Published Paper Details:

This study investigates the awareness, possession, and utilization of health insurance policies among citizens of Bhopal, India, with a focus on identifying barriers to policy adoption despite high levels of awareness. A sample of 400 respondents was surveyed, revealing that while 95% of the population is aware of health insurance, only 76.9% possess a policy, and just 33.75% have utilized it. The study highlights several key barriers to the purchase of health insurance, including lack of information (44%), high premium costs (28%), and lack of trust in insurance providers (8%). Furthermore, 66.25% of individuals with health insurance do not utilize it, primarily due to insufficient knowledge on how to claim benefits or dissatisfaction with the claims process. The findings underscore that although awareness is widespread, significant barriers, such as affordability, complexity, and trust issues, hinder full adoption and utilization. The study recommends strategies to enhance health insurance uptake, such as improving communication about policy benefits, reducing premium costs, and building trust through better customer service. These insights aim to inform both policy makers and insurance providers in their efforts to improve health insurance coverage and utilization in urban India.