Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY has started in West Bengal
A major healthcare development took place in West Bengal in 2026.
On 8 June 2026, West Bengal officially became the 36th State/Union Territory to implement Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) after the National Health Authority and the Government of West Bengal signed an MoU for implementation.
This means older articles saying that PM-JAY was not implemented in West Bengal are now outdated.
Official Government of India announcement: PIB – West Bengal implements AB PM-JAY
What is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is the Government of India’s publicly funded health assurance scheme.
The scheme provides health cover of up to:
₹5 lakh per eligible family per year
for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
The benefit is designed to protect eligible families from significant hospitalisation expenses.
When did PM-JAY start in West Bengal?
West Bengal formally joined PM-JAY implementation on 8 June 2026.
The National Health Authority and the West Bengal Government signed the implementation MoU on that date.
This was a major change because West Bengal had previously not been implementing AB PM-JAY.
Who is eligible for Ayushman Bharat in West Bengal?
Not every West Bengal resident automatically becomes an ordinary PM-JAY beneficiary simply because they live in the state.
The regular PM-JAY beneficiary population is based on the applicable beneficiary identification and eligibility framework.
Therefore, people should check their beneficiary status through the official PM-JAY system.
However, there is an important separate provision for senior citizens aged 70 years and above.
Ayushman Bharat for senior citizens aged 70+
The Government of India has expanded AB PM-JAY to cover all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of their income.
The National Health Authority’s official FAQ states that any Indian citizen aged 70 or above is eligible irrespective of income.
This is particularly important for elderly residents of West Bengal.
How much coverage does a 70+ senior citizen receive?
The senior-citizen benefit provides up to ₹5 lakh per year on a family basis for eligible senior citizens who are not already part of a PM-JAY-covered family.
If the family is already covered under AB PM-JAY, senior citizens aged 70+ receive an additional top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year for themselves.
This additional amount does not have to be shared with family members below 70.
Therefore, the commonly repeated statement that every family automatically gets ₹10 lakh is incorrect.
The additional ₹5 lakh is specifically for eligible family members aged 70 or above under the applicable rules.
Is there an income limit for people aged 70+?
No.
The official National Health Authority FAQ states that there is no income limit for eligibility under the 70+ PM-JAY expansion.
Any Indian citizen aged 70 or above can qualify regardless of income.
Is Aadhaar e-KYC required for 70+ Ayushman Card?
Yes.
For the senior-citizen enrolment process, Aadhaar-based e-KYC is required according to the National Health Authority’s official information.
The NHA FAQ states that Aadhaar is the only document required for enrolment under this senior-citizen provision.
Can a 70+ person with private health insurance get PM-JAY?
Yes.
The official NHA information states that senior citizens aged 70+ remain eligible for AB PM-JAY even if they already have private health insurance.
It also states that people covered by ESIC can be eligible.
Different rules apply to certain other public health schemes.
For example, people already benefiting from certain government health schemes may have to choose between their existing scheme and AB PM-JAY.
Does PM-JAY have a family-size limit?
PM-JAY does not impose a restriction on the number of family members in an eligible family.
However, this does not mean that every person in West Bengal automatically becomes eligible.
The family must first meet the applicable beneficiary eligibility criteria.
Is PM-JAY cashless?
Yes.
PM-JAY is designed to provide cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals for covered procedures.
Eligible beneficiaries do not normally have to pay the covered hospitalisation cost themselves when the treatment is properly processed under the scheme.
However, non-covered expenses or treatment outside the applicable package should not be assumed to be free.
Can a West Bengal PM-JAY beneficiary get treatment outside West Bengal?
Yes.
PM-JAY has a nationwide portability feature.
Eligible beneficiaries can receive covered treatment at empanelled PM-JAY hospitals in other parts of India, subject to the scheme’s rules and availability of the required package.
This is particularly useful for people who work or live outside West Bengal.
How to find an Ayushman Bharat hospital
The Government of India’s PM-JAY system provides an official hospital-search facility.
Users can search for empanelled hospitals and check available details.
Official PM-JAY hospital search: PM-JAY Empanelled Hospital Search
Always verify the hospital’s current empanelment before planned treatment.
What treatment is covered under PM-JAY?
PM-JAY focuses mainly on secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
The scheme has approved treatment packages for eligible beneficiaries.
However, an Ayushman Card does not mean that every medical expense is automatically covered.
Before treatment, beneficiaries should confirm:
- Whether the hospital is empanelled
- Whether the treatment is an approved PM-JAY package
- Whether the required speciality is available
- Whether pre-authorisation is required
- Which expenses are included in the package
Is ordinary OPD covered by PM-JAY?
