Is Swasthya Sathi still valid in 2026?

Yes, as of the most recent reporting, existing Swasthya Sathi cards continue to be accepted at hospitals during the transition period. Only discard your card once an official notification confirms the scheme has closed.

What's the difference between Swasthya Sathi and Ayushman Bharat?

Both offer Rs. 5 lakh cashless coverage per family per year, but Ayushman Bharat provides national portability (usable at empanelled hospitals across India), while Swasthya Sathi was limited to hospitals within West Bengal.

Do I need to apply separately for Ayushman Bharat if I already have Swasthya Sathi?

Likely yes, in most cases, check your SECC eligibility status and watch for official enrolment camps or notices as the transition rolls out in your district.

What if my family's income is too high for Ayushman Bharat?

The newly reported Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana is designed specifically for families that don't qualify for Ayushman Bharat (for example, due to income above a set threshold), offering similar Rs. 5 lakh coverage.

Do citizens aged 70+ get extra coverage?

Reports indicate senior citizens aged 70 and above can access an additional Rs. 5 lakh/year through the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana, regardless of income, on top of their family's regular coverage.

Where can I check the latest official update on this transition?

Check swasthyasathi.gov.in and official West Bengal government notifications directly, since this transition is still actively unfolding and details may be updated as it proceeds.

West Bengal Health Schemes 2026: Swasthya Sathi & Ayushman

What Are West Bengal's Health Schemes

West Bengal's primary health protection scheme has for years been Swasthya Sathi, a state-run, cashless health insurance programme offering up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year in secondary and tertiary medical coverage. As of 2026, the state's health insurance landscape is undergoing a major transition, so this page focuses heavily on what's changing, what remains the same, and what existing cardholders need to know.

Explore all Social Welfare Schemes operating across West Bengal for broader family safety nets.

Important 2026 Update — Swasthya Sathi to Ayushman Bharat

This is the most important thing to know if you're researching West Bengal health schemes in 2026. Following the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election and the change in state government, West Bengal is reported to be joining the central Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) scheme, something the previous state government had not implemented. Multiple sources describe an integration taking effect around mid-2026 (with some reporting a date around 1 July 2026), meaning:

Equivalent Core Financial Protection: Swasthya Sathi and Ayushman Bharat both offer Rs. 5 lakh per family per year in cashless coverage, so the core financial protection is reported to be broadly equivalent.
National Portability Upgrade: Ayushman Bharat offers national portability, beneficiaries can access cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals anywhere in India, unlike Swasthya Sathi, which was state-bound and couldn't be used outside West Bengal.
Senior Citizen Top-Up (Ayushman Vay Vandana): Citizens aged 70 and above may additionally qualify for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana, a separate Rs. 5 lakh/year cover specifically for senior citizens, on top of their family's regular coverage. See also our Senior Citizen Schemes hub.
Transition Period Card Validity: During the transition period, reported to run anywhere from a few months up to about a year, existing Swasthya Sathi cards are expected to remain valid and usable at hospitals, so cardholders shouldn't discard their card until an official notification confirms the scheme has fully closed.

Because this is an active, fast-moving administrative transition, treat any specific date, transition timeline, or procedural detail below as subject to change, always verify your card's current validity and next steps through the official Swasthya Sathi portal or a recognised government notification before making healthcare decisions around it.

Swasthya Sathi — What It Covers

Even as the scheme transitions, it's useful to understand what Swasthya Sathi has provided, since many families will continue relying on it during the changeover:

Up to Rs. 5 lakh cashless coverage per family per year, launched on 30 December 2016.
No limit on family size, and coverage extends to parents-in-law of the cardholder.
All pre-existing diseases are covered from the outset, with no waiting period exclusion.
Card is issued in the name of the woman/head of household, and treatment is accessed via a smart health card at over 2,000–2,800 empanelled hospitals (government and private) across West Bengal.
Entirely state-funded, requiring no premium contribution from beneficiaries.

Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) — What's Changing

Key operational features of the central health insurance integration:

Ayushman Bharat (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) is the central government's flagship health insurance scheme, already active in most other Indian states, and now reportedly being extended to West Bengal.
Eligibility is generally determined through the SECC (Socio-Economic Caste Census) database, similar to how many other West Bengal welfare schemes identify eligible households.
The key practical difference from Swasthya Sathi is portability: Ayushman Bharat cards work at empanelled hospitals across India, not just within West Bengal.
Families are advised to check their SECC eligibility status and obtain an Ayushman Bharat card ahead of the full transition, while continuing to use their existing Swasthya Sathi card in the meantime.

Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana — New State Top-Up Scheme

Alongside the Ayushman Bharat rollout, reports indicate the West Bengal government has introduced a new supplementary scheme, Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana (MMSBY), reportedly from around 28 July 2026, specifically for families who don't qualify for Ayushman Bharat (for example, households with annual income above Rs. 8 lakh, a common exclusion threshold under SECC-based schemes). This scheme is reported to offer the same Rs. 5 lakh cashless coverage as Ayushman Bharat, aimed at ensuring no West Bengal family is left without health coverage during or after the main transition.

Because this scheme was newly introduced at the time of writing, treat its exact eligibility income threshold and rollout details as provisional until confirmed through an official state government notification. For disability health benefits, see our Disability Schemes hub.

What Existing Cardholders Should Do

Recommended steps for West Bengal residents during the health card transition:

Don't discard your Swasthya Sathi card until an official notification confirms the scheme has been fully closed or replaced in your area.
Check your SECC/Ayushman Bharat eligibility status proactively, so you're not caught unprepared once the transition is finalised in your district.
Watch for Ayushman Bharat enrolment camps or notices from your local health department, similar to how Duare Sarkar camps have historically handled other scheme enrolments.
If your family doesn't qualify for Ayushman Bharat due to income, check whether you're eligible for the new Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana instead.
Keep both cards once issued, during the transition window, having both your Swasthya Sathi card and any new Ayushman Bharat card on hand avoids any gap in coverage.

How to Apply / Check Your Card

Access portals and registration routes across the three health coverage schemes:

Swasthya Sathi: Apply online at swasthyasathi.gov.in or at a Duare Sarkar camp; check card status, download your e-card, or track your application using your registered mobile number or application details through the same portal.
Ayushman Bharat: Check your eligibility via the SECC database through the official PM-JAY portal or an authorised Common Service Centre (CSC); enrolment is expected to be rolled out through government camps and health department notices as the transition proceeds in West Bengal.
Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana: Since this is a newly announced scheme, check with your local health department or an official state government notification for the current application process.

Empanelled Hospital Kiosks and Swasthya Sathi Mitras

To assist patients during emergency or planned hospital admissions across West Bengal:

Dedicated Kiosks in All Medical Colleges: Every government hospital, district secondary hospital, and major private nursing home houses a Swasthya Sathi helpdesk kiosk.
Swasthya Sathi Mitras: Stationed executive staff assist cardholders with biometric thumbprint validation, smart card activation, pre-authorization claims, and discharge package clearance.
24x7 Toll-Free Medical Helpline (1800-345-5384): Beneficiaries can verify hospital empanelment status, lodge refusal complaints, or track pre-authorization approvals anytime.

Coverage Packages for Specialized Secondary & Tertiary Procedures

State health insurance packages cover over 1,900 pre-defined medical procedures across clinical specialties:

Cardiology & Cardiothoracic Surgeries: Cashless coverage for coronary angioplasty, pacemaker implantation, and open-heart valve replacement procedures.
Oncology & Chemotherapy Packages: Medical, surgical, and radiation oncology treatments including chemotherapy cycles and PET scans.
Orthopedic Surgeries & Joint Replacements: Major orthopedic interventions, trauma care, and joint replacement surgeries without out-of-pocket payments.