The Himachal Pradesh Government has announced a new health policy that will provide health insurance coverage of up to ₹10 lakh per family for economically weaker households, marking a major step towards strengthening financial protection and expanding access to quality healthcare. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the proposed policy aims to reduce out of pocket medical expenses while ensuring that vulnerable families receive affordable and cashless treatment for serious illnesses across empanelled hospitals.

According to the Chief Minister, eligible poor families will receive health insurance coverage of up to ₹10 lakh by paying a highly affordable premium, significantly enhancing the state’s existing health protection framework. The new policy is expected to complement ongoing healthcare initiatives while expanding financial assistance for families who remain outside the coverage of existing government insurance schemes. The announcement reflects the state’s continued focus on universal healthcare and equitable access to medical services.

The proposed policy builds upon Himachal Pradesh’s existing HIMCARE (Himachal Health Care Scheme) and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), both of which currently provide cashless health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually through empanelled public and private hospitals. The state government is expected to integrate the new policy with its broader healthcare ecosystem to ensure wider coverage and improved financial security for economically disadvantaged households.

The announcement comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to strengthen its healthcare infrastructure through significant public investment. Earlier this year, the state approved a ₹1,617.40 crore healthcare modernisation project to upgrade medical colleges, super specialty hospitals and health institutions while improving diagnostic facilities and advanced medical services. The government has also announced plans to invest ₹3,000 crore over the next three years to enhance healthcare infrastructure, reduce patient referrals outside the state and improve access to specialised treatment.

Healthcare experts have welcomed the proposed ₹10 lakh health insurance initiative, stating that enhanced financial protection can significantly reduce catastrophic health expenditure among low income families. They believe the policy, once implemented, will improve access to quality treatment, strengthen social health security and reinforce Himachal Pradesh’s commitment to achieving universal healthcare coverage while ensuring that no family is pushed into poverty due to rising medical expenses.