Ayushman Bharat: Get ₹5L Cover in 3 Easy Steps

West Bengal has joined Ayushman Bharat, India's biggest free health scheme. Eligible families can now get up to ₹5 lakh hospital cover per year at zero cost. Here is how to check if you qualify and get your Ayushman card.

Here's what happened: West Bengal has officially joined Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, making its residents eligible for free health cover up to ₹5 lakh per year.. The scheme covers over 1,900 medical procedures including surgeries, ICU stays, and cancer treatment at empanelled government and private hospitals.. Beneficiaries are identified using Socio-Economic Caste Census data — no income proof or premium payment is required to enrol..

What you should do: Check eligibility instantly at beneficiary.nha.gov.in using your mobile number or ration card details — takes under 2 minutes.. Visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) or empanelled hospital's Ayushman Mitra desk to get your Ayushman card issued with Aadhaar-based KYC.. If you already hold a private health policy, keep it — Ayushman Bharat can act as a top-up layer for hospitalisation costs that exceed your existing cover..

Even if you own a health insurance policy, Ayushman Bharat pays first at empanelled hospitals — your private insurer's sum insured stays fully intact for future claims.