Swasthya Sathi Card: 5 Important Things to Know About This Health Card

The Swasthya Sathi scheme was introduced by the Government of West Bengal on December 30, 2016. It offers a basic health cover of up to Rs.5 lakh per year per family including both secondary and tertiary healthcare. This scheme is sponsored by the GoWB, and is paperless, cashless and based on a smart card. The objective for this scheme is to ensure universal healthcare for every resident of the state.

The smart health card for the Swasthya Sathi scheme is known as the Swasthya Sathi card. Usually, it is issued against the eldest women member of a family. Note that it covers all family members including dependent physically challenged individuals and parents of both spouse [1]. To know about its key features, the Swasthya Sathi scheme eligibility criteria, and how to apply for the Swasthya Sathi card, read on.

Additional Read: Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana 

Highlights of the Swasthya Sathi scheme

Here are the figures showing the reach of the scheme so far.

Number of families covered	2 crores +
Number of empanelled hospitals	2290+
Successful hospitalization	31 lakh +*

*As per the GoWb data on Mar 31, 2022 

Coverage you can enjoy with the Swasthya Sathi card 

• Annual health coverage of up to Rs.5 lakh per family (Up to Rs.1.5 lakh is given through insurance mode and the rest is provided through assurance mode) 
• Coverage for all pre-existing diseases 
• No cap on the number of family members
• Zero premium 
• Cashless hospitalization facilities

Eligibility criteria to get the Swasthya Sathi card 

To register for the Swasthya Sathi scheme and get the Swasthya Sathi health card, you must ensure the following terms.  

• You are permanent residents of West Bengal 
• You have not registered your name under any other health scheme of GoWB 
• You do not get medical allowance as a part of your salary

Other key benefits of availing the Swasthya Sathi card 

• Transparent gradation of hospitals: It helps you to choose a hospital as per its grade 
• Assured pre-authorization for all treatments: If you are a beneficiary, all the medical treatments you undergo will be pre-authorized within no more than 24 hours 
• Real-time maintenance of patients’ e-health records: After you are discharged from a hospital, your latest health record is uploaded to the system 
• Assistance via the Swasthya Sathi mobile app: This allows you to access your health account on the go 
• Timely SMS alerts: You will get an SMS when you get admitted to or are discharged from a hospital 
• 24X7 helpline facilities: Behind the Swasthya Sathi card, you can find the number of the toll-free call center to get help when needed 
• Quick reimbursement of claims: All claims by hospitals are settled within 30 days 
• Online grievance monitoring mechanism: As a beneficiary, you can raise your grievances through the online portal of Swasthya Sathi 
• Transport allowance post discharge: The package includes Rs.200 payable to the patient as transport charges at the time of discharge

How to apply for the Swasthya Sathi card 

• Visit the official website 
• Click on ‘Apply Now: You will get seven options in the drop-down list 
• Download the right Swasthya Sathi form: Click on the Swasthya Sathi Form B if you are registering your family members for the first time. Go for Swasthya Sathi Form A in case you are adding a new member against your existing Swasthya Sathi card. There are additional forms available for name correction, name deletion and registering hospitals.

Additional Read: Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana

How to check Swasthya Sathi status 

To know about your Swasthya Sathi card status, check online for a hassle-free process. Here’s how you can go ahead with this regardless of whether you are applying for your family or for a hospital.

For individual applicants 

• Go to the official website 
• Click on the ‘Find Your Name’ icon 
• Enter your registered mobile number, select whether you are checking for yourself or for someone else, and click on ‘search’ 
• Get to know your Swasthya Sathi status

For Hospitals 

• Go to the official website 
• Click on the ‘Check Hospital Registration Status’ icon 
• Enter your registered mobile number and click on ‘search’ 
• See the status of your application

Now that you know about the features, benefits and eligibility criteria of Swasthya Sathi card, check online to start a new application or update your existing details. If you are not eligible for Swasthya Sathi card, you can still opt for other health insurance plans and health cards that offer money-saving benefits. For fast and easy processing as well as customized features, you can opt for the Aarogya Care plans by Bajaj Finserv Health. With these plans, you can enjoy benefits like preventive health check-ups, online doctor consultation, pre- and post-hospitalization coverage, network sdiscounts and more. So, prioritize your health and avail coverage without delay.