Rajiv Aarogyasri Community Health Insurance Scheme evaluation survey

The study was based on a household survey to understand the impact of the Aarogyasri Community Health Insurance Scheme in operation across Andhra Pradesh state, India. It compared access to hospital care with that in the neighbouring state of Maharashtra.

This is an impact evaluation study undertaken 5 years after launch of the scheme in 2007. The National Sample Survey Organisation Health Survey* conducted in 2004 provided the baseline data for both states.

* See Links section for location of this data

Geographic Coverage of the study: The state of Andhra Pradesh (India) has been included as ‘Treatment’ group, while Maharashtra is being covered as ‘Control’ group. A total of 21,568 households were surveyed in the two states.

Sampling method: A multistage random cluster sampling method will be used identical to that of the NSSO sampling. The sample will be randomized at the sub-district, village/urban area and household level. The household survey will be carried out in both treatment as well as control group

Study design: A difference-in-differences (DID) study using repeated cross-sectional surveys with parallel control.

Setting: National Sample Survey Organisation of India (NSSO) urban and rural ‘first stratum units’, 863 in AP and 1008 in MH.

Methods: We used two cross-sectional surveys: as a baseline, the data from the NSSO 2004 survey collected before the Aarogyasri and RSBY schemes were launched; and as postintervention, a survey using the same methodology conducted in 2012.

Participants: 8623 households in AP and 10,073 in MH.

The Social and Rural Research Institute of IMRB International carried out the survey under contract.

Anuradha Katyal and Sofi Bergkvist are part of ACCESS Health International (www.accessh.org)