Swasthya Sathi has been West Bengal’s safety net against medical bills for close to a decade, giving families cashless treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh a year without asking for a single rupee in premium. If you’re trying to understand how the scheme works, whether you’re covered, or how to check your card status, this guide walks through it all in simple language — including an important 2026 development that every current cardholder should know about.
What Is the Swasthya Sathi Scheme?
Swasthya Sathi is a health assurance programme run by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal. It was launched in December 2016 with the goal of protecting families from the kind of large, unexpected medical bills that can push a household into debt. Rather than reimbursing expenses after the fact, the scheme works on a cashless basis — eligible families can walk into an empanelled hospital, get treated, and walk out without paying for covered treatment.
Each enrolled family is issued a smart health card in the name of the eldest female member of the household, and that single card covers every member of the family. The entire premium is paid by the state government, so beneficiaries never pay anything to enrol or renew
Swasthya Sathi at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Swasthya Sathi |
| Run By | Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal |
| Launched | December 2016 |
| Annual Coverage | Up to ₹5,00,000 per family per year |
| Card Holder | Issued in the name of the eldest female family member |
| Premium | Fully paid by the state government — free for beneficiaries |
| Coverage Type | Secondary and tertiary hospitalisation (inpatient treatment) |
| Reach | Reportedly covers well over 2 crore families across the state |
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant’s family must be a resident of West Bengal.
- Following the scheme’s universal expansion, there is generally no income ceiling for enrolment — coverage is intended to reach all resident families, not just those below a certain income level.
- Some earlier eligibility rules excluded families already covered under other government-sponsored health insurance schemes, though this restriction has been loosened considerably as the scheme expanded statewide; check the current guidelines for your specific situation.
- There is no age or caste-based restriction on enrolment.
What Does Swasthya Sathi Cover — and What Doesn’t It Cover?
Covered:
- Hospitalisation for secondary and tertiary medical care, including surgeries and specialised treatments across areas like cardiology, neurology, oncology, orthopaedics, and nephrology
- Diagnostic tests connected to a covered hospitalisation
- Pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation expenses connected to the treatment, as per scheme guidelines
- Treatment for both new and pre-existing conditions, from the very first day of enrolment
Generally not covered:
- Routine outpatient (OPD) consultations that don’t involve hospital admission
- Regular medicine purchases unrelated to a covered hospitalisation
Because covered packages and procedure lists are periodically updated, it’s worth confirming with the hospital’s Swasthya Sathi desk before a planned procedure that your specific treatment is included.
Documents Required
- Aadhaar card
- Voter ID or another valid residence proof
- Ration card, if available
- Registered mobile number
- Details of all family members to be added to the card
- A recent passport-size photograph
How to Apply for a Swasthya Sathi Card
Offline (most common route):
- Visit a Duare Sarkar camp, your local Block Office, or Municipal Office.
- Provide your family’s identity and residence details.
- Complete biometric verification (fingerprint/photograph) on the spot.
- Once processed, your smart health card is issued, covering every member of your family listed in the application.
Online Services: The official Swasthya Sathi portal lets existing beneficiaries:
- Check their card or beneficiary status
- Download a digital e-card
- Search the list of empanelled hospitals
- Track the status of a hospital claim
How to Check Your Swasthya Sathi Card Status
- Visit the official Swasthya Sathi portal (use only the official .gov.in address).
- Look for the “Check Your Online Status” or “Swasthya Sathi Card Status” option.
- You can generally search using your URN (Unique Registration Number) — a number printed on your physical card — your Aadhaar number, or your family/ration card ID.
- Select your district if prompted, then enter the required number and submit.
- Your screen will display your registration and card status, along with basic family details linked to the card.
If your Aadhaar-based search doesn’t return a result, try switching to your ration card number instead — a mismatch or gap in the database is a common reason searches fail on the first try.
How to Download Your e-Card Online
- Go to the official portal and select the “Card Download” option.
- Enter your Aadhaar number or registered mobile number as prompted.
- Complete any OTP or verification step shown.
- Download the digital card, which is valid for use at empanelled hospitals just like the physical card — useful if your physical card is lost, damaged, or simply not on hand when needed.
Is Swasthya Sathi Available Outside West Bengal?
Historically, Swasthya Sathi’s cashless network was concentrated within West Bengal, at hospitals specifically empanelled under the state scheme, though the network has expanded to include some empanelled hospitals in other states over time. With the 2026 integration into Ayushman Bharat now underway, beneficiaries who are migrated to a PM-JAY card gain access to the much larger nationwide network of PM-JAY-empanelled hospitals, offering considerably wider portability outside West Bengal than the original Swasthya Sathi network alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Swasthya Sathi Scheme? It’s a West Bengal government health assurance scheme providing cashless hospitalisation coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year, with the state paying the full premium.
2. Who is eligible for Swasthya Sathi Scheme? Following its universal expansion, all resident families of West Bengal are generally eligible, with no income ceiling for standard enrolment.
3. What is the coverage amount under Swasthya Sathi? Up to ₹5,00,000 per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation, along with related pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses as per scheme guidelines.
4. Is Swasthya Sathi Scheme cashless? Yes. Beneficiaries do not pay for covered treatment at empanelled hospitals; the hospital settles the bill directly with the scheme.
5. How do I apply for Swasthya Sathi Scheme? Visit a Duare Sarkar camp, Block Office, or Municipal Office with your family’s identity documents, complete biometric verification, and your smart health card will be issued once approved.
6. How do I check my Swasthya Sathi card status? Visit the official portal, select the status check option, and search using your URN, Aadhaar number, or ration card number along with your district.
7. How do I download my Swasthya Sathi card online? On the official portal, use the “Card Download” option and enter your Aadhaar number or registered mobile number to generate a valid digital e-card.
8. What documents are required for Swasthya Sathi registration? Aadhaar card, voter ID or residence proof, ration card (if available), mobile number, family member details, and a passport-size photograph.
9. Which hospitals are covered under Swasthya Sathi? Both government hospitals and a large network of empanelled private hospitals across West Bengal are covered; you can search the current list on the official portal.
10. Is Swasthya Sathi available outside West Bengal? The original network is concentrated within the state, though it has expanded to cover some hospitals elsewhere. With the ongoing 2026 integration with Ayushman Bharat, beneficiaries migrated to a PM-JAY card gain access to a much wider nationwide hospital network.