● The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is a healthcare scheme the Government of India introduced for retired armed forces personnel and their dependents.
● It provides medical facilities to eligible veterans and their families through a network of ECHS polyclinics, impaneled private hospitals, and ECHS hospitals in Jaipur.
● Regarding the ECHS scheme in Rajasthan, the implementation and functioning of the scheme in the state are overseen by the Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement (DSWR) of the Rajasthan government.
● Under the ECHS scheme in Rajasthan, eligible veterans and their dependents can avail of a wide range of medical services. This includes OPD (Outpatient Department) consultations, specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, inpatient treatment, medicines, and emergency medical services.
● The beneficiaries can visit the nearest ECHS polyclinic for primary healthcare services, and if required, they can be referred to impaneled hospitals for specialized treatment.
ECHS in aims: The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) aims to provide comprehensive and quality healthcare services to veterans (including retired personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and their dependents) in India. The scheme has several key objectives:
Health Services: The primary aim of ECHS is to ensure the availability of adequate healthcare services to ex-servicemen and their dependents. This includes outpatient and inpatient services, specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, and medicines.
Cashless Treatment: ECHS aims to provide cashless treatment to its beneficiaries. The scheme directly covers the cost of treatment with impaneled hospitals and medical facilities, reducing the financial burden on the veterans.
Empanelment of Healthcare Providers: ECHS works towards impaneling a vast network of private hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic centers, and pharmacies to provide medical services to beneficiaries. This helps in expanding the availability of healthcare facilities across different regions.
● The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is not a traditional medical insurance policy but a comprehensive healthcare scheme for ex-servicemen and their dependents in India.
● It is a government-sponsored program that provides cashless medical services and facilities to eligible beneficiaries.
● Under the ECHS, beneficiaries are provided with an ECHS card, which serves as their identity and enables them to access medical services.
● Unlike a typical medical insurance policy, where individuals pay premiums to an insurance company, ECHS is a contributory scheme.
● The veterans make A one-time contribution at the time of enrollment, based on their rank and length of service, which serves as their membership fee for the scheme.
● The scheme covers the cost of treatment directly with impaneled healthcare providers, reducing the financial burden on the ex-servicemen.
Visit Now -: ECHS health care official website
Here are the eligibility criteria for ECHS membership:
● Ex-servicemen who retired from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and their dependents are eligible.
● Widows/widowers of ex-servicemen who died in harness or after retirement are eligible.
● War widows are eligible regardless of their remarriage.
● ESM (Ex-Servicemen) who are recipients of the Gallantry Award, including Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, etc., are eligible.
● Ex-servicemen with a disability attributed to military service and their dependents are eligible.
● Ex-servicemen who have served at least ten years in the Armed Forces are eligible.
● Emergency Commissioned Officers/Short Service Commissioned Officers who have served for at least five years and have been released honorably are eligible.
● Dependents of eligible ex-servicemen, including spouses, sons (up to 25), and daughters (unmarried/unemployed), are eligible.
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Here are some key points related to the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS):
Purpose: ECHS is a healthcare scheme initiated by the Government of India to provide quality medical services to ex-servicemen and their dependents.
Coverage: ECHS covers ex-servicemen who retired from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and their dependents, including spouses, sons (up to the age of 25), and unmarried/unemployed daughters.
Membership: Eligible individuals need to enroll in the ECHS and obtain an ECHS card to access the medical facilities. A one-time contribution is required at the time of enrollment based on the rank and length of service.
Cashless Treatment: ECHS provides cashless treatment to its beneficiaries at ECHS polyclinics, impaneled private hospitals, and government hospitals. The cost of treatment is directly settled with the impaneled healthcare providers.
Empanelment of Healthcare Providers: ECHS impaneled private hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic centers, and pharmacies to expand the network of healthcare providers. Impaneled facilities offer specialized treatment and services to ECHS beneficiaries.
Administrative Support: ECHS streamlines administrative procedures, such as documentation and reimbursement processes, to ensure ease of access and efficient utilization of healthcare services.
Expansion and Improvement: The ECHS network continues to expand across the country, with new polyclinics being established, and efforts being made to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare services for beneficiaries.
Here is a list of the latest ECHS-impaneled hospitals in Jaipur:
Here is a general list of documents commonly required for ECHS enrollment:
Discharge Book/Service Record/Release Order: A document proving your military service and retirement.
Pension Payment Order (PPO): This is issued by the respective Pension Sanctioning Authority and serves as proof of your entitlement to a pension.
PAN Card: Permanent Account Number (PAN) card is required for income tax purposes and identification.
Aadhaar Card: Aadhaar is a unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and is often required for various government schemes.
Proof of Address: Documents like a voter ID card, passport, driving license, or any other government-issued ID that displays your current address.
Passport-size Photographs: You may need to provide a few recent passport-size photographs for your ECHS card and other official purposes.
Dependent Family Members’ Documents: If you are enrolling your dependents, you will need to provide their identity proof, age proof, and relationship proof (marriage certificate for spouse, birth certificate for children, etc.).
Bank Account Details: You may be required to provide a canceled cheque or a copy of your bank passbook to link your bank account for reimbursement of medical expenses.
It is important to note that the list of documents mentioned here is not exhaustive, and there may be additional requirements or variations depending on the specific ECHS center or any updates made to the scheme.
To claim money from the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), you need to follow these general steps:
It’s worth noting that the specific processes for claiming money from ECHS may vary, and it’s always recommended to consult the official ECHS website or contact the nearest ECHS center for up-to-date information regarding it.
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