What this scheme offers
Launched on 26 December 2020, SEHAT (Social Endeavour for Health and Telemedicine) takes the central Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY model and removes its income-based eligibility filter entirely for Jammu & Kashmir — every resident of the Union Territory qualifies, regardless of socio-economic status. This closes a significant gap: roughly 15 lakh additional families who wouldn't have met PM-JAY's standard criteria are covered under SEHAT specifically. Coverage runs to ₹5 lakh per family per year on a floater basis (meaning the full amount is available to any combination of family members, not divided per person), for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation, with no restriction on family size or member age.
Who is eligible
- Every resident of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir — universal coverage, with no income or socio-economic eligibility test.
- No restriction based on family size or age of members.
Documents required
- Aadhaar card, for identity verification
- Ration card, as proof of residence in Jammu & Kashmir
How to apply
- Visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) — these are widely accessible across the Union Territory and are the primary registration point.
- Provide your Aadhaar card and ration card for identity and residence verification.
- Once your documents are verified, a "Golden Card" is generated for each eligible family member.
- Present your Golden Card at any empanelled hospital for cashless treatment on covered procedures.
- The J&K "Back to Village" (B2V) programme, where senior officials camp at panchayat level, is another route for SEHAT Golden Card enrolment if a CSC isn't nearby — it's currently in Phase 5, covering 4,290+ panchayats.