KASP Insurance: Features, Eligibility & Coverage

Quick Overview

KASP (Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi) is Kerala’s government-funded health insurance scheme that offers up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization. It is available only to eligible low-income and vulnerable families identified by the government.

The scheme offers cashless treatment at empaneled hospitals and covers pre-existing diseases from day one. However, it is not open to everyone, since eligibility is restricted to specific beneficiary groups.

KASP insurance is Kerala’s main government-backed health protection scheme for eligible families. It is the state’s implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and is run by the Kerala State Health Agency. The scheme also brings together other government-backed health support systems in the state, including the Karunya Benevolent Fund and earlier public health insurance programs, to make hospital care more accessible through a cashless network of empaneled hospitals.

According to the State Health Agency Kerala’s latest public statistics, KASP covers 43,07,073 families and 78,83,794 beneficiaries in Kerala. Each eligible family gets up to ₹5 lakh a year for covered hospitalization expenses.

Key Features of KASP Insurance

Coverage of Up to ₹5 Lakh Per Family: The scheme offers health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for approved secondary and tertiary hospitalization (that is, treatment that needs specialist care, advanced procedures, or hospital admission beyond basic medical care). Since it works on a family floater basis, the entire sum insured can be used by one member or shared across multiple members.
Cashless Treatment Facility: KASP provides cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals. Eligible beneficiaries can access treatment without paying upfront, as expenses for approved procedures are directly settled through the scheme at the hospital.
No Restrictions on Family Composition: There are no limits on family size, age, or gender under KASP. Additionally, pre-existing diseases are covered from day one, making it especially beneficial for families with elderly members or existing health conditions.
Wide Range of Covered Procedures: The scheme covers 1,500+ medical procedures under predefined treatment packages, with each package covering the related hospitalization costs such as doctor fees, diagnostic tests, medicines, ICU charges, room rent, and surgery expenses. It also covers 3 days of pre-hospitalization expenses and 15 days of post-hospitalization expenses, subject to the package terms.
Fully Government-Funded Scheme: Unlike private health insurance, KASP is a fully government-funded scheme, not a retail product, and is available only to families identified as eligible by the state.

A key upgrade with KASP-PMJAY is the higher cover amount. Earlier government-funded health insurance schemes in India usually offered annual family cover ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹3 lakh, leading to a fragmented system across states. KASP-PMJAY improves on this by offering cashless coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per eligible family per year for listed secondary and tertiary care conditions.

Note: To check the KASP hospital list, readers should visit the official State Health Agency (SHA) Kerala website. It provides a district-wise list of empanelled public and private hospitals across Kerala, including major cities such as Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Thrissur, and Kannur.

For assistance, beneficiaries can contact the State Health Agency via helpline 1056 or phone 0471-4063121, or email at statehealthagencykerala@gmail.com. The official address is Artech Meenakshi Plaza, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram – 695014.

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Inclusions and Exclusions of KASP Insurance

What Is Covered?	What Is Not Covered?
Secondary and tertiary hospitalization under predefined packages	OPD consultations and routine check-ups
Doctor consultations, treatment, and medical examinations during hospitalization	Standalone diagnostic tests are done only for evaluation
Medicines, consumables, and diagnostic tests are linked to covered hospitalization	Cosmetic and aesthetic procedures
ICU and non-ICU charges, room rent, and hospital accommodation	Vaccination and preventive care
Surgical procedures and medically required implants	Drug rehabilitation treatments
Complications arising during treatment	Hormone replacement therapy and gender transition treatments
Pre-hospitalization expenses for up to 3 days and post-hospitalization expenses for up to 15 days	Most dental procedures, unless they are linked to hospitalization due to an illness or injury
Treatment for serious illnesses and surgeries that require inpatient care	Claims arising from intentional self-harm
Certain conditions, such as mental illness and COVID-19 treatment, are covered only under specific approved packages	-

Eligibility Criteria and Application Process for KASP Insurance

1) Eligibility Criteria: KASP is not a plan you can purchase at will. It is available only to pre-identified beneficiaries. As per official guidelines, the scheme covers:

Families enrolled under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY or the Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) with a valid card from the 2018-19 period
Families identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data who received the Prime Minister’s letter

No new registrations have been widely opened beyond these categories.

2) How to Apply for KASP Insurance: Eligible families do not need to buy a policy. Instead, they need to verify their eligibility and identity to get their beneficiary card generated.

Visit an empanelled hospital or authorized centre
Search beneficiary details in the official database
Complete e-KYC and Aadhaar verification
Link family members (if required)
Get the AB PMJAY-KASP card generated

If a new family member needs to be added, the existing beneficiary and the new member must visit an empanelled hospital to complete the process.

3) Documents Required: To complete beneficiary verification and enrollment under KASP, families are usually asked to submit the following documents:

Aadhaar card for identity verification and e-KYC
Ration card to confirm family details and household members
Birth certificate if a new family member is being added
Marriage certificate if a spouse is being added
Prime Minister’s letter or proof of inclusion in a government-approved beneficiary list, where applicable

4) KASP Insurance Card Download: Once e-KYC is completed and the beneficiary is approved, the card can be downloaded from the PMJAY beneficiary portal or accessed through empanelled hospitals.

Note: The AB PMJAY-KASP card does not require annual renewal, and there is no fixed validity period defined for existing cards. This means beneficiaries are not required to renew it every year, unlike private health insurance policies.

KASP Insurance vs Private Insurance: Is It Enough on Its Own?

KASP is a useful base cover for eligible families, but it may not be enough on its own. Government schemes often come with limits such as restricted hospital access, package-based coverage, possible shortages in beds or infrastructure, and a sum insured cap of ₹5 lakh per family per year. It is also mainly useful within Kerala’s scheme network.

Private health insurance offers more flexibility. You can choose a higher sum insured, access a wider hospital network, and get cover that is not tied to government eligibility rules or package limits.

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Ditto’s Take on KASP Insurance

KASP is a strong safety net for eligible families in Kerala and can greatly reduce hospitalization costs through cashless, government-funded coverage. But it is still a limited public scheme, not a customizable insurance plan.

That is why we see KASP as a useful base layer, not a complete replacement for private health insurance. If you want higher coverage, wider hospital choice, and more control over your healthcare access, a private plan is worth considering alongside it. To understand what to look at beyond KASP, readers can also go through our guide to the top 5 health insurance plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is KASP insurance?

Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP) is a government-funded health scheme in Kerala that provides cashless hospitalization coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for approved secondary and tertiary treatments at empanelled hospitals.

Can anyone apply for KASP insurance in Kerala?

No. KASP is available only to families identified under RSBY/CHIS schemes or SECC 2011 data who meet eligibility criteria. New enrollments beyond these groups are not open.

How does KASP insurance card download work?

The KASP card can be downloaded only after successful verification, e-KYC, and approval. Eligible beneficiaries can access it through the official portal. It is not publicly available for download for non-eligible users.

Where can I check the KASP insurance hospital list?

You should refer to the official State Health Agency (SHA) Kerala website, which provides a district-wise list of empanelled public and private hospitals. This is the most accurate and updated source for the network hospital list.

Is KASP enough without private health insurance?

For many low-income families who qualify, KASP can be a meaningful starting point because it reduces the cost of major hospitalization. However, since it is eligibility-based and limited in scope, a private health insurance plan offers better flexibility, control, and long-term reliability for those who can afford it.

Last updated on: 5 Apr, 2026