🟢 Ayushman Bharat is now live in West Bengal since July 1, 2026. Check your eligibility and get your card today.
Kolkata’s Ratan Das had held a Swasthya Sathi card for 4 years. His wife needed a knee replacement — ₹1.8 lakh. Under Swasthya Sathi, the treatment was covered only at a state-empanelled hospital in Kolkata.
Since July 1, 2026, West Bengal has joined Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY). Ratan checked his eligibility, found his name in the SECC database, and got his Ayushman card before the rollout — his wife’s treatment is now cashless and valid at hospitals across India too, not just in West Bengal.
Ayushman Bharat PMJAY in West Bengal is the Central government’s flagship health insurance scheme, officially rolled out in the state from July 1, 2026, under the new BJP government led by CM Suvendu Adhikari. It replaces the state-run Swasthya Sathi scheme. West Bengal became the 36th State/Union Territory to implement AB PM-JAY, completing its nationwide rollout across India. 6 crore Swasthya Sathi beneficiaries are being migrated. Coverage: ₹5 lakh per family per year — cashless — at 36,000+ hospitals across India, including AIIMS and CMC Vellore.
Central healthcare package approved: ₹3,505 crore for West Bengal.
Official Portal: pmjay.gov.in | Beneficiary check: beneficiary.nha.gov.in | Helpline: 14555 (24×7 Toll-free)
Quick Answer: Eligibility check: pmjay.gov.in → Am I Eligible → Mobile OTP → Check Card apply: beneficiary.nha.gov.in → Enrol → Aadhaar eKYC → Download Status: Live since July 1, 2026 — over 300 private hospitals already onboarded Swasthya Sathi auto-migrates? Only if you’re in SECC 2011 data — check separately 70+ seniors: Extra ₹5 lakh — Vay Vandana scheme, no income limit Helpline: 14555
West Bengal — What Changed in 2026
For 7 years, West Bengal was the only major state that hadn’t implemented Ayushman Bharat. The previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government under CM Mamata Banerjee ran its own “Swasthya Sathi” scheme instead — near-universal within the state, but limited to WB hospitals only.
After the BJP’s victory in the May 2026 Assembly elections, new CM Suvendu Adhikari announced the state’s return to the central scheme:
- July 1, 2026: Ayushman Bharat officially launched in West Bengal — the state became the 36th and final State/UT to join AB PM-JAY, completing its nationwide rollout
- 6 crore Swasthya Sathi beneficiaries are being migrated to PMJAY
- ₹3,505 crore central healthcare package approved for WB
- Pan-India portability: WB residents can now get treated at empanelled hospitals anywhere in India — a major benefit for the nearly 1 crore Bengal migrant workers living in other states
- 300+ private hospitals in West Bengal participated in onboarding workshops as integration accelerated ahead of and after the launch
⭐ Most Important — Not All Swasthya Sathi = PMJAY Eligible
This is what most WB residents still don’t fully understand — and it remains the most critical point to check:
Swasthya Sathi was designed to be near-universal — almost all WB families had it. Ayushman Bharat uses SECC 2011 (Socio-Economic Caste Census) data — a narrower, poverty-focused database. Many Swasthya Sathi holders may NOT be in the PMJAY national database. If you’re not in SECC 2011 data, you may not get a PMJAY card automatically.
Officials are working on a hybrid arrangement for beneficiaries who don’t meet standard PMJAY norms, so that Swasthya Sathi coverage doesn’t disappear suddenly for anyone. This state top-up structure is still being finalized — watch for official notifications on pmjay.gov.in and the WB health department’s channels.
Don’t assume your coverage has transferred automatically. Check separately.
Eligibility — Who Qualifies for PMJAY in West Bengal?
Two pathways:
Pathway 1 — SECC 2011 (Automatic): Rural families in SECC 2011 deprivation categories, or urban workers in 11 occupational categories → automatically eligible → check and enroll.
Pathway 2 — State Top-Up (WB Government): A state-funded top-up for Swasthya Sathi beneficiaries not in SECC 2011 data is being worked out as part of a hybrid coverage structure. Final details are still pending official notification — check pmjay.gov.in for updates.
| Category | Status |
|---|---|
| SECC 2011 rural deprived | ✅ PMJAY eligible |
| Urban worker (11 categories) | ✅ PMJAY eligible |
| 70+ senior citizens | ✅ Vay Vandana — income-independent |
| Swasthya Sathi only (not in SECC) | ⚠️ Check separately — state top-up being finalized |
Check Your PMJAY Eligibility — Step by Step
Step 1: Open pmjay.gov.in → click “Am I Eligible”
Step 2: Enter your mobile number → verify via OTP → log in
Step 3: Enter your name, Ration Card Number, or Aadhaar Number
Step 4: Select State: West Bengal → Search
Step 5: If your name appears, you’re eligible — proceed to enroll. If not found, visit your nearest CSC or Ayushman Mitra desk for a manual database check.
How to Get Your Ayushman Card — West Bengal
Step 1: Open beneficiary.nha.gov.in
Step 2: Log in via mobile OTP
Step 3: Once eligibility is verified, click “Enrol”
Step 4: Enter your Aadhaar number and complete eKYC:
- OTP method (Aadhaar-linked mobile) — now available fully online, no biometric device needed
- Face authentication (via the Ayushman app)
- Biometric (at a CSC centre)
Step 5: Once your card is generated, download the PDF and print or save it on your phone
Offline option: Visit your nearest CSC centre → Ayushman Mitra → biometric registration → card.
