Jumla: The number of people renewing their health insurance in Jumla district has been declining in recent years, according to the Health Insurance Board in the district. This trend has raised concerns about the accessibility and effectiveness of the health insurance program in the region.

According to National News Agency Nepal, Tirtharaj Joshi, Registration Officer at the Board, stated that the number of health insurers in the district stands at over 103,000 individuals from 14,885 households. However, only 44,479 policies remain active, with nearly 56,000 people choosing not to renew their insurance.

Among the insured, there are 3,923 senior citizens, 98 people with severe disabilities, and 306 from families of female community health volunteers. The data also reveal that 17,312 individuals from extremely poor households did not renew their insurance, significantly contributing to the decline in renewals.

The increase in non-renewals among those from extremely poor backgrounds followed the government’s discontinuation of its free renewal policy for such families, Joshi explained. Nonetheless, the government continues to provide free health insurance for people with disabilities, leprosy patients, people living with HIV, and senior citizens.

Others can obtain health insurance coverage worth Rs 100,000 by paying a premium fee, as stated by the Board. To address the decline in renewals, the Board has arranged for registration officials to conduct door-to-door visits, aiming to encourage greater participation in the program.

Local residents suggest that several factors contribute to the lower renewal rates, including lack of medicines in designated hospitals, long waiting lines in healthcare facilities, and delays and complaints from hospitals over unpaid insurance claims for insured patients. The health insurance program was initially introduced in Jumla in 2074 BS.