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Private Hospitals Flag Ayushman Bharat Payment Delays and Claim Deductions
Private hospitals in three northern Indian states say they are not receiving all the money they are owed.
In Haryana, hospitals say payments have been delayed for a long time.
They connect the problem partly to more people joining the scheme without enough extra funding.
In Punjab, hospitals say money is paid, but insurance companies remove a large part of their claims.
In Himachal Pradesh, hospitals say payments under two healthcare schemes have remained pending.
Some hospitals have stopped treating patients through these schemes.
The National Health Authority has also reported delays in checking and processing claims.
The hospitals say these problems make it difficult to pay workers and suppliers.
Around 650 private hospitals in Haryana reportedly await ₹1,000-1,200 crore in Ayushman Bharat payments.
Haryana hospitals say delays worsened after Chirayu expanded scheme coverage in October 2022.
Punjab hospitals allege insurance companies deduct about 20% of claims, with ₹200-300 crore outstanding.
Private hospitals in Himachal Pradesh report prolonged unpaid dues under Himcare and Ayushman Bharat.
The National Health Authority’s 2025-26 report acknowledged claim-processing delays, pending verifications and unresolved grievances.
- Who
- Private hospitals and hospital associations in Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, along with the National Health Authority.
- What
- Hospitals reported delayed reimbursements, deductions from claims and unpaid dues under Ayushman Bharat and, in Himachal Pradesh, Himcare.
- Where
- Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, India.
- When
- The concerns were reported on September 2, 2026; Haryana hospitals also reported disruptions in April 2024, August 2025 and a 24-hour suspension on Tuesday.
- Why
- Hospital representatives attributed the problems to delayed claim processing, inadequate funding, deductions by insurers and unpaid government contributions.
Hospital Associations’ Concerns
Scheme Administration Perspective
Payment delays and funding
Hospital Associations’ Concerns
Hospital representatives in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh said delayed payments and insufficient funding have created large unpaid dues and forced some hospitals to suspend services.
Scheme Administration Perspective
The National Health Authority acknowledged claim-processing delays and unresolved grievances, while the article does not provide a direct response from state authorities or insurers to the hospitals’ allegations.
Claim deductions in Punjab
Hospital Associations’ Concerns
Punjab’s private hospitals alleged that insurers deduct about 20% of claims, even after pre-authorisation, and described this as the main problem rather than delayed payment.
Scheme Administration Perspective
The article reports the hospitals’ allegations but does not include an insurer response or independent confirmation of the claimed rejection rate.
Key facts
- Haryana pending payments
- The Haryana Indian Medical Association said around 650 private hospitals were awaiting approximately ₹1,000-1,200 crore.
- Haryana hospital numbers
- The number of empanelled hospitals reportedly fell from about 660 at the end of 2024-25 to approximately 480-500.
- Haryana scheme spending
- Haryana reportedly spent around ₹1,800 crore in 2024-25, while ₹900 crore was budgeted for 2025-26 and ₹700 crore for the current financial year.
- Punjab deductions
- Punjab’s Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association alleged average deductions of about 20% from claims.
- Punjab outstanding claims
- The association estimated that ₹200-300 crore was outstanding across hospitals in Punjab.
- Himachal payment status
- Private hospitals in Himachal Pradesh said payments under Ayushman Bharat and Himcare had remained pending for prolonged periods.
- National Health Authority report
- The NHA Annual Report 2025-26 acknowledged delays involving pending verifications and unresolved grievances.
Quotes
Dr Divyanshu Gupta
State Secretary of the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association, Punjab
“When the number of beneficiaries increased exponentially, the government also needed to increase its budget. But they did not increase the budget at that speed.”
thehindubusinessline.com
“The payment is not a problem but the deduction is the problem.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
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