Awareness and Knowledge of Micro Health Insurance: A Case Study of Sampoorna Suraksha Programme in Karnataka, India

Micro health insurance (MHI) is an innovative health financing mechanism that caters to the insurance need of the bottom of the pyramid in India to tackle the impoverishing effects of huge medical bills and mitigate iatrogenic poverty. This study was conducted to ascertain the knowledge and awareness on the scheme features of Sampoorna Suraksha Programme (SSP), a micro insurance programme initiated by SKDRDP (Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project) in Karnataka, India. A descriptive study was conducted in three randomly selected districts namely Dakshina Kananda, Uttara Kannada and Gadag, in Karnataka. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire from the insured members of SSP adopting survey methodology. Our study affirms that insured members of SSP have different levels of knowledge and awareness on the various features of SSP. The results indicate that the degree of knowledge and awareness of the main features of SSP (benefits of package, excluded diseases and network hospitals) were more prevalent amongst members who have been renewing rather than the newly insured SSP members. We reiterate that such positive trends on knowledge and awareness were attributable to high income, educational level, and members living in more developed districts of Karnataka.