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Punjab Launches Universal ₹10 Lakh Health Cover, Moves to Rapid Statewide Enrollment

A hybrid financing design faces scrutiny over sustainability after past payment delays to hospitals.

Overview

  • Ministers fanned out across Punjab to register families for health cards through door-to-door drives, camps, sewa kendras and online portals.
  • Coverage applies to all 65 lakh families with no income cap, with eligibility verified via Aadhaar and Punjab voter ID, including government employees and pensioners.
  • Cashless care is available at 823 empanelled hospitals across Punjab and Chandigarh, with more than 2,300 treatment packages and diagnostics included.
  • Hospitals are to be reimbursed within 15 days, with the state saying it has paid an advance premium to operationalize cashless claims.
  • Financing combines ₹1 lakh per family from United India Insurance with state funding up to ₹10 lakh, alongside a ₹1,200 crore budget provision that analysts say may be tested by high utilization and past arrears.