**Summary:**
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has implemented several schemes to improve healthcare access and affordability for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and those affected by rare diseases. The Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme provides health insurance for PwD, offering coverage up to ₹1 lakh without requiring pre-insurance medical tests. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY) offers cashless healthcare coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization to approximately 12 crore families, including those with a disabled member and no able-bodied adult member, identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011. The National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD), 2021, facilitates financial assistance of up to ₹50 lakhs for the treatment of 63 identified rare diseases at 14 designated Centers of Excellence. Furthermore, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued a Master Circular on Health Insurance, dated May 29, 2024, directing insurers to offer products, add-ons, and riders that cater to all ages and medical conditions. This information was provided by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on August 12, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health and family welfare policies and programs.
Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme: A health insurance scheme offering coverage up to 1 lakh for Persons with Disabilities without pre-insurance medical tests.
PMJAY: Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, a scheme providing cashless health coverage of up to 5 lakh per year for poor and vulnerable families.
National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021: A policy providing financial support up to 50 lakhs for the treatment of 63 rare diseases.
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Divyangjan: A department focused on the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
SocioEconomic Caste Census SECC2011: A census used to identify poor and vulnerable families for the PMJAY scheme.
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India IRDAI: The regulatory body for the insurance industry in India.
Delhi: The location where the press release was issued.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Steps taken for Persons with Disabilities
Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme offers up to 1
lakh coverage for Persons with Disabilities without
requiring pre-insurance medical tests, ensuring
affordable care access
PM-JAY provides cashless health coverage of up to
5 lakh per year for over 12 crore poor and vulnerable
families, including those with disabled members and
no able-bodied adult member
The National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021
provides financial support up to 50 lakhs for
treatment of 63 rare diseases at 14 designated
Centres of Excellence, reducing financial burden on
affected families
Posted On: 12 AUG 2025 3:10PM by PIB Delhi
Various schemes such as the Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan
Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD), 2021 have been launched by
the Central Government.
As informed by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan),
Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme provides affordable health insurance for PwD, offering up to
Rs. 1 lakh coverage without pre-insurance medical test.
PM-JAY offers cashless healthcare coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per eligible family per year for
secondary and tertiary hospitalization to approximately 12 crore families constituting the bottom
40% of India’s population. Under PM-JAY, scheme beneficiary base includes poor and vulnerable
families identified in the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC-2011). The SECC-2011
incorporates deprivation criteria for rural areas, one of which is “Disabled member and no able-
bodied adult member”.
NPRD facilitates financial assistance of up to Rs. 50 lakhs for treatment of 63 identified RareDiseases in the 14 designated Centers of Excellence, significantly reducing the out-of-pocket
expenditure.
Further, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)’s Master Circular on
Health Insurance dated 29.05.2024 directs the insurers to make available products/add-ons/riders
to provide wider choice to the policyholders/prospects catering to all ages, all types of existing
medical conditions, pre-existing diseases, chronic conditions etc.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a
written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
****
MV
th
HFW/PQ/Steps taken for Persons with Disabilities/12 August, 2025/5
(Release ID: 2155450)