How to migrate from a Swasthya Sathi card to an Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) card online in West Bengal - e-KYC, Ayushman card download and the new hospital rules for 2026.
Tick off the required papers as you gather them for your application:
After Ayushman Bharat Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was launched in West Bengal on 16 August 2026, about 1.5 crore Swasthya Sathi families of the state are gradually migrating to the central scheme. This article shows — how to do the Ayushman card verification, e-KYC and download online from home, and which rules now apply at hospitals.
First, one thing: although this is called a “port,” no separate form actually has to be submitted — if your name is on the NFSA/Swasthya Sathi list, that data itself comes over to PM-JAY; you only have to complete e-KYC and generate the card.
Download the Ayushman App (official PM-JAY) from the Google Play Store and complete the same steps — OTP login → search → e-KYC → download — on the mobile itself.
If you don’t have a card, submit your Aadhaar at the Ayushman–Swasthya Sathi desk of any of the state’s more than 1,300 empanelled private hospitals or a government hospital and fill out the enrolment form — after verification, the card will be created (under Ayushman or MMSBY).
Under the health department’s new SOP, at the time of hospital admission:
In other words — once you have the Ayushman card, that becomes the primary card; Swasthya Sathi remains as a backup.
If your name didn’t come onto the PM-JAY list even though you were on Swasthya Sathi, the state government’s MMSBY scheme is for you. It too offers Rs 5 lakh of cashless benefit a year, with portability across India. Details: Apply Online for the MMSBY Scheme and MMSBY eligibility rules.
If you are worried about your old card’s future, read: Is the Swasthya Sathi Card Being Cancelled in 2026?
If a card is refused at a hospital, here is the complaint process: Private Hospital Refused Swasthya Sathi Card? How to Lodge a Grievance
See the empanelled hospitals in your district: Swasthya Sathi / MMSBY / Ayushman Bharat Hospital List
No. The migration and Ayushman card creation are completely free. There is no need to pay anywhere other than the beneficiary.nha.gov.in portal, the official Ayushman App, government camps or a hospital's help desk.
Not directly on the portal if your name isn't listed, but you can submit your Aadhaar at any empanelled hospital and fill out the enrolment form — after government verification, a card is created under Ayushman Bharat or MMSBY.
No, there is no rule to surrender it. However, under the new SOP, once the Ayushman card is created, treatment at hospitals will generally take place under PM-JAY. Keep the Swasthya Sathi card with you as a backup.
First get the mobile number updated at the nearest Aadhaar Seva Kendra. Without OTP verification, e-KYC and card download are not possible.
Contact the official West Bengal Government helpline for immediate resolution.