Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY): A Complete Guide

BSKY is named after Biju Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha. The yojana focuses on the well-being of people. Mostly, medical expenses are uncertain and can shatter your financial plan in no time. The Government of Odisha has launched BSKY with an aim to make healthcare accessible and affordable for all the people of this state.

By offering free treatment in government hospitals and cashless services in empanelled private hospitals, BSKY ensures that families no longer have to choose between treatment and financial survival.

The idea behind BSKY is simple but powerful – no person in Odisha should be denied quality healthcare because of a lack of money. BSKY covers everything from a simple medical procedure or a life-saving surgery to ongoing treatment for chronic diseases.

The best part about this scheme is the Biju Swasthya Card limit. It provides ₹5 lakh per family per year. It also offers an additional ₹2 lakh specifically for women members. This shows the government’s focus on women’s health and wellbeing.

Also Read: Central Government Health Scheme

The Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana not only offers free treatment but is also about transforming healthcare in Odisha. Its objectives are clear and aimed at the well-being of the Odisha people.

Universal Health Coverage

BSKY allows every citizen, whether rich or poor, to walk into a government hospital and get quality health services for free. The BSKY especially helps families from the lower socio-economic section of the society in getting cashless treatments and wide coverage.

Financial Security

Hospitalisation expenses and medical bills are very expensive. Common health issues like diabetes and BP require regular medical checkups. Such frequent expenses can shake your financial calculations. These are one of the top reasons families fall into debt.

BSKY covers these costs and provides a safety net to your family. If you are from Odisha and you take a family member to the hospital, you need not worry about selling assets or borrowing money. The scheme steps in and pays for the treatment.

Improving Quality of Services

The Odisha government has empanelled 208 Private hospitals under BSKY. The State Government pays for healthcare in empanelled private hospitals for over 96.5 lakh low-income families. Each family gets ₹5 lakh annual coverage, and women members get an extra ₹5 lakh after the first limit is used.

Some medical treatments are expensive and require special care. Chronic diseases and emergency situations require specialised treatments and high-tech equipment. If you apply for the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, you can get access to such quality treatments.

Inclusive Development

BSKY is designed keeping in mind the needs of the financially weaker section of the society. This scheme is for vulnerable families, women, and economically weaker sections. The Biju Kalyan Yojana prioritises them to support inclusive growth and includes every community in healthcare access.

Reducing Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Another primary objective of the Biju Kalyan Yojana is to secure the people of Odisha financially. The most common reason behind financial disturbance is sudden medical bills. It can drain savings and push families below the poverty line. This scheme not only takes care of the healthcare bills but also covers diagnostics and follow-up care. It significantly cuts down out-of-pocket expenses.

The BSKY scheme has several features that make it stand apart from regular online health insurance:

• All government hospitals in Odisha provide free healthcare under BSKY. This includes sub-centres, district hospitals, medical colleges, and blood banks.
• Families can also get cashless treatment in empanelled private hospitals across Odisha and other states.
• Each family gets annual coverage of ₹5 lakh. For women members, there is an additional ₹5 lakh. This means the total Biju Swasthya Card limit can go up to ₹10 lakh.
• Over 96.5 lakh economically vulnerable families are covered under the scheme.
• The scheme applies not just within Odisha but also in empanelled hospitals outside the state, making it more flexible for serious treatments.
• A dedicated grievance redressal helpline (155369 and 104) helps people resolve issues and get support.

Also Read: Ayushman Bharat or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana

The Biju Swasthya Card offers several benefits for families in Odisha. Let’s explore them in detail:

Cashless Treatment

If a medical emergency strikes, you need not bear the stress of arranging funds. With Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, you can simply go to the nearby empanelled hospital, show your Biju Health Card, and get the treatment without paying upfront. The government directly settles the bill with the hospital.

Wide Coverage

Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana does not restrict you to only government hospitals. You can get free services at all state-run facilities as well as empanelled private hospitals. These renowned private hospitals also provide treatment under the scheme. You can get access to advanced procedures in a hassle-free manner.

Comprehensive Medical Packages

The scheme covers everything: from inpatient department (IPD) care to day-care procedures. It also includes surgeries, medical tests, diagnostics, and follow-up consultations. You need not break your lifetime savings for these services.

