voters. While serving electoral interests, it creates limited opportunity for long term reform in India’s ailing health sector. A resilient policy framework integrating insurance with health system is essential. Supplementary Material File (main document.docx) Download 611.62 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 08 November 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords health insurance politics publicly funded health insurance vote politics voter choice welfarism Authors Affiliations Sarit Kumar Rout [email protected] Public Health Foundation of India View all articles by this author Rashmi Das Public Health Foundation of India View all articles by this author Amatullah Sana Qadeer Indian Institute of Public Health Hyderabad View all articles by this author Ananda Meher Indira Gandhi National Tribal University View all articles by this author Niranjan Sahoo Observer Research Foundation View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 224 views 256 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Sarit Kumar Rout, Rashmi Das, Amatullah Sana Qadeer, et al. Politics of Health Insurance in India: A Narrative Review.. Authorea . 08 November 2025. 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