Jamkesmas

Jamkesmas, short for Jaminan Kesehatan Masyarakat, was an Indonesian government-funded health insurance program designed to extend essential health services to the poor and near-poor. Operated from the mid-2000s until its transition in 2014, Jamkesmas provided coverage for inpatient and outpatient care at public facilities and accredited private hospitals, with most costs subsidized by the state. The program was administered by the Ministry of Social Affairs in coordination with the Ministry of Health, and funded from the central budget. Eligible beneficiaries included households listed in the national social welfare database (PBI/DTKS) and typically did not pay regular premiums, though certain services could involve co-payments or user fees in some facilities.

Benefits typically covered a range of services, including primary care, hospital care, maternity services, and essential medicines, through networks of public health centers, referral hospitals, and participating private providers. Jamkesmas sought to reduce out-of-pocket spending and improve access to care for low-income populations, contributing to broader targeting of universal health coverage goals.

The program faced administrative and logistical challenges, such as data accuracy in beneficiary lists, limited healthcare supply in some areas, and occasional issues with service access and reimbursement.

In 2014, Jamkesmas was incorporated into the national health insurance framework under BPJS Kesehatan as part of the Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional-Kartu Indonesia Sehat (JKN-KIS). The Jamkesmas beneficiaries were transitioned to BPJS Kesehatan participants, continuing access to health services under the national scheme.