Hyderabad: Over 30 lakh new recipients have been added to the Aarogyasri scheme in Telangana as the state rolls out updated white ration cards that grant automatic eligibility for the public health insurance programme.
Officials said the total number of beneficiaries now exceeds 3.14 crore across 93.99 lakh households, up from 2.84 crore covered under 90.10 lakh cards previously.
The government has cleared ₹1,590 crore in overdue payments to private hospitals in the last 20 months, prompting a surge in participation from the private healthcare sector. More than 100 hospitals have applied to join the scheme.
The Aarogyasri scheme now covers treatments up to ₹10 lakh, doubling the earlier cap and expanding access to high-cost procedures. Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha recently reviewed package rates for the first time in a decade, approving a 22% hike based on requests from hospitals.
The scheme has seen increased usage among patients with serious and chronic illnesses, particularly kidney-related conditions, due to the extended coverage and improved reimbursement structure, according to the health department.