Ensuring access to quality and affordable healthcare for all citizens is a primary goal of state governments. The Government of Odisha has launched a comprehensive and universal health assurance scheme to provide financial protection to families during medical emergencies. This flagship program is the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. For every resident of Odisha in 2026, it is vital to understand what is the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) in Odisha. This scheme aims to provide cashless healthcare services to all, ensuring that no family has to face catastrophic health expenditures.
What is the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY)?
The Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) is a universal health assurance scheme launched by the Government of Odisha in 2018. The scheme has two main components. The first component provides free healthcare services for all, irrespective of income or residence, in all public health facilities, from sub-centers to district headquarter hospitals. The second, and more significant, component provides a cashless health insurance cover to identified families for treatment at empanelled private hospitals. Under this component, eligible families are provided with a BSKY health card, which they can use to get cashless treatment for a wide range of medical procedures.
The Key Benefits of the BSKY Scheme
The BSKY scheme is designed to provide end-to-end healthcare coverage. Its main benefits are:
- Universal Free Healthcare in Government Hospitals: All persons visiting government health facilities in Odisha are entitled to free services, including free drugs, diagnostics, dialysis, cancer chemotherapy, and in-patient care.
- Cashless Health Insurance Cover: This is the core benefit for eligible families. The scheme provides a health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per annum.
- Enhanced Coverage for Women: For the women members of the family, the annual health coverage is higher, at up to ₹10 lakh.
- Cashless Treatment at Empanelled Hospitals: Beneficiaries can avail of cashless treatment at a vast network of over 600 empanelled private hospitals, both within Odisha and in major cities outside the state.
- No Cost to Beneficiary: The entire premium for this health coverage is borne by the Government of Odisha. The beneficiaries do not have to pay any premium.
- Comprehensive Coverage: The scheme covers a wide range of medical and surgical procedures, including hospitalization, therapies, and follow-up care.
The scheme’s operational model is similar to other state-level health initiatives like the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Yojana in Rajasthan and the national Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme.
Who is Eligible for the BSKY Cashless Cover?
Initially, the cashless coverage component of BSKY was for families covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) or State Food Security Scheme (SFSS). However, the government has expanded the scheme to make it near-universal.
In 2023, the ‘BSKY Nabin Card’ was launched to extend the cashless benefits to all rural families in Odisha who were previously left out (except for income taxpayers and permanent government employees). This has made BSKY one of the largest universal health assurance schemes in the country.
The BSKY Nabin Card
The BSKY Nabin Card is the new smart health card being issued to the newly included rural families under the scheme. This card acts as the identity document for availing the cashless benefits. It is a chip-based card that contains the details of the family and its members. At an empanelled hospital, this card is used to verify the beneficiary’s eligibility and to process the cashless treatment request.
How to Use the BSKY Card for Cashless Treatment
The process for availing cashless treatment under BSKY is simple and designed to be hassle-free for the patient.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1. | Visit any empanelled private hospital. You can find the list of these hospitals on the official BSKY website. |
| 2. | At the hospital, approach the ‘Swasthya Mitra’ helpdesk. A Swasthya Mitra is a dedicated coordinator for the BSKY scheme at the hospital. |
| 3. | Provide your BSKY Card or your food security card to the Swasthya Mitra. |
| 4. | The Swasthya Mitra will verify your eligibility using the BSKY portal and your biometric (fingerprint) authentication. |
| 5. | Once your identity is confirmed, the hospital will provide the necessary treatment on a completely cashless basis, up to your available coverage limit. The hospital will settle the bill directly with the State Health Assurance Society. |
As a BSKY beneficiary, you are also encouraged to create an ABHA Number to maintain a digital record of all the treatments you have received, which can be useful for future consultations. This creates a consolidated patient history, similar to what a UHID number does within a single hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How can I apply for a BSKY Nabin Card?
The distribution of BSKY Nabin Cards is being done by the government in a phased manner across all districts. The process is often conducted through special camps at the Gram Panchayat level. You will need to provide your family’s ration card and Aadhaar details to enroll and receive your card.
2. I am an income taxpayer. Am I eligible for the BSKY Nabin Card?
No, the BSKY Nabin Card for rural areas specifically excludes families where any member is an income taxpayer or a permanent government employee, as these groups are considered to be economically better off.
3. Can I get treatment outside Odisha with my BSKY card?
Yes, the BSKY scheme has empanelled a number of super-specialty hospitals in major cities outside Odisha, such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai. You can avail of cashless treatment at these hospitals as well, which is a major benefit for patients requiring advanced medical care.
4. What documents do I need to carry to the hospital?
You must carry your BSKY smart card or your NFSA/SFSS card. It is also advisable to carry the Aadhaar card of the patient and the head of the family for the biometric verification process.
5. Is there a helpline for the BSKY scheme?
Yes, the Government of Odisha has a dedicated toll-free helpline for the BSKY scheme. You can call this number for any information, queries, or to report any grievances related to the scheme, such as a hospital refusing to provide cashless treatment.