Challenges in attaining universal health coverage: empirical findings from Rashtriya Swashthya Bima Yojana in Chhattisgarh

Introduction The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is a financial protection scheme in India. It is aimed at protecting families below poverty line (BPL) against catastrophic health expenses. It also seeks to increase their access to healthcare and expand the choice of providers. We undertook a series of studies in Chhattisgarh to examine: a) the key issues in the design and implementation of the scheme and b) ask if the objectives of the scheme are being fulfilled particularly for the marginalized communities in underserved areas. This is significant as the scheme is being promoted as the model and vehicle for universal access to healthcare.