Swasthya Sathi: West Bengal's Scheme, and Its PM-JAY Transition
West Bengal ran its own scheme, Swasthya Sathi, independently of the central Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) programme for years — one of the few states to do so. That's now changing. Here's what's known and what to check for your parent.
What Swasthya Sathi Covers
Swasthya Sathi has historically stood out for being close to universal — covering the large majority of West Bengal households with a family floater cover, not just those below a poverty line. As West Bengal moves toward integration with PM-JAY, exactly how the two schemes combine for a given family is genuinely in flux — this is the state where checking current status directly matters most of anywhere on this page.
Who Qualifies
Historically, Swasthya Sathi covered nearly all West Bengal resident families rather than screening by income the way most other state schemes do. With the PM-JAY transition underway, some families may now also separately qualify under PM-JAY's own central criteria — the practical effect for your parent's specific cover is worth confirming fresh rather than assuming last year's rules still apply.
How to Check Eligibility & Enrol
- Ask at the "Arogya Mitra" or patient-help desk of any empanelled government or PM-JAY-network hospital — this is usually the fastest, most reliable way to check eligibility in person, since staff there check schemes daily.
- Call the National Health Authority helpline (14555) for PM-JAY-linked questions, or search for "Swasthya Sathi official portal" or "Swasthya Sathi helpline" for state-specific enrolment support.
- Visit a Common Service Centre (CSC) if one is more convenient than a hospital — many handle scheme enrolment and card issuance alongside other government services.
- Bring identity and ration-card / income documents your parent already has — most schemes check eligibility against existing government records rather than requiring new paperwork.
How This Relates to Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY)
West Bengal was one of the last states to formally engage with PM-JAY, having run Swasthya Sathi independently for years. A transition toward integrating the two has been underway, with rollout details evolving — this is flagged in our scheduled fact-checks specifically because it's one of the fastest-moving scheme statuses in the country right now.
Regardless of West Bengal-specific rules, remember: every Indian citizen aged 70 or above qualifies for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card — free ₹5 lakh cover, no income test — on top of any state scheme. See our full Ayushman Bharat guide for how to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Swasthya Sathi the same as Ayushman Bharat?
Historically no — West Bengal ran Swasthya Sathi as its own independent scheme for years rather than adopting PM-JAY. A transition toward integrating the two has been underway; confirm current status directly since this is actively changing.
Does my parent already have a Swasthya Sathi card?
Given how broadly the scheme has covered West Bengal households, many families already have one without realising its full extent. Ask at any empanelled hospital's help desk to check enrolment and current cover.
What if my parent is 70 or older?
They separately qualify for the central Ayushman Vay Vandana Card (₹5 lakh free cover, no income test) regardless of Swasthya Sathi status — see our Ayushman Bharat guide for how to apply.
Where to Go Next
The central scheme every senior qualifies for, regardless of state.
Understand every line on the bill once you're admitted.
An independent comparison for parents aged 70+.
Back to the full list of guides for families living in India.