| QUICK GIST |
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| Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP) is Kerala’s health assurance scheme, run by the State Health Agency (SHA) Kerala as the state’s version of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. It gives eligible families cashless treatment of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation. It is meant for the poorest and most vulnerable 40% of Kerala’s population, covering more than 42 lakh families. Eligibility is pre-identified: families come from SECC 2011 data and earlier schemes like RSBY and CHIS, so you can’t buy your way in. As per SHA Kerala’s dashboard, about 43 lakh families and 78 lakh people are registered. The scheme works at around 180 government and 365 private empanelled hospitals in Kerala. You can check eligibility on the PM-JAY beneficiary portal or at a hospital KASP kiosk. Helpline: 0471 4063121 or 1056. |
KASP Kerala, Unpacked: Who Gets Karunya’s ₹5 Lakh Cover, How to Use It, and What It Leaves Open
Kerala’s health record is famous. Its hospital bills are still real.
Kerala is the state other states benchmark against. High literacy, high life expectancy, and a public health system the rest of India studies.
And yet, a long stay in a private hospital in Kochi or Kozhikode can still knock a family’s savings flat. That’s the gap Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP) was built to close for the families who need it most.
KASP is also one of the most actively used government health schemes in the country. SHA Kerala’s own dashboard shows more than 72 lakh claims processed so far. People here use their cover.
This blog explains who KASP is for, how to use it without fuss, and how to think about cover beyond it, especially if you’re one of the many Keralites who don’t qualify.
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What exactly is KASP?
KASP is how Kerala runs Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, with the state’s own name and management. The State Health Agency (SHA) Kerala implements it. Over time, Kerala folded several older schemes into KASP, including RSBY and the Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS).
In plain terms:
- ₹5 lakh per family per year, on a family floater basis.
- Secondary and tertiary hospitalisation. This means admissions for surgeries, serious illnesses and specialist care, not routine OPD visits.
- Cashless at empanelled hospitals, both government and private.
- Built for the bottom 40%. More than 42 lakh poor and vulnerable families are the target group.
Because KASP runs on the PM-JAY framework, it follows national features such as cover for pre-existing conditions from the start and short pre- and post-hospitalisation windows. The exact package list is on SHA Kerala’s site.
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Using KASP: from “am I in?” to discharge
- Check if your family is listed. Use the PM-JAY beneficiary portal (beneficiary.nha.gov.in) or ask at a KASP kiosk in an empanelled hospital. Carry your ration card and Aadhaar.
- Get your card made. If you’re eligible, the card can be generated at hospital kiosks after Aadhaar-based verification.
- Pick an empanelled hospital. SHA Kerala publishes the list by district. Check it before a planned admission.
- Head to the KASP desk. Tell the hospital you’re a KASP beneficiary at admission, not at the billing counter.
- Let the hospital handle approval. The hospital requests approval for your treatment package. Once cleared, the treatment is cashless.
- Raise issues if something goes wrong. Call 0471 4063121 or 1056, or use the national grievance portal linked on SHA Kerala’s site.
| Ready to confirm your details? The official SHA Kerala website has the empanelled hospital list, scheme orders and helplines. More reliable than “someone in the family WhatsApp group said”. |
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Worth knowing before you need it
You can’t sign up on your own. KASP eligibility comes from existing lists. If your family isn’t on them, there’s no form that adds you. That’s the single biggest surprise for people who hear about the scheme for the first time.
The hospital list is shorter than you’d think. SHA Kerala’s dashboard shows about 180 government and 365 private empanelled hospitals. That’s good coverage, but your nearest private hospital may not be on it.
Lists change. Hospitals get added and sometimes de-empanelled. SHA Kerala publishes both lists. Check again before a planned surgery.
It’s for admissions. Routine doctor visits and pharmacy bills between hospital stays are not what KASP is built for.
The family shares ₹5 lakh. A long ICU stay for one person reduces what’s left for everyone else that year.
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KASP vs a private plan: different tools, different jobs
KASP is a lifeline for families who might otherwise skip treatment. A private plan is a choice for families who can pay for flexibility. Comparing them is less about “better” and more about fit.
Where KASP is strong
- Free for the family. No premium, no renewal stress.
- Pre-existing conditions are covered in line with the PM-JAY framework, with no multi-year wait.
