In a landmark move to revolutionize healthcare accessibility, the Rajasthan government has empowered beneficiaries of its flagship health insurance scheme to seek treatment anywhere in India. The Mukhyamantri Arogya Yojana (MAA) will now offer interstate portability, breaking geographical barriers for millions.
Launch and Immediate Impact
The interstate portability feature is set to be officially launched by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma in Dholpur on Friday. This strategic enhancement means that registered families, who were previously limited to cashless treatments within Rajasthan, can now access empanelled hospitals across state lines. This initiative directly addresses the critical need for medical care while traveling or residing outside one's home state, removing a significant financial hurdle for patients.
An official from the state health department confirmed the development on Thursday. The MAA scheme itself was initially rolled out in February 2024 with the core objective of providing easy and accessible cashless healthcare to the people of Rajasthan.
Massive Expansion of Medical Coverage
The portability launch coincides with a substantial broadening of the scheme's medical coverage. The health department has been proactively adding new treatment packages to ensure comprehensive care. A recent major addition includes 73 new day care packages specifically for cancer treatment.
This follows a phased inclusion of several other critical healthcare packages:
- Geriatric care packages
- Packages for adolescent psychological health
- Treatment for oral cancer
- New packages for specially-abled persons
- Advanced surgical packages for robotic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, skin transplant, and cardiothoracic and vascular surgery
- Packages incorporating AYUSH treatments
The expanded scope has already made it easier for critical patients to receive timely treatment, significantly improving outcomes and saving lives. Furthermore, aligning with the announcements in the new financial year 2025-26 budget, the state government has integrated an additional 132 new packages into the scheme.
A Scheme for Millions
The scale of the Mukhyamantri Arogya Yojana is monumental. Currently, 1.3 crore families are registered under the scheme, representing a vast portion of Rajasthan's population. The introduction of interstate portability transforms it from a state-specific safety net into a portable health security cover of national relevance.
This move is expected to provide immense relief to migrant workers, students pursuing education in other states, and families on the move. It ensures that their right to cashless, quality healthcare is not compromised by their location, marking a significant step towards universal health coverage and patient-centric policy making in India.
