A medical emergency can wipe out a family’s savings in a matter of days. One surgery, a few nights in hospital, and the bill can run into lakhs. The Punjab Sehat Card was created to stand between families and that kind of financial shock.
Under the programme, every permanent resident of Punjab is eligible for health insurance coverage, and treatment is provided free of cost at empaneled hospitals. You are not paying a premium for the card. It is government-funded.
What the Card Actually Covers
The Sehat Card is not a discount card. It is health insurance. When you are admitted under the programme, the covered treatment cost is paid by the insurance programme rather than by you.
Under the Health Insurance Program, empaneled private hospitals provide free treatment to card holders. That is an important detail, because it means your options are not limited to government hospitals. Many private hospitals across Punjab are part of the panel.
Coverage generally runs across the major categories of hospital care:
- Inpatient admissions and surgical procedures
- Maternity care, including deliveries
- Emergency treatment requiring admission
- Diagnostic procedures during admission
- Follow-up care related to the admitted condition
The programme is administered through the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC), whose website publishes the eligibility rules and the panel of empaneled hospitals.
Who Is Eligible
The eligibility rule is broad, and that is the point of the scheme:
- You must be a permanent resident of Punjab
- Your residency is verified through your CNIC
- Coverage applies to your family, not just to you as an individual
Because eligibility is tied to residency rather than to income or employment status, a very large share of Punjab’s population falls within it. You do not need to be a government employee, and you do not need to be below a certain income threshold to qualify.
Important: Confirm the Current Position Before You Go
The health programme in Punjab has been going through changes, and reporting on its status has not been consistent. Some reports describe the card’s availability at public hospitals being halted, with a replacement healthcare arrangement being introduced, while the insurance programme continues to operate through empaneled facilities.
Because of this, do not walk into a hospital assuming your card will be accepted. Instead:
- Check the PHIMC website for the current status and the updated list of empaneled hospitals.
- Call the hospital you intend to visit and ask directly whether Sehat Card treatment is being accepted there.
- Confirm the covered treatment categories for your specific case.
A five-minute phone call before you travel can save you a very expensive surprise.
How to Check Your Eligibility
Check your CNIC status. The card is linked to your identity document, so the first step is confirming that your CNIC is active and correctly registered.
Verify through the official portal. PHIMC maintains an online facility where you can check whether your family is covered under the programme.
Ask at the hospital’s Sehat Card counter. Empaneled hospitals have a dedicated desk that verifies eligibility on the spot before admission.
Keep your documents ready. For admission you will typically need your CNIC, the patient’s CNIC or B-Form for children, and the hospital’s admission paperwork.
What to Do If Your Treatment Is Not Covered
Not everything falls under the programme. Cosmetic procedures, treatments outside the covered categories, and services at non-empaneled hospitals generally are not included.
If your required treatment is not covered, ask the hospital’s counter staff these three questions:
- Is this procedure within the covered list?
- Is there an empaneled hospital in the city that performs it?
- What is the process for getting pre-approval for admission?
Getting the answer before admission is far easier than trying to sort out billing afterwards.
Practical Tips for Card Holders
Carry your CNIC at all times. The card is tied to it, and without the CNIC the hospital cannot verify your coverage.
Note down the empaneled hospital nearest to you. In an emergency you will not have time to search. Find out now which hospital in your area accepts the card.
Keep a record of your admission. Retain the discharge summary and any paperwork the hospital gives you. It helps if a follow-up claim or a second admission is needed.
Be careful of touts outside hospitals. Some individuals offer to “arrange” free treatment for a fee. Genuine Sehat Card treatment does not require payment to any individual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay for the Sehat Card? No. The programme is government-funded and there is no premium for eligible residents.
Is it only for government hospitals? No. Empaneled private hospitals also provide free treatment under the programme.
Who in my family is covered? Coverage applies to your family, based on residency. Confirm the family definition on the PHIMC portal.
Does it cover maternity? Maternity care is generally among the covered categories. Confirm with the hospital for your specific case.
Is the card still accepted everywhere? The programme’s operation at public hospitals has been reported as changing. Always confirm with the specific hospital before admission.
Disclaimer: Information is based on PHIMC’s published eligibility information and reported developments regarding the Punjab health insurance programme. Coverage, hospital panels and programme status change. Always confirm with the hospital and on the PHIMC website before seeking treatment. This article is general information and is not medical advice.
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