Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi, popularly known as KASP, is Kerala’s flagship health insurance scheme that gives eligible families cashless treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh every year. It is run by the State Health Agency Kerala and works together with the central Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme. Over 42 lakh families in the state are covered, yet many still do not know how to check their name or download the card before a hospital emergency.

What Is Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi?

KASP was launched in 2020 by combining older schemes such as RSBY and the Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme into one programme aligned with PM-JAY. The cover of ₹5 lakh is per family per year, not per person, and it can be used by any member listed in the family record. Treatment is cashless at empanelled government and private hospitals, including many hospitals outside Kerala that accept PM-JAY cards.

Pre-existing conditions are covered from the first day, and there is no age limit for family members. The scheme covers surgeries, intensive care, cancer treatment, dialysis, cardiac procedures, medicines, diagnostics and room charges as per approved packages. Outpatient consultations without admission are generally not included, so always confirm with the hospital help desk before starting treatment to avoid unexpected bills.

Key Features at a Glance

Feature	Details
Cover	Up to ₹5 lakh per family per year
Implementing agency	State Health Agency (SHA) Kerala
Families covered	Over 42 lakh
Treatment	Cashless at empanelled hospitals
Pre-existing diseases	Covered from day one
Helpline	DISHA 1056

Who Is Eligible for KASP?

Eligibility is not based on a fresh application. Families are pre-identified using the SECC 2011 database and the lists of earlier RSBY and CHIS beneficiaries. That is why there is no income certificate or open registration form for new families. If your family was covered under these lists, you are likely eligible. Senior citizens aged seventy and above can separately check the Ayushman Vay Vandana top-up under the central scheme.

Families who are not on the list but face serious illness may get help through the Karunya Benevolent Fund, a separate support scheme for BPL families with annual income below ₹3 lakh. This fund mainly supports treatment of conditions like kidney failure, cancer and haemophilia. Applications for that fund are handled differently, so ask the hospital’s Karunya help desk or the Arogya Mitra about the right process.

How to Check Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi Eligibility

1. Visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in and log in with your mobile number and OTP.
2. Select the state as Kerala and the scheme as PM-JAY / KASP.
3. Choose your district and search using Aadhaar, ration card number or family name.
4. If your family appears, note the family ID shown on screen.
5. Complete e-KYC with Aadhaar to generate the card.

If you cannot complete the process online, visit the nearest Akshaya Centre, Common Service Centre or the Arogya Mitra counter at any empanelled hospital with your Aadhaar and ration card. The operator will search your family, complete e-KYC with fingerprint or OTP, and print the card for you. A small service fee may apply at Akshaya Centres, but the card itself is free.

How to Find KASP Hospitals Near You

Before planned surgery or treatment, check whether the hospital is empanelled and whether the speciality you need is covered there. The SHA Kerala website and the PM-JAY hospital search let you filter by district, hospital type and speciality. Large government medical colleges, district hospitals and many private hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and other districts are part of the network, but the list changes, so confirm by calling the hospital’s KASP help desk.

During admission, ask the Arogya Mitra to confirm the treatment package and whether any medicines or implants fall outside it. Keep copies of the pre-authorisation approval, bills and discharge summary. After discharge, you should not be asked to pay for anything covered in the package. If you are charged, report it immediately to the DISHA helpline so the State Health Agency can investigate and refund the money where applicable.

How to Download the KASP Card

Once e-KYC is approved, you can download the card from the Ayushman App or the beneficiary portal. Log in, search for the member using Aadhaar, and tap download when the status shows approved. Save the PDF on your phone and keep a printout with your medical files. At the hospital, show the card along with Aadhaar at the PM-JAY or KASP help desk, and the Arogya Mitra will start cashless treatment.

If a hospital refuses cashless treatment even though your card is valid, call the DISHA helpline 1056 or raise a grievance on the PM-JAY portal. Keep all bills, admission papers and discharge summaries. Coverage renews automatically every financial year as long as the family remains on the list, so you do not need to reapply each year unless the hospital asks for fresh e-KYC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi can save eligible families from heavy hospital bills, but only if the card is ready before an emergency. Check your family’s name today, complete e-KYC for every member, and save the card on your phone. You may also want to create a digital health ID using our ABHA card guide and check related support through the Kerala welfare pension status service.