Swasthya Sathi vs Ayushman Bharat — Key Differences
| Swasthya Sathi | Ayushman Bharat PMJAY | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | ₹5 lakh/family | ₹5 lakh/family |
| Valid in | WB hospitals only | 36,000+ hospitals — all India |
| Eligibility | Near-universal in WB | SECC 2011 — specific criteria |
| Portability | No | ✅ Yes — any state |
| Central funding | State only | Central + State |
| Current status (July 2026) | Being phased into PMJAY; hybrid coverage under discussion | Active and live in WB |
Biggest gain: Pan-India portability — a WB resident hospitalized in Delhi is now covered. Biggest thing to watch: not every Swasthya Sathi holder automatically qualifies for PMJAY — check your status individually.
70+ Senior Citizens — Extra ₹5 Lakh (Vay Vandana)
All WB seniors aged 70+ get this benefit regardless of income:
Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana provides an extra ₹5 lakh/year for citizens aged 70+. Combined with a family’s ₹5 lakh, that’s a total of ₹10 lakh coverage for a 70+ household member. There’s no income limit, and SECC eligibility isn’t required for this category. Enroll at beneficiary.nha.gov.in → 70+ Enrolment → Ayushman Vay Vandana. Only Aadhaar is required.
Current Rollout Status — What’s Happening Now
| Milestone | Status |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | Ayushman Bharat officially went live in West Bengal |
| MoU signing | Completed June 8, 2026, with the Union Health Ministry |
| Hospital onboarding | 300+ private hospitals completed onboarding workshops; list is still expanding |
| eKYC | Fully available online via OTP — biometric device no longer required for most beneficiaries |
| Swasthya Sathi status | Continues to operate during the transition; not yet officially discontinued |
| State top-up for non-SECC beneficiaries | Still being finalized — watch for official notification |
What to do now: Check your eligibility today if you haven’t already. If you’re a Swasthya Sathi holder not yet confirmed as PMJAY-eligible, continue using your Swasthya Sathi card as normal until an official notification says otherwise.
Empanelled Hospitals in West Bengal
Find PMJAY-empanelled hospitals near you:
pmjay.gov.in → Find Hospital → State: West Bengal → District → Hospital list
Most large private hospitals in Kolkata and other major cities have been onboarded or are in the final stages of onboarding. Government hospitals across the state are already empanelled. The list continues to expand — check regularly for updates in your district.
Common Problems + Fix
“Name not found in eligibility check”: Try searching with your ration card number or Aadhaar number instead. Visit your nearest CSC for a manual database check. If you’re a Swasthya Sathi holder not found in SECC data, watch for the state top-up notification.
“eKYC not working”: Use Face Authentication via the Ayushman app, or visit a CSC centre for biometric verification.
“Card download not working”: Wait 24 hours after completing eKYC. You can also try the UMANG app → Ayushman Bharat → Download Card.
“My usual Swasthya Sathi hospital says it’s not empanelled under PMJAY”: Empanelment is an ongoing process. Check pmjay.gov.in → Find Hospital for the latest list, or ask the hospital directly about their PMJAY onboarding status.
FAQ — সাধারণ প্রশ্নোত্তর
Has Ayushman Bharat started in West Bengal? (পশ্চিমবঙ্গে আয়ুষ্মান ভারত কি চালু হয়েছে?) Yes — it officially went live on July 1, 2026, under CM Suvendu Adhikari’s government.
Will my Swasthya Sathi card automatically become an Ayushman card? (স্বাস্থ্যসাথী কার্ড কি আপনাআপনি আয়ুষ্মান কার্ড হয়ে যাবে?) Not automatically. Check your PMJAY eligibility separately at pmjay.gov.in — Swasthya Sathi and PMJAY use different eligibility databases.
Am I eligible if I’m not in SECC 2011 data? (SECC 2011-এ নাম না থাকলে কি পাব?) A state top-up arrangement for such beneficiaries is being finalized. Continue using your Swasthya Sathi card until an official notification is issued.
Are 70+ seniors eligible? (৭০+ বয়সীরা কি পাবেন?) Yes — Ayushman Vay Vandana provides an extra ₹5 lakh for all citizens aged 70+, regardless of income.
Is Swasthya Sathi cancelled now? No — Swasthya Sathi continues to operate during the transition period and has not been officially discontinued.
Helpline: 14555 | pmjay.gov.in
Official Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| Eligibility Check | pmjay.gov.in |
| Card Enrolment | beneficiary.nha.gov.in |
| Hospital Search | pmjay.gov.in → Find Hospital |
| Ayushman App | Google Play → “Ayushman” |
| Helpline | 14555 |
Ratan Das’s wife’s knee replacement is now covered — cashless, and valid at hospitals across India, not just in West Bengal.
West Bengal residents — check your PMJAY eligibility today at pmjay.gov.in. পশ্চিমবঙ্গবাসীরা — এখনই আয়ুষ্মান ভারতের যোগ্যতা যাচাই করুন।
Related Articles:
- Ayushman Card Eligibility 2026
- Ayushman Bharat Senior Citizen Card 70+ Apply Online
- Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme 2026
- PMJAY Registration 2026