Chandigarh: Under the Punjab government’s new health insurance scheme, free treatment up to ₹10 lakh will be available. The paperwork for this scheme begins tomorrow, September 23rd. Providing information in this regard, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that the government has initially launched the scheme, which will be implemented on October 2nd, in Barnala and Tarn Taran districts of Punjab. This process may take two to three days to complete, so people are urged to register themselves at the camps being set up in Barnala and Tarn Taran starting Tuesday.
Chief Minister Mann said, “Our priority is to provide quality healthcare to the people of Punjab, create employment for the youth, and raise the level of education. Some time ago, we promised the people of Punjab that they would provide health insurance of ₹10 lakh. Starting tomorrow (September 23rd), we will set up approximately 128 medical camps in Barnala and Tarn Taran, lasting two to three days. People can access these sites to avail the benefits of the scheme. Anyone can present their passport, Aadhaar card, or voter ID card; no other documents will be required. The entire process will take 10 to 12 days. After this, people will be able to avail the Chief Minister’s Health Card, which will make them eligible for free treatment up to ₹10 lakh.”
Government employees also eligible for the scheme
He said that whether government employees or Anganwadi workers are eligible for the scheme. There is no limit on the number of family members; only one or two members can benefit; every member of the family will receive health benefits. If someone’s registration is missed, they need not worry; their card will be generated based on the available documents.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that “People will be made aware of all hospitals registered under this scheme. Complete information and necessary details will be provided, whether they are government or private hospitals. Efforts will be made to include as many private hospitals as possible under the scheme, but all government hospitals will be included, regardless of city or village. If anyone faces any problems or inconveniences, they can inform the government. If a change of hospital is required, the government will consider and make the changes.”
Goal to Add 1,000 Private Hospitals
The Punjab government will include 500 private hospitals in this scheme and aims to increase this number to 1,000 in the coming years. Under this, “every member of every family in Punjab will be provided free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh per year.” For this, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab allocated ₹778 crore in the 2025-26 budget.
Punjab already has a welfare scheme under which the government provides free treatment up to ₹5 lakh. Punjab has a population of 3 crore. Approximately 6.5 million families will be covered under this scheme. Under this scheme, the Punjab government will provide free treatment to eligible individuals in both government and private hospitals. This treatment will be cashless and paperless. There is no income limit, nor is there a cap on the number of eligible family members. Meanwhile, beneficiaries already enrolled in the central government’s Ayushman Bharat scheme will receive a separate benefit of up to ₹5 lakh.
