The government of West Bengal has taken an initiative for the state’s employees and their families to provide a protective shield guarding their health by providing them with a health insurance scheme so that they can lead a peaceful and secure life without worrying about the constant change and unsure nature of the future.

To ensure the same, the government of West Bengal launched the West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS) under the Finance Department of West Bengal which ensures a medical shield for government employees, pensioners, and beneficiaries of Grant-in-Aid (GIA) colleges and universities of West Bengal. It was launched in 2008 and has been serving the people of West Bengal with protection ever since.

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Overview And Benefit Of The Scheme

The WBHS was created to offer cashless treatment to the govt employees (serving or retired) in case of any illnesses experienced by them. The govt scheme covers a range of ailments, hospitals, and medical procedures to provide full coverage to people covered under the state government scheme. Some major features of the scheme are:

• Coverage of the scheme: The WBHS covers a wide range of treatments apart from the regular treatment methods such as the implantation of a deep brain stimulator, intrathecal pumps, cochlear, spinal cord stimulator, and chemotherapy/immunotherapy (exceeding Rs. 50,000 per cycle). The treatment also covers non-package treatment methods exceeding Rs. 500,000 if the treatment is carried out in Tata Medical Center, Rajarhat, and Rs. 3,50,000 for other private hospitals covered under the scheme.

• Cashless treatment: The government scheme offers cashless treatment to the people covered under the health policy so that they don’t have to worry about expenses at critical times. The bills of the hospital are directly reimbursed by the medical cell established by the government as per the limits and conditions of the scheme.

• Associated hospitals: All the government hospitals of West Bengal, local body hospitals (such as clinics or diagnostic centres of the municipal corporations or other local bodies), state-aided hospitals, empanelled private hospitals and diagnostic centres, and nursing homes are connected with the govt scheme so that people don’t have to travel a lot in case they are far from the designated hospital in cases of emergencies.

• Coverage of illnesses: The government scheme covers a wide range of illnesses, either general or serious. It ensures that the beneficiaries receive care and required treatment for whatever they might be suffering from.

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Eligibility Criteria For This Government Insurance Scheme?

• State government employees (full-time, part-time, or permanent), Pensioners (retired employees or family pensioners), and family members including spouses, dependent children, or dependent parents of the government employees are eligible to apply for the scheme.

• Temporary and casual employees aren’t eligible for the government scheme.

Application Process

1. Visit the official website of the West Bengal Health Scheme. On the home page, there is an ‘online enrollment’ option and select the type of government employee.

2. If you have a Permanent Retirement Account No. (PRAN) or a General Provident Fund no. (GPF), please enter it or otherwise select the ‘no’ option.

3. Fill out the online registration form accurately which comprises details regarding one’s bank, employee’s office, and personal information. People can also download the application forms and fill them out manually at their convenience.

4. The applicants may need to submit certain documents such as identity proof, proof of employment (like a salary slip), proof of age for dependent children, and medical history as and when required.

5. Please apply after completing the needed details.

6. After the approval of one’s application, the applicant will receive a health card which can be used at the associated hospitals for availing cashless treatments. The card contains all the necessary details such as the members covered under the scheme, the unique identification number, validity, etc.

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Conclusion

The West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS) is a vital initiative taken by the government of West Bengal which poses as a reminder that the government recognises the efforts put in by the employees of the state. The scheme enables accessibility to the employees and their families to a quality healthcare system.

If you’ve any queries, you can contact the Medical cell through their official Contact Us page.