Assam Introduces Cashless Healthcare Scheme for Employees and Pensioners

The Assam government has recently launched a cashless medical treatment facility under its flagship program, the Ayushman Asom Mukhya Mantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana (AA-MMLSAY), aimed at providing comprehensive healthcare support to state employees, pensioners, and their dependents. The initiative represents a major step forward in strengthening healthcare access for public servants and their families in Assam, ensuring that they can receive quality medical treatment without the financial burden of upfront payments.

The facility was officially inaugurated on October 29, 2025, by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who emphasized that the scheme would allow beneficiaries to avail themselves of cashless treatment not only in empanelled hospitals across Assam but also in leading corporate hospitals nationwide. This expansion ensures that employees and pensioners can access medical services without geographical restrictions, benefiting from a wider network of healthcare providers.

Prior to the launch of this cashless facility, the AA-MMLSAY scheme operated solely on a reimbursement-based model since its inception in 2023. Under that system, employees and pensioners had to first bear the cost of treatment and then claim reimbursement from the government. CM Sarma highlighted that the transition to a cashless facility will relieve beneficiaries of the stress of arranging funds upfront while maintaining the existing reimbursement system in parallel to ensure a smooth transition and avoid disruption of benefits.

Since the inception of the scheme, over 2,23,826 employees and 6,172 pensioners have registered under AA-MMLSAY. The government has already reimbursed approximately ₹65 crore, a significant increase from the earlier annual expenditure of ₹17–18 crore under the reimbursement model. This demonstrates both the growing reach of the scheme and its increasing operational efficiency in addressing healthcare needs.

Chief Minister Sarma also drew a distinction between the AA-MMLSAY and the Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-JAY), noting that while AB-JAY is funded and supported by the central government, the state’s AA-MMLSAY scheme is self-sustaining. Its funding comes primarily from contributions made by employees themselves, making it a financially viable and independent program that can sustainably serve a large number of beneficiaries over time. The CM estimated that in the coming years, the scheme could potentially cover 7–8 lakh beneficiaries, thereby substantially broadening the scope of healthcare coverage for state employees and their families.

In addition to the launch of the cashless facility, CM Sarma announced that the Assam government is in the process of establishing its own Pay Commission. This move is intended to ensure that state employees receive benefits and entitlements concurrently with their central government counterparts, thus standardizing remuneration, allowances, and other service-related benefits. This initiative reflects the state government’s broader commitment to improving the welfare, financial security, and healthcare access of its employees.

Overall, the introduction of a cashless medical treatment facility under AA-MMLSAY marks a major milestone in Assam’s healthcare and employee welfare framework. By reducing financial barriers to medical treatment, expanding access to a wide network of hospitals, and maintaining a self-sustaining funding model, the scheme exemplifies a forward-looking approach to public health administration. It addresses both immediate healthcare needs and long-term sustainability, reinforcing the government’s commitment to the welfare of its workforce while setting a model for efficient healthcare delivery in the public sector.