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| AB PM-JAY SEHAT (Social Endeavour for Health and Telemedicine) is Jammu and Kashmir’s universal health scheme, launched by the Prime Minister on 26 December 2020. It extends Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to every resident of J&K, adding roughly 15 lakh families to those already covered. Each family gets ₹5 lakh of cashless cover per year on a floater basis, with no restriction on family size, age or gender. Unlike most state schemes, it includes J&K government employees, pensioners and their families. Pre-existing conditions are covered from day one, along with 3 days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days of post-hospitalisation expenses. Benefits are portable, so the Golden Card works at PM-JAY empanelled hospitals across India. You need Aadhaar and proof of J&K residency to get your card. |
SEHAT in Jammu and Kashmir: One Golden Card, Every Resident, ₹5 Lakh of Cover Anywhere in India
A scheme that left nobody out
When Ayushman Bharat first came to Jammu and Kashmir, it covered about 6 lakh families. That left most of the UT outside the net.
In December 2020, J&K changed that with SEHAT. Every resident, rich or poor, government employee or shopkeeper, became eligible for the same ₹5 lakh cover. J&K became one of the first regions in India to aim for universal coverage this way.
And because SEHAT runs on the PM-JAY network, your Golden Card isn’t stuck in the valley. It works at empanelled hospitals across the country.
Here’s what that means for your family.
| Parents in Anantnag, you in Delhi, and a Golden Card nobody can find? Let’s sort it. Book a call with us and we’ll help you plan the family’s cover. Easier than getting a seat on the Jammu-Srinagar flight in peak season. |
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What SEHAT gives you
- ₹5 lakh per family per year, floater basis.
- Every resident family is eligible, including government employees and pensioners.
- No restriction on family size, age or gender.
- Pre-existing conditions covered from day one.
- 3 days pre- and 15 days post-hospitalisation expenses, such as diagnostics and medicines.
- Portable across India at PM-JAY empanelled hospitals.
- No premium.
| Got a private policy as well? Know Your Policy decodes it into plain language: benefits, limits, waiting periods and exclusions. Helpful for seeing what it adds beyond SEHAT. |
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How to get your SEHAT Golden Card
- Keep documents ready: Aadhaar and proof of J&K residency.
- Visit a CSC or a hospital help desk at a participating hospital.
- Complete verification and e-KYC.
- Collect your Golden Card.
- Use it at empanelled hospitals in J&K or anywhere in India.
Helplines: 14555 (national); SEHAT: 0194-2950923 / 0191-2478585.
| Want the official details? Check the PM-JAY beneficiary portal to see your status and download your card. It’s more reliable than the local dhaba’s health advice, however good the kahwa. |
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| Family in J&K, Ladakh and Punjab? The CoverSure State Health Scheme Calculator compares all three. |
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What to keep in mind
Universal doesn’t mean automatic. You still need to get your Golden Card made through verification.
Check the hospital before planned treatment. Hospital participation can change. A quick call confirms the hospital is accepting SEHAT patients.
Hospital stays and listed day-care only. Routine OPD visits aren’t covered.
₹5 lakh is shared by the whole family.
| Government employee with SEHAT and a private policy? A Policy Health Check reviews your private plan across 30+ parameters for ₹99, against 1,500+ plans. Make sure you’re not paying twice for the same cover. |
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| Golden Card, LIC papers and car insurance spread between Srinagar and Jammu? Add your state scheme to your CoverSure insurance portfolio and keep them all in one app. Turn on Family Share so family can find the card, even when winter cuts the roads off. |
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SEHAT vs a private health plan
What SEHAT does well
- Covers every resident, including government staff and pensioners.
- ₹5 lakh free, with day-one cover for existing illnesses.
- Portable across India, useful when specialist care means travelling to Chandigarh or Delhi.
- Pre- and post-hospitalisation costs included.
Where a private plan usually adds more
- Higher sums insured beyond ₹5 lakh.
- Room choice and comfort features.
- Restoration, cumulative bonus and add-ons.
- Actual bills paid, subject to terms.
- Tax benefit under Section 80D in the old tax regime (please verify current limits).
When ₹5 lakh meets a long winter
Meet the Bhats (a hypothetical family; numbers are illustrative). They live in Baramulla.
| Event in the year (hypothetical) | Used from the ₹5 lakh |
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| Grandfather’s cardiac procedure at SKIMS | ₹2.6 lakh |
| Mother’s kidney stone surgery | ₹70,000 |
| Son’s surgery after a winter road accident | ₹1.3 lakh |
| Left for the rest of the year | ₹40,000 |
What sits outside: travel and stay for treatment in Chandigarh or Delhi, and regular OPD visits.
| Under-covered or over-covered? The CoverRisk Calculator weighs your income, life stage, dependants and liabilities and gives you a clear answer. Free and quick. |
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Who is eligible for SEHAT?
- All resident families of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of income.
- Including J&K government employees, pensioners and their families.
Documents: Aadhaar and proof of J&K residency.
At a glance
| Detail | AB PM-JAY SEHAT (Jammu and Kashmir) |
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| Launched | 26 December 2020 |
| Full name | Social Endeavour for Health and Telemedicine |
| Linked with | Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY |
| Cover | ₹5 lakh per family per year, floater |
| Who qualifies | All J&K residents, including government employees and pensioners |
| Extras | Day-one pre-existing cover; 3 days pre- and 15 days post-hospitalisation |
| Hospitals | PM-JAY empanelled hospitals across India |
| Premium | None |
| Main limitations | ₹5 lakh family limit, no routine OPD, hospital participation can change |
| Helplines | 14555; SEHAT 0194-2950923 / 0191-2478585 |
| Official website | beneficiary.nha.gov.in |
| Want it in slides? Done. SEHAT’s cover, eligibility and card steps in a quick LinkedIn carousel. Swipe through it on CoverSure’s LinkedIn and share it with the cousin who thinks it’s “only for BPL”. |
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Quick answers (FAQs)
- What is SEHAT? J&K’s universal health scheme, extending Ayushman Bharat’s ₹5 lakh cover to every resident family.
- Who is eligible? All residents of J&K, including government employees and pensioners.
- Can I use the card outside J&K? Yes, at PM-JAY empanelled hospitals across India.
- Are pre-existing illnesses covered? Yes, from day one.
- What documents do I need? Aadhaar and proof of J&K residency.
- Is OPD covered? No, it’s for hospital care.
- Is there a premium? No.
- “Hey Google, what’s the Ayushman helpline?” Call 14555.
| SEHAT covers the hospital. CoverSure covers the rest. Download the CoverSure app for policy storage, renewal reminders and SOS alerts. |
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