West Bengal Health Scheme

These are some of the advantages of the West Bengal Health Scheme.

The West Bengal Health Scheme was initially only available to West Bengal Government retirees and family pensioners. The revised programme, however, aims to offer medical facilities to IAS, IFS, IPS, and retired AIS officials as well as to personnel of the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Forest Services (IFS), and Indian Police Services (IPS).

For IPS personnel

IPS personnel and their families are eligible for the West Bengal Health Scheme, 2008, with some restrictions. These include

• Enrollment in the WBHS 2008 is optional for IPS officers.
• The Home Department Police Service Cell is the IPS officers' primary administrative department under WBHS 2008.
• In accordance with the WBHS 2008 and the All India Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1954, IPS officers are eligible for healthcare benefits.
• Benefits under this WB government-sponsored programme are not available to IPS officers who are enrolled in the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

For IFS personnel

• Under WBHS 2008, IFS personnel and their families are permitted to enter healthcare institutions under the following restrictions.
• For IFS officers, participation in the West Bengal Health Scheme, 2008 is optional.
• The Forest Department is the administrative division that IFS officers are most interested in.
• In addition to the services offered by the All India Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1954, IFS officers and their families may use the medical facilities of WBHS 2008.
• IFS officers are prohibited from signing up for WBHS 2008 while receiving healthcare benefits under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

IAS officials

IAS officers are eligible for healthcare benefits under the West Bengal Health Scheme if certain requirements are met. These consist of:

• Enrollment in the WBHS, 2008 is optional for IAS officers.

• The Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department is the administrative division responsible for IAS officers under this plan.
• IAS officers and their families are eligible for WBHS 2008 benefits and All India Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1954-compliant services.
• IAS officers who now use healthcare services provided by the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) are not eligible to use those same services under WBHS 2008.

The cashless medical care programme pays for all of the medical costs listed under the hospitals with accreditation. However, the programme does not pay for any non-medical operations or aesthetic treatments. Consider the features below.

• An employee is free to choose whether or not to participate in the West Bengal Health Scheme, but if his beneficiaries have already benefited from it, he will not be able to do so until five years after the scheme's implementation.
• The female worker is not permitted to designate her dependent parents as beneficiaries of the programme. But if her dependent parents meet the income requirements, she can join separately and name them as beneficiaries. The advantage of enrolling with either parent is granted to children.

The requirements for joining the programme are listed below.

• This programme is aimed towards state government employees, retired government personnel, and their families.
• Additionally eligible for it are those who choose this programme in accordance with Medical Allowance.
• Pensioners and officials of All India Services are eligible for this coverage.
• The family coverage indicated covers coverage for the spouse, parents, dependent children, dependent siblings, and dependent grandparents.

To start the enrollment and registration process, go to the West Bengal Health Departments, i.e. WBHS website. Here are the steps you need to follow for the successful registration.

• Check out the West Bengal Health Scheme Portal.
• Select Government Employee under Online Enrolment in the header section.
• Check the Yes box if you have a PRAN/GPF number, and then enter the information. If you are missing the information, check the NO box and choose Non-GPF.
• Mention specifics like your birthdate and neighbourhood. Save the data necessary to register for the WB Health Portal, then click the next button to continue.
• Mention your name, address, phone number, employee number, and any identifying information. Along with a picture and signature, include any relevant professional information. Ensure that you follow the guidelines for the proportions.
• Save the information and print the report for later use.

To download the WBHS application form from the official WBHS website, follow these instructions:

• Step 1: Visit the download area of the WBHS portal at https://wbhealthscheme.gov.in/Home/wbhs download. aspx.
• Step 2: On this page, select the appropriate category by clicking the drop-down menu labelled "Select Category."
• Step 3: Download the WBHS health scheme application form from the list of forms that appears.
• Step 4: Be careful to print out the document and save a soft copy to your computer for future use.

The West Bengal Health Scheme's list of accredited hospitals is available here.

• The Calcutta Medical Research Institute
• Desun Hospitals and Heart Institute
• Nightingale Hospitals
• R N Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences

It is best to confirm with the hospital or check the website of WBHS since some hospitals may no longer be a member of the programme.  On the portal for the West Bengal Health Scheme, you may find a list of all the hospitals that accept cash payments. The website provides details on public hospitals, neighbourhood hospitals, state-funded hospitals, and for-profit hospitals.