PM-JAY is primarily a hospitalisation-focused health assurance scheme.
Ordinary outpatient consultation should not be assumed to be covered simply because someone has an Ayushman Card.
The exact package and service rules should be checked with the empanelled hospital and the official PM-JAY system.
What is an Ayushman Card?
The Ayushman Card is the beneficiary identification card used to access eligible PM-JAY benefits.
After eligibility and identity verification, the beneficiary can obtain the applicable Ayushman Card through the official system.
For senior citizens aged 70+, a distinct Ayushman Card is issued under the expanded senior-citizen coverage.
How to check Ayushman Card eligibility
The safest method is to use the official National Health Authority beneficiary system.
Official beneficiary portal: Ayushman Bharat Beneficiary Portal
Do not rely on unofficial websites claiming to generate or approve an Ayushman Card.
How to get the Ayushman Card
The general process involves:
- Checking whether the person is an eligible beneficiary.
- Completing the required identity verification/e-KYC.
- Completing beneficiary authentication.
- Generating the Ayushman Card.
- Using the card at an empanelled hospital for eligible treatment.
The exact process can differ depending on whether the beneficiary is part of the regular PM-JAY database or qualifies under the 70+ senior-citizen expansion.
PM-JAY in West Bengal: 2026 implementation update
West Bengal officially joined PM-JAY on 8 June 2026.
This is particularly important for people searching older information online because previous articles may state that PM-JAY was not available in West Bengal.
The current situation is different: the state has entered the PM-JAY implementation framework.
PM-JAY and Swasthya Sathi in West Bengal
West Bengal now has both:
- Swasthya Sathi, the state health-protection scheme
- Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, implemented in West Bengal from June 2026
However, people should not assume that the same hospital bill can automatically be claimed under both schemes.
Eligibility, beneficiary category, hospital processing and applicable government rules must be considered.
PM-JAY and WBHS are also different
West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS) is mainly for eligible West Bengal Government employees, pensioners and other specified beneficiaries.
PM-JAY is a separate Government of India health-assurance scheme with its own beneficiary eligibility rules.
A person should not assume that having one card automatically makes them eligible for another scheme.
PM-JAY helpline
The official PM-JAY support system provides the beneficiary helpline:
14555 / 1800-111-565
Use official government channels for beneficiary and treatment-related assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY started in West Bengal?
Yes. West Bengal became the 36th State/UT to implement AB PM-JAY on 8 June 2026.
How much is the PM-JAY health cover?
The standard cover is up to ₹5 lakh per eligible family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
Are all West Bengal residents eligible?
No. Ordinary PM-JAY eligibility depends on the applicable beneficiary criteria. The 70+ senior-citizen expansion is different and covers all Indian citizens aged 70 or above regardless of income.
Can senior citizens aged 70+ get Ayushman Card?
Yes. Eligible Indian citizens aged 70+ can receive PM-JAY coverage regardless of income.
Does a 70+ person need Aadhaar e-KYC?
Yes, Aadhaar-based e-KYC is required for the 70+ senior-citizen enrolment process.
Can someone with private health insurance get PM-JAY at age 70+?
Yes. The official NHA FAQ states that private health insurance does not prevent eligibility for the 70+ PM-JAY benefit.
Can PM-JAY be used outside West Bengal?
Yes. PM-JAY provides nationwide portability at empanelled hospitals, subject to the scheme rules.
Where can I find the official hospital list?
Use the official PM-JAY hospital search.
Official hospital search: hospitals.pmjay.gov.in
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. We make reasonable efforts to keep the information accurate and up to date using official government sources; however, government schemes, eligibility criteria, benefits, hospital empanelment, procedures, rates, deadlines and other rules may change from time to time. DailyDigiHelp does not guarantee that all information will remain current or that any individual will be eligible for a particular benefit. Before applying for a scheme, seeking treatment, or making any financial or medical decision, readers should verify the latest information with the relevant official government portal, department, hospital or authorised authority. DailyDigiHelp is not affiliated with or officially associated with the Government of West Bengal, Government of India, or any scheme mentioned in this article.
Conclusion
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is now an important part of West Bengal’s healthcare system following the state’s official implementation of the scheme in June 2026.
Eligible beneficiaries can receive up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for covered secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. In addition, all eligible Indian citizens aged 70 and above can receive PM-JAY benefits regardless of income under the senior-citizen expansion.
Because PM-JAY implementation in West Bengal is relatively new, readers should be particularly careful with old articles and unofficial websites. Always verify eligibility, card status, hospital empanelment and treatment packages through official government systems.
Official sources: