Daijiworld Media Network - Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Jan 3: Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh on Friday announced that the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) will provide free cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh per family to all residents of the state, with the scheme set to be formally launched on January 15.
The universal healthcare cover will extend to all 65 lakh families in Punjab. The Aam Aadmi Party-led state government on Friday signed an agreement with the United India Insurance Company to implement the scheme. The memorandum of understanding was signed by state health agency CEO Sanyam Aggarwal and United India Insurance Company executive director Mathew George in the presence of the health minister.
Dr Balbir Singh said the scheme marks a major expansion from the earlier Rs 5 lakh health cover, which was restricted to specific beneficiary categories. “The new scheme will provide cashless treatment up to Rs 10 lakh per family per year to all residents of Punjab, including government employees and pensioners,” he said.
He added that chief minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will formally launch the scheme on January 15, 2026. The minister said MMSY has been designed to ensure total inclusivity, with no income cap or exclusion criteria.
Enrolment will be facilitated through common service centres using Aadhaar and voter ID cards, after which beneficiaries will be issued MMSY health cards. A dedicated helpline will also be launched to assist citizens.
Explaining the operational framework, Dr Balbir Singh said United India Insurance Company will provide insurance coverage of Rs 1 lakh per family for all 65 lakh families. Treatment costs beyond Rs 1 lakh and up to Rs 10 lakh will be covered by the state health agency on a trust basis.
The scheme will follow the latest health benefit package, HBP 2.2, offering coverage under more than 2,000 treatment packages. Beneficiaries will be able to avail secondary and tertiary care at 824 empanelled hospitals, including 212 public hospitals, eight Government of India hospitals and over 600 private hospitals. The number of empanelled hospitals is expected to rise further as the scheme progresses.