Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Bengal to roll out Ayushman Bharat on August 16
The government of West Bengal is starting a big health program called Ayushman Bharat.
The program begins on August 16.
It gives free hospital treatment to many families.
About 1.5 crore families, which is nearly six crore people, can be covered.
If you are in the program, you can get cashless medical care up to Rs 5 lakh.
The special cards for the program are free of cost.
People should carry their Aadhaar number when they visit a hospital.
Even those without a card can be enrolled at the hospital itself.
There are 1,930 hospitals taking part in the program.
The government will review the schemes over three months and may gradually stop the older Swasthya Sathi scheme.
West Bengal will implement the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme from August 16.
Around 1.5 crore families, comprising nearly six crore people, are expected to be covered.
Beneficiaries will be entitled to cashless health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh, and cards will be issued free of charge.
The scheme will initially operate alongside Swasthya Sathi and the proposed Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana.
A total of 1,930 hospitals — 1,303 private and 627 government facilities — have been brought under the scheme.
- Who
- The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee
- What
- The launch of the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme offering cashless coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh
- When
- Announced on Friday, August 14; the scheme will start on August 16
- Where
- West Bengal, India
- Why
- To extend health insurance coverage to around 1.5 crore families, with the government alleging that residents had been deprived of central welfare schemes for the past 15 years
- Launch date
- August 16
- Expected coverage
- Around 1.5 crore families (nearly six crore people)
- Cashless coverage
- Up to Rs 5 lakh
- Empanelled hospitals
- 1,930 (1,303 private, 627 government)
- Funding
- Centre allocated about Rs 1,000 crore (60%); state bears 40%
- Already covered
- Around 3.4 crore people can avail services from August 16
- Card issuance
- Free of charge
- Review period
- Three months before gradually discontinuing Swasthya Sathi
