Families with annual income below Rs 8 lakh eligible for state health cover

MP, July 28, 2026, Kolkata: Those who do not qualify for the central government's Ayushman Bharat scheme will be covered under the state government's new initiative — the ‘Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana’.

Under the ‘Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana’, beneficiaries will receive health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had earlier emphasised that, much like Ayushman Bharat, the benefits of this state-sponsored scheme can be availed at any empanelled hospital across India.

The state Health Department has now issued a notification stating that the ‘Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana’, which the Chief Minister had earlier announced, will provide comprehensive health coverage. Those who were already covered under Swasthya Sathi and do not meet the required parameters for availing Ayushman Bharat will get the benefits of it.

As per the Health Department notification, applicants will be eligible for the ‘Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana’ if their family income is less than Rs 8 lakh per annum.

Any employee or pensioner covered under the West Bengal Health Scheme or Central Government Health Scheme will not be eligible for it.

Those who are above the age of 70 will also be covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and hence will not fall under the ambit of the ‘Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana’.

The Health Department's notification for implementing the ‘Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana’ came a few days after Adhikari had announced the initiative, stating that those who do not qualify for the central Ayushman Bharat scheme will be covered under a new state initiative called the ‘Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana’.

The Chief Minister had also stated that the state government will ensure that the benefits of this card are not limited to this state alone, but can be accessed all over India.