This article investigates the community's preferences on various aspects of health insurance. The data has been collected from a sample of 300 households in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The study reveals a low level of awareness (15 per cent) about health insurance. Quality of care and cost are the two important factors identi fied by the community as the factors affecting their decision to subscribe to any new health insurance plan. An integrated provider and insurer system is preferred irrespective of public- or private-based management. Hospitalisation and mater nity services are preferred among the given choices for benefits to be included under the plan. The results also suggest that there is high level of willingness to join a health insurance plan in future if designed carefully for the informal sector. Some policy implications have been suggested in this study for the setting up of health insurance schemes.
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