Punjab launches Rs 10 lakh Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana; who is eligible for it?
Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana: Punjab has taken a major step towards universal healthcare with the launch of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana, offering cashless medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh per family per year. The scheme was officially launched in Mohali by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in the presence of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government claims this is one of the most comprehensive health insurance schemes in the country, covering every Punjabi resident without any income, occupation or age restrictions.
About the scheme
The Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana is a state-funded health insurance scheme that provides cashless medical treatment worth up to Rs 10 lakh per family annually.
Under this scheme, patients will not have to pay a single rupee for treatment. All expenses related to tests, medicines, hospitalisation and surgeries are covered. The scheme applies to the entire family through a single floater card.
Who is eligible for the Scheme?
Every resident of Punjab is eligible. There is no income limit and no age restriction. Farmers, labourers, pensioners, government employees, private sector workers, traders and business owners , everyone is covered.
The only requirement is Punjab Aadhaar card and voter ID card.
Coverage limit: How the Rs 10 lakh benefit works
According to Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, the scheme operates on a family floater basis. Each family gets Rs 10 lakh coverage per year. The amount is not per individual, but shared by all family members. The limit resets every year.
Diseases and treatments Covered
The scheme offers extensive medical coverage, including critical care treatments, chemotherapy and cancer treatment, normal and complicated deliveries, all major and minor surgeries, advanced and specialised surgeries, and diagnostic tests and medicines
However, cosmetic and aesthetic surgeries are not covered.
Once a patient is admitted, the card becomes active immediately, and all treatment-related expenses are automatically covered.
Hospitals covered under the scheme
All government hospitals in Punjab and 650 empanelled private hospitals and all medical colleges. Hospitals in Chandigarh are also being included, as announced earlier by CM Bhagwant Mann So far, around 900 hospitals have already been empanelled, and the number is expected to rise.
Cashless treatment: No payment, no paperwork for patients
Patients do not need to pay any amount upfront. There is no billing or reimbursement process for patients. Hospitals will directly submit claims to the government. Patients can leave the hospital immediately after recovery without waiting for bill clearance.
How will hospitals get paid?
Treatment costs up to Rs 1 lakh will be covered by the insurance company. Expenses beyond Rs 1 lakh will be paid through a trust mode by the state health agency. The Punjab government has allocated Rs 1,200 crore for the scheme. Hospitals will receive payment within 15 days of submitting claims.
Registration and enrolment process
To ensure maximum coverage, the government has put in place a simple and widespread enrolment system:
Over 9,000 enrolment and service centres have been set up across Punjab. There would be registration camps at hospitals and service centres. Youth club members will go door-to-door to distribute enrolment slips Citizens must carry Aadhaar and voter ID for enrolment. Once registered, beneficiaries will receive confirmation on their mobile phone, and after enrolment, the entire family is automatically covered.
Key differences from Ayushman Bharat Scheme
Higher coverage: Rs 10 lakh vs Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat
100% population coverage compared to around 80% earlier
No income or age limit, unlike the central scheme
Entirely state-driven and universal
The government estimates that 65 lakh families will benefit and nearly 3 crore people across Punjab will be covered.