Summary of this article
West Bengal joins Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY health scheme.
Eligible families can get up to Rs 5 lakh cover.
Ayushman cards can now be applied online easily.
A hospital bill can upend a family's finances in a matter of days. For many households, a serious illness does not just mean physical suffering. It implies low savings, borrowing, and debts, which take years to be repaid. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) was designed with this reality in mind, and West Bengal has now joined the scheme.
The National Health Authority (NHA) and the West Bengal Department of Health and Family Welfare signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to roll out AB PM-JAY in the state. Eligible residents can now access cashless hospitalisation at empanelled hospitals without paying out of pocket.
What the Scheme Covers
The scheme provides health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. This includes costs such as expenses for surgery, room charges, diagnostic testing, and medical care while in the hospital. The patient does not need to arrange funds first and claim reimbursement later.
To use these benefits, a beneficiary must hold an Ayushman card. Until recently, getting the card required visiting a government office or a designated centre. That step has been removed. The card can now be generated entirely online.
Who Qualifies
Every Indian citizen aged 70 years and above is eligible to apply, regardless of how much they earn or whether they already hold a health insurance policy. There is no income ceiling for this age group.
Those already covered under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) are not automatically excluded. They can choose to stay with their existing scheme or shift to AB PM-JAY, whichever works better for them.
How to Apply for the Ayushman Card
The process takes place entirely on the official portal at beneficiary.nha.gov.in. Here is how it works, step by step.
On the portal, click on the “Beneficiary” tab. Use a mobile number to log in. A one-time password will be sent to the registered mobile number. Verify the OTP and log in. Once logged in, click on PM-JAY and choose the state and district.
Use either your name or your Aadhaar number to search for your details in the database. If you appear in the list of eligible beneficiaries, proceed to the verification step. Upload a photograph and fill in the information asked. Submit the form.
Once the application goes through, the Ayushman card can be downloaded from the same portal. No office visit, no paperwork is needed.
