Ayushman Card Arrives After Toddler’s Death, Spotlight Returns To Gaps In Health Insurance Access

A two-year-old girl in Indore died while her family was still trying to access treatment without an active Ayushman Bharat health insurance card, which was issued just two days after her death, according to a recent report by NDTV. The episode has stirred fresh debate about how delays in paperwork, verification, and local implementation can leave vulnerable families exposed even when they are eligible for government-backed medical cover.

The child, Siya Prajapati, is said to have fallen sick during a diarrhoea outbreak reported from Bhagirathpura. People living in the area have been complaining about the drinking water for some time, with many suspecting contamination as several residents have taken ill. As the girl’s health worsened, her parents focused on two urgent tasks at once: getting her treated and ensuring their Ayushman eligibility was activated so that hospital bills would be covered.

The card came through only after the child had died.

Costs Mount Despite Promise Of Coverage

The family said they spent roughly Rs 40,000 to Rs 45,000 on consultations, medicines, diagnostic tests, and hospital care during those critical days. For many lower-income households, such sudden medical spending can upset already tight budgets and sometimes lead to debt.

Ayushman Bharat was designed to prevent exactly this kind of financial shock by offering cashless hospitalisation to eligible families. In reality, things don’t always move that smoothly. Paperwork issues, data errors, or delays at the hospital can slow the process. When someone is seriously ill, families usually end up paying first and sorting out the insurance later. Doctors who treated the child reportedly said complications developed after the initial diarrhoeal illness. Such conditions can become serious quickly in young children, particularly when dehydration or infection sets in.

Larger Health Concerns In The Locality

Beyond the individual tragedy, the incident has brought attention to sanitation and public health conditions in the affected neighbourhood. Some residents have linked the outbreak to unsafe drinking water, though authorities have said investigations are ongoing and findings are awaited.

Officials have indicated that if lapses are found, whether related to water supply, sanitation, or administrative handling of welfare schemes, appropriate action will follow. For families living there, however, the immediate concern remains reliable access to healthcare without procedural delays.

Many health policy watchers say simply having insurance on paper doesn’t always translate into real security. What really makes a difference is how smoothly enrolment works, how quickly cards are issued, whether hospitals coordinate properly, and how strong the local healthcare system actually is.

For families who depend on public support, timing can make all the difference. The Indore case has therefore reignited discussion about whether the last-mile delivery of health insurance benefits is keeping pace with the promise made on paper, and whether reforms are needed to ensure help reaches people before, not after, a crisis unfolds.