Gender Inequality in Health Insurance in India: Evidence from the NFHS-5 Survey of 2019–21

Existing studies largely fail to provide a comprehensive account of gender inequality in health insurance in India. In this study, using the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 data of 2019–21, we analyse the extent and pattern of gender inequality in health insurance coverage in the country. Overall, more than two-thirds of the 15–49 age group population remains uninsured against health risks. Multivariate analysis shows lower likelihood of health insurance coverage for females as compared with males. Gender inequality however varies across socio-economic groups, regions and insurance schemes. Spatially, while inequality has worsened in many States/UTs since the NFHS-4 of 2015–16, it has declined or even reversed in favour of women in a few others. Further studies on the contextual barriers to women’s participation in health insurance schemes can provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying reasons for gender inequality in protection against health risks in India. Incorporation of questions on the reasons for women’s non-participation in insurance schemes in future large-scale surveys will be useful in this regard.