Page 37 - The Insurance Times October 2021

A STUDY ON

HEALTH

INSURANCE IN

WEST BENGAL

Abstract
Health insurance is a tool to bring financial stability and is a necessity for modern societies. It restricts the financial drain
of an individual during a medical emergency and provides the insured with financial indemnity and stress free coverage in
the event of hospitalization. Although the coverage and penetration is still very low in India when compared to other
developed nations, there has been a remarkable increase in its popularity among the masses. A survey on the state of
health insurance in West Bengal is done for the purpose of this study on a representative population residing in and around
the city of Kolkata. The results show that the position is still far from being satisfactory among the educated urban masses.
The low amount of annual premium paid by the sample proves that even among those who have opted for health
insurance, the coverage is not adequate.

Introduction huge amount of money which is associated with modern
medication and hospitalization. Health insurance has been
Health insurance is a tool to bring financial stability since it
an emerging industry due to an increase of middle class
restricts the financial drain of an individual during a medical
emergency. It covers the risk of medical expenses of a person population, high hospital expenses, expensive healthcare,
during his treatment and protects him from the erosion of digitisation and an increase in the awareness level of the
consumers. (Dutta 2020).
About the author

Dr. Kushal De Pallobi Chattopadhyay Some of the benefits of health insurance
Assistant Professor & & & & & Corresponding author are:
Department of Commerce Independent researcher Y Blanket coverage: It helps to deal with health related
Dhruba Chand Halder College issues and avail the best accessible medical treatment.
Dakshin Barasat, West Bengal It covers hospitalisation expenses that arise during

The Insurance Times, October 2021 37