eSewa and Shikhar Insurance Launch ‘Sahara Health Insurance’

2nd November 2025, Kathmandu

eSewa, Nepal’s leading digital payment service provider, has partnered with Shikhar Insurance Company Limited to launch ‘Sahara Health Insurance,’ a new health insurance plan specifically designed to enhance accessible, reliable, and digital health security for Nepali citizens.

Sahara Health Insurance

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the digitalization of insurance services, making health coverage more convenient and affordable for a wider population. The program is built on the premise of simplifying the entire insurance lifecycle, from purchase to claim, through the ubiquitous eSewa platform.

Key Features and Coverage Options

Sahara Health Insurance is structured to offer flexible and scalable coverage to meet diverse needs while maintaining a low entry barrier for the annual premium.

Eligibility and Target Group: The policy is available to individuals aged 5 to 65 years. The age range ensures that essential health coverage is accessible to children, working adults, and senior citizens alike, providing a broad safety net for the family.

Coverage Amount Options: Policyholders can select from three distinct tiers of insurance coverage, allowing individuals to choose a limit that best fits their financial capacity and perceived risk:

• NPR 200,000
• NPR 300,000
• NPR 600,000

Starting Premium: The annual premium for the policy starts from an exceptionally affordable NPR 1,399. This low starting cost is crucial for making professional health insurance accessible to mass market segments in Nepal.

Comprehensive Inclusions: The coverage is designed to be comprehensive, providing financial protection for essential medical services, including:

• Hospital admission and treatment
• Emergency care
• Surgeries and operations
• Medication and lab tests
• Accident treatment

Cashless Facility and Digital Convenience

A major focus of the Sahara Health Insurance plan is to provide treatment during emergencies without immediate financial pressure, achieved through a combination of cashless and reimbursement options facilitated by Shikhar Insurance’s extensive network.

Cashless Treatment Network: Policyholders can avail of cashless treatment at 26 network hospitals affiliated with Shikhar Insurance across Nepal. The cashless option is particularly valuable in emergencies, as it eliminates the need for the patient or family to pay large sums upfront.

Reimbursement Facility: For treatments received at any other recognized hospital across the country, policyholders can claim reimbursement after the treatment is completed. This ensures that coverage is not restricted only to the network hospitals, offering freedom of choice.

Additional Telehealth Benefit: The plan includes a valuable extra benefit: one-time free telehealth consultation. This digital consultation service makes it easier for policyholders to seek initial medical advice or follow-up consultations conveniently from home.

Fully Digital Purchase Process: The entire process—from purchase to policy issuance—is completely digital and executed through the eSewa mobile app. After completing a few simple steps, the policy is issued instantly and delivered immediately via SMS and email, demonstrating a commitment to unparalleled convenience and speed in policy acquisition.

A Major Step in Nepal’s Insurance Digitization

The launch of the Sahara Health Insurance is a significant development in Nepal’s rapidly evolving fintech and insurtech landscape. As stated by eSewa CEO Jagadish Khadka, this initiative marks an important milestone in the digitization of insurance services.

By integrating a specialized non-life insurance product directly into a widely used digital wallet like eSewa, the partnership effectively bridges the gap between urban and rural populations, making health coverage more affordable, convenient, and accessible for all Nepali citizens. This trend of digital distribution is crucial for increasing insurance penetration rates in Nepal, providing the financial security needed to prevent unexpected health costs from becoming catastrophic financial burdens. The program reinforces the idea that technology can be a powerful driver of social security and financial inclusion.

For More: Sahara Health Insurance