Swasthya Sathi + PM-JAY: West Bengal's Health Cover Just Changed
In June 2026, West Bengal became the last state or union territory in India to join Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) — after years of running its own separate Swasthya Sathi scheme instead. Here's what actually changes for your parent, and what doesn't.
What Just Changed
For years West Bengal ran Swasthya Sathi as its own state scheme instead of implementing the central PM-JAY programme. That changed on 8 June 2026, according to the Press Information Bureau's official announcement — Swasthya Sathi now continues as the base enrolment platform, with eligible beneficiaries layered into the national PM-JAY framework on top of it. The families named in the government's own announcement include roughly 3.06 lakh ASHA and Anganwadi worker families and about 15.95 lakh families with a member aged 70 or above.
What Swasthya Sathi and PM-JAY Now Cover Together
Swasthya Sathi itself has generally worked as a near-universal scheme for West Bengal residents not already covered by another government-sponsored health scheme — issued to the eldest woman in the household, covering secondary and tertiary hospitalisation up to ₹5 lakh per family per year. PM-JAY eligibility within that base is decided by deprivation and occupational criteria from the 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census, matching the same ₹5 lakh figure but adding national portability — meaning an empanelled hospital outside West Bengal can now be used too. A separate scheme, MMSBY, was introduced in 2026 specifically for Swasthya Sathi enrollees who don't qualify for PM-JAY and have annual family income below ₹8 lakh — so most households have a defined path into one of the three layers.
How to Enrol or Check Status
- If your parent already has a Swasthya Sathi card, start by asking at an empanelled hospital's help desk whether they've been migrated into PM-JAY yet — given how recent this change is, records may take time to update everywhere.
- If your parent has no card yet, enrolment happens at Duare Sarkar camps, Block Offices, or Municipal Offices — bring Aadhaar, voter ID or residence proof, the ration card if there is one, and a passport-size photo. Biometric verification issues the smart health card, typically to the eldest woman in the family.
- Keep both the Swasthya Sathi card and any new PM-JAY confirmation together — during this transition period it's safer to have both than to assume one has fully replaced the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my parent's existing Swasthya Sathi card still work?
Yes. Swasthya Sathi continues as the base enrolment platform in West Bengal, and eligible beneficiaries are being layered into the national PM-JAY framework on top of it, rather than the state card being replaced or cancelled.
Do I need to apply for anything new because of the PM-JAY change?
Not necessarily, if your parent already holds a Swasthya Sathi card. Eligible families are being identified and migrated into PM-JAY largely from existing Swasthya Sathi records. It's still worth confirming your parent's specific status at an empanelled hospital's help desk or a Duare Sarkar camp, since the rollout is very recent and the process is still settling in.
Does Swasthya Sathi have an income limit?
Swasthya Sathi itself has generally operated as a near-universal scheme for West Bengal residents not already covered by another government-sponsored health scheme, rather than a strict income-tested one. A separate scheme, MMSBY, was introduced in 2026 specifically for Swasthya Sathi enrollees who don't qualify for PM-JAY and have annual family income below ₹8 lakh — so there is now a structured path for most households either way.
What if my parent is 70 or older?
They separately qualify for the central Ayushman Vay Vandana Card — free ₹5 lakh cover, no income test — and West Bengal's own PIB announcement specifically named around 15.95 lakh senior-citizen families as part of this rollout. See our Ayushman Bharat guide for how to apply.
Where to Go Next
4 quick questions to see which scheme likely applies to your parent.
The central scheme every senior qualifies for, regardless of state.
A 5-question decision tool for the specific admission ahead of you.
Understand every line on the bill once your parent is admitted.
Back to the full list of guides for families living in India.