In a significant boost to public healthcare, the Punjab government is poised to launch a substantially upgraded version of its flagship health insurance scheme, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna (MMSY), on January 15. The revamped scheme will double the annual cashless health insurance cover from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per family, marking a major stride towards universal health coverage in the state.
Launch and Key Features of the Enhanced Scheme
The enhanced scheme will be officially inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal. State Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh confirmed that the agreement with the implementing insurance company was finalized and signed on Friday. The signing ceremony involved Punjab State Health Agency (SHA) CEO Sanyam Aggarwal and the executive director of the insurance firm.
Dr. Singh emphasized the scheme's inclusive design, stating it features no income cap or exclusion criteria. "The new scheme aims to provide cashless treatment up to Rs 10 lakh per family per year to all residents of Punjab, including government employees and pensioners," he said. This expansion moves beyond the previous model, which was limited to specific categories of beneficiaries.
Simplified Enrollment and Operational Framework
To ensure easy access, the enrollment process has been kept straightforward. Eligible families can register at Common Service Centres (CSCs) using just their Aadhaar and Voter ID cards. Upon successful registration, beneficiaries will receive dedicated MMSY health cards. The government also plans to launch a dedicated helpline soon to assist people with the process.
Detailing the operational structure, the Health Minister explained that United India Insurance Company—which also manages a similar scheme in Tamil Nadu—will provide coverage of Rs 1,00,000 per family for all of Punjab's estimated 65 lakh families. For treatment costs exceeding one lakh and up to ten lakh rupees, the insurance will be managed on a trust basis by the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab.
Comprehensive Coverage and Hospital Network
The upgraded MMSY will adopt the latest Health Benefit Package (HBP 2.2), which includes over 2,000 specific treatment packages to ensure comprehensive medical coverage. Beneficiaries can avail of secondary and tertiary care across a wide network of empanelled hospitals.
Currently, this network comprises 824 hospitals, including 212 public hospitals, eight Government of India hospitals, and more than 600 private hospitals. The government has indicated that the number of empanelled hospitals is expected to grow as the scheme becomes fully operational, further improving accessibility for residents across Punjab.
This ambitious enhancement of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna represents one of the most substantial health insurance initiatives in the region, aiming to provide a robust financial safety net against medical expenses for every family in the state.
