The Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP) is the Kerala state’s adaptation of the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). It aims to provide cashless and paperless medical treatment to economically vulnerable families across Kerala. Launched by the Kerala State Health Agency (SHA), the scheme ensures that financial constraints do not prevent families from accessing quality healthcare.
KASP integrates the benefits of both central and state-funded health insurance initiatives, including the Karunya Benevolent Fund, to offer a comprehensive and inclusive healthcare safety net for the people of Kerala.
Benefits Of Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi:
Table of Contents
KASP offers several key health-related benefits:
Cashless Treatment:
Beneficiaries receive completely cashless treatment for covered procedures at empanelled government and private hospitals.
High Annual Coverage:
₹5,00,000 per family per year is provided to cover secondary and tertiary medical care.
No Limit on Family Size or Age:
The scheme covers entire families — regardless of the number of members, age, or gender.
Pre-existing Diseases Covered:
All pre-existing health conditions are covered from day one of enrollment.
Wide Network of Hospitals:
Access to a large network of empanelled government and private hospitals across Kerala and even outside the state under Ayushman Bharat portability.
Pre & Post-Hospitalization Coverage:
Includes:
- Pre-hospitalization expenses: up to 3 days before admission
- Post-hospitalization expenses: up to 15 days after discharge, including diagnostics and medicines
- Paperless & Aadhaar-Based Verification
- Digital and biometric verification simplifies access and avoids fraud.
Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi Coverage Details:
- Annual Health Cover: ₹ 5,00,000 per family
- Covered Services: Over 1,500+ medical and surgical procedures
- Hospitals Covered: Government and empanelled private hospitals
- Illnesses Covered: Cardiac, cancer, renal, neurological, trauma, neonatal, infectious diseases, and more
- Exclusions: Cosmetic surgery, fertility treatment, organ transplantation (except kidney), etc.
- Eligibility Criteria: Based on Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC 2011), RSBY/CHIS data, or income-based
- Enrollment Fee: Free. No premium or registration charges for eligible families
- Mode of Use: Aadhaar-based biometric authentication at the hospital or scheme card (if issued)
Eligibility Criteria Of Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi:
To utilise KASP benefits or enroll/be recognized under the scheme, these are the common eligibility criteria:
Residency: Must be a resident of Kerala.
Socio-economic status/previous scheme membership:
- Those who had a valid RSBY / CHIS card during 2018–19 are eligible to be included under the KASP scheme.
- Households identified in the 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) as weaker sections may also be included.
- Families that receive direct letters / notices from the Central Government regarding inclusion.
- For KBF, the family’s annual income should be < ₹ 3,00,000/year (if not eligible for KASP).
- For Arogya Kiranam (for children), the parents should not be government employees or income-tax payers.
No discrimination by age, gender, or family size: The scheme does not impose age limits or family size restrictions.
Aadhaar linkage/verification: To avail free treatment, you need to link your Aadhaar with the KASP health card or undergo biometric verification in the hospital (unless it’s an emergency)
Not a treated / completed case (in some circumstances):
In some interpretations, if someone has already completed a course of treatment before enrollment or if the treatment is done before recognition, it may not be eligible. (This is seen as a practical limitation rather than a formal rule).
Documents Required For Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi:
To enroll/get recognized under KASP / Karunya schemes, you typically need:
- Aadhaar Card (for identity and biometrics)
- Ration Card / BPL card (or evidence of socio-economic status)
- Income certificate or proof of annual income (if required)
- Passport-size photo(s) (in some cases)
- Hospital / medical documents/estimate (if applying from hospital)
- Any previous RSBY / CHIS card (if held) for proof of historical inclusion.
Hospitals/kiosks likely have a standard form to be filled out (if needed).
How to Apply For Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi:
The process is intended to be simple and hospital‑driven. Here’s how to apply or use KASP:
Go to a KASP‑empanelled hospital/facility that has a “Karunya / KASP kiosk”:
Application and registration are done through kiosks in government and private hospitals that are empanelled under KASP.
Submit documents and fill form:
Provide Aadhaar, Ration Card, income proof, photographs, and any required hospital estimate / medical documents. The hospital staff/kiosk operator will assist you.
Aadhaar linkage / biometric verification:
Your Aadhaar biometric will be used to validate identity before treatment (if not already linked).
Approval/recognition in the system:
The hospital or State Health Agency will confirm your eligibility and include you in the KASP system. The process is largely IT-integrated.
Receive the KASP health card/identity in the system:
Once approved, you will get a KASP health card or identity in the system, which you present when receiving treatment.
Undergo treatment at an empanelled hospital (cashless):
When you go for treatment in an empanelled hospital, show the KASP health card, Aadhaar, and relevant documents. The hospital processes the claim digitally; you should not pay for covered services within the package limits.
Post‑hospitalization claim/settlement:
After treatment, the hospital/insurer processes the claim under the scheme for reimbursement/settlement with the State Health Agency.
Renewal / periodic check:
In subsequent years, you may need to renew or verify Aadhaar linkage, especially if your KASP card/recognition lapses.
Simplified “No separate application” variant:
Some sources state that beneficiaries do not need to fill a separate application — eligible persons can directly proceed to a government / empanelled private hospital with Aadhaar / Ration card, and the system will handle the rest.
However, in practice, the hospital/kiosk may still require a short form or identity verification steps.
FAQs:
Q. Is there any charge/premium for enrolling in Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi?
A. No, there is no extra charge to enroll. The scheme is government-funded.
Q. Can treatment of pre‑existing illnesses be covered?
A. Yes, Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi covers pre-existing conditions. You are not excluded from benefits just because you already have an illness.
Q. If I am already undergoing treatment or surgery, can I enroll and claim?
A. This is a grey area. Some reports suggest that claims for treatments already done before enrollment may be excluded.
It is safer to enroll before starting a major treatment or surgery. Always check with the hospital kiosk.
Q. If I need treatment in a private hospital, will Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi cover it?
A. Yes, if the private hospital is empanelled under Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi. You must ensure the hospital is part of the network.
Q. What happens if treatment costs exceed ₹ 5,00,000 per year?
A. Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi only covers up to ₹ 5,00,000 per family per year under its package. Costs exceeding that limit would have to be borne by the patient, unless there is special approval or additional schemes.
Q. What is the Karunya Benevolent Fund (KBF)?
A. KBF is an additional financial support scheme for households not covered by KASP but with an annual income < ₹ 3,00,000; it provides one-time assistance up to ₹ 2,00,000 (or ₹ 3,00,000 for kidney ailments).
Q. Is Aadhaar mandatory?
A. Yes, Aadhaar linkage or biometric verification is required for claiming benefits under Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (except emergencies).
Q. What if I lose my Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi health card/identity?
A. You should report to the hospital kiosk or the State Health Agency. They can reissue or re-verify your identity in the system. (Check with the hospital staff.)
Q. How to check whether a hospital is empanelled?
A. Check on the official Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi portal or Kerala State Health Agency’s website under the “Empanelled Hospitals / Hospital List” section.
Q. Are there fake agents/frauds I should watch out for?
A. Yes, some people claim to issue KASP cards or conduct “registration camps” in non-official ways, charging money. The State Health Agency has warned that only designated kiosks in empanelled hospitals may enroll beneficiaries, and such unauthorized camps are illegal.
Q. If new registration is suspended, what should I do?
A. Check with the hospital kiosk or State Health Agency. You may wait until registration reopens or see if you qualify under older schemes.