- Heavily used and well-oiled. Kerala won the Arogya Manthan 2022 award for the highest scheme utilisation.
- Government and private hospitals both participate.
Where a private plan usually adds more
- Open to anyone who qualifies on health and age. No list required.
- Bigger hospital choice, including large private networks and cities outside Kerala.
- Pays actual eligible bills, not fixed package rates.
- Room choice, restoration, cumulative bonus and optional add-ons, depending on the plan.
- Your terms stay yours. Scheme rules and hospital lists can change through government orders.
The practical answer for an eligible family: keep KASP as the base. For a family that isn’t eligible, a private plan is the base.
₹5 lakh, one Kerala family, one long year
Kerala has one of India’s oldest populations, so many families care for elderly parents at home. That changes the maths.
Meet the Thomases (a hypothetical family; numbers are illustrative). They live in Kottayam. Six people share a KASP card: two grandparents, two parents, two teenagers.
| What happened this year (hypothetical) | Used from the ₹5 lakh |
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| Grandmother’s hip fracture surgery | ₹1.5 lakh |
| Grandfather’s two admissions for heart failure | ₹2.2 lakh |
| Father’s kidney stone procedure | ₹80,000 |
| Left for the rest of the year | ₹50,000 |
Every item here is ordinary in a household with older parents. Add a few more realities:
- Treatment at a hospital outside the list. That bill sits outside KASP.
- Long-term care between admissions. Medicines and follow-ups add up and aren’t the scheme’s focus.
- Families just above the line. Many middle-income Keralites aren’t eligible and need their own plan.
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Who is eligible for KASP?
KASP covers the poorest and most vulnerable 40% of Kerala’s population. Eligible families are drawn from:
- SECC 2011 data, the national socio-economic survey used for PM-JAY
- Families already covered by earlier schemes such as RSBY and CHIS, which were merged into KASP
One card covers the whole family listed on it. You can’t apply from scratch if your family isn’t on these lists. To check, search your name on the PM-JAY beneficiary portal or ask at a KASP kiosk in an empanelled hospital.
Carry: your ration card and Aadhaar card.
KASP at a glance
| Detail | Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (Kerala) |
|---|---|
| Run by | State Health Agency (SHA) Kerala |
| Linked with | Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY |
| Cover | Up to ₹5 lakh per family per year, family floater |
| What it pays for | Secondary and tertiary hospitalisation, as defined packages |
| Who qualifies | Bottom 40% of Kerala’s population, identified through SECC 2011 and earlier schemes |
| Registered | About 43 lakh families and 78 lakh people (SHA Kerala dashboard) |
| Hospitals | About 180 government and 365 private empanelled hospitals (SHA Kerala dashboard) |
| Premium | None for the family |
| Card | Generated after Aadhaar-based verification, including at hospital kiosks |
| Main limitations | Pre-identified eligibility only, empanelled hospitals only, package rates, shared family limit |
| Helpline | 0471 4063121 / 1056 |
| Official website | sha.kerala.gov.in |
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Quick answers (FAQs)
- What is KASP in Kerala? Kerala’s version of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. It gives eligible families cashless hospital treatment of up to ₹5 lakh a year.
- Who is eligible for KASP? Families in the bottom 40% of Kerala’s population, identified through SECC 2011 data and earlier schemes like RSBY and CHIS.
- Can I apply for KASP if I’m not on the list? No. Eligibility comes from existing lists, not a fresh application.
- How do I get a KASP card? Check your eligibility on the PM-JAY beneficiary portal or at a hospital KASP kiosk, then complete Aadhaar verification.
- Does KASP cover OPD visits? KASP is built for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation, not routine OPD care.
- How many hospitals accept KASP? SHA Kerala’s dashboard lists about 180 government and 365 private hospitals.
- Is KASP the same as Ayushman Bharat? It’s Kerala’s implementation of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, managed by SHA Kerala.
- “Hey Siri, what is the KASP helpline number?” Call 0471 4063121 or 1056.
| KASP covers the hospital stay. CoverSure covers the admin around it. Download the CoverSure app to keep every policy in one place, get renewal reminders, and set up SOS so family gets a one-tap alert in an emergency. |
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Next up: Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. Subscribe to the CoverSure newsletter and get it before your neighbour reads it out to you.