Extra Benefit for Women

The Odisha government has some special offerings for women’s healthcare. A healthy woman can look after her family’s health well. Hence, BSKY addresses this need by offering an additional ₹5 lakh cover for women members along with the ₹5 lakh general coverage. This makes it one of the most women-friendly schemes in India.

Nationwide Hospital Network

Whether you are in Odisha or another state, you can get access to treatment at empanelled private hospitals. They provide cashless treatment under BSKY. You can get peace of mind even when you travel outside Odisha.

Before you apply for a BSKY card online, you must understand the specific eligibility requirements:

• You must be a permanent resident of Odisha to get access to the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.
• If you are a cardholder of the BSKY Smart Health Card/ National Food Security Act (NFSA)/ State Food Security Scheme (SFSS), you are eligible.
• Since BSKY offers inclusivity, all the people from Below-Poverty Line (BPL) and Above-Poverty Line (APL) families are eligible.
• You must have valid identification documents like an Aadhar Card, PAN Card, etc.
• If you are not a cardholder but still fall under the income limit of ₹50,000 per year (in rural areas) and ₹60,000 per year (in urban areas), you can apply for Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.

Referral to a Private Hospital Under BSKY

You can get a referral to a private hospital under the Biju Kalyan Yojana under the following circumstances:

• If the required treatment or package is not available in a government hospital in your district.
• If the waiting time in a government hospital is too long.
• If it is an emergency, and you need immediate treatment.
• The referral process happens at different hospital levels, not just the district.

When you apply for a BSKY card online or want to use the services, you must keep certain documents ready:

• BSKY Smart Health Card, NFSA Card, or SFSS Card.
• BKKY, BPL, or AAY card (if applicable).
• Valid income certificate for families without these cards.

These documents are necessary to prove eligibility and to access free treatment.

The Biju Swasthya Card application process is simple. Here’s how it works:

• Visit the official BSKY website.
• Use your NFSA or SFSS details to check Biju Health Card eligibility.
• Apply through the designated Mo Seva Kendra or the official portal.
• Once approved, collect your Biju Health Card from the distribution centre.

For an offline application, the government distributes the cards directly to eligible families. You can also visit Mo Seva Kendras with valid documents to collect your card.

BSKY provides coverage through three types of medical packages:

Reserved Packages

These are available only in government hospitals. They cover minor injuries, fever, diarrhoea, malaria, TB, urinary tract infections, and small surgeries. They also include treatments for burns, abscess drainage, and maternal health procedures.

Referral Packages

Sometimes, a government hospital cannot provide specialised treatment. In such cases, doctors issue referrals to empanelled hospitals where the patient can get the required care under BSKY.

Open Packages

This is the most flexible category. Beneficiaries can walk into any empanelled private hospital and get treatment under the scheme. The treating doctor decides if the package applies to the patient’s condition.

One of the strongest points of this scheme is its high coverage limit:

• ₹5,00,000 per family per year.
• An additional ₹5,00,000 for women members.
• The total coverage per family can go up to ₹10,00,000 annually.

This makes the Biju Swasthya Card limit one of the most generous schemes in India.

Beneficiaries can track their claims easily:

• Visit the official portal.
• Call the helpline numbers 155369 or 104 for updates.

This makes it convenient for families to stay informed about their benefits.

Odisha has set a benchmark for other states with its inclusive Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana scheme. The scheme not only offers financial security but also aims to build a healthy state. People of Odisha appreciate the effort of its government as the scheme offers generous coverage, simple application, and special support for women.

If you are not eligible for the Biju Swasthya Card, you can always rely on TATA AIG’s health insurance online. Our health insurance plans come with affordable premiums and attractive discounts. At TATA AIG, we aim to offer quick and extensive financial support during a health crisis.

Even if you qualify for the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, sometimes the treatment cost can go beyond the cover. In such cases, you can look at TATA AIG’s best health insurance policy. It gives wide protection, including emergency care, day-care treatments, surgeries, injuries, pre- and post-hospitalisation, OPD visits, and ambulance charges. With our online health insurance plans, you don’t have to worry about finances and focus on quick recovery and better health.