The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is a health insurance programme that was launched by the Government of India in April 2003, with an aim to ensure that ex-servicemen and their dependents receive cashless and hassle-free medical care across the country. This was a means to convey gratitude for the services of our ex-military servicemen, as well as their families who supported them. This scheme is managed by the Ministry of Defence, offering free or subsidised healthcare treatments to former military veterans and their families, reducing any financial constraints on them.
The wide network of hospitals and facilities across India that this scheme provides includes
| Facility/Service | What It Provides |
|---|---|
| ECHS Polyclinics | Outpatient consultations, basic diagnostics, emergency care, and referral services to higher centres. |
| ECHS Empanelled Hospitals | Cashless inpatient and outpatient care, surgeries, and advanced diagnostics at the ECHS panel list, including private/military hospitals across India. |
| Distribution of Medicines | Free medicines at polyclinics and empanelled hospitals; if not available, authorisation for outside purchase and reimbursement |
Applying for the ECHS card in 2025 is beneficial for the following reasons:
With a straightforward one-time contribution towards the scheme that depends on the rank held by the service member, ranging between Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 1,20,000, it makes payments affordable instead of paying in recurrence.
No matter the age or list of medical conditions, the application process for this scheme is simple and easy to follow.
With the full cost of treatment covered at empanelled hospitals, with no monetary cap on treatment, it helps ease financial burdens and provides access to quality healthcare for military service men and their families.
It is not limited to just one or two, but encompasses a wide range of treatments. Simply by showing the ECHS card, veterans can avail a range of medical services, such as specialist consultation, diagnostic tests, hospital bills, and pharmacy bills etc.
Under this scheme, there is a wide network of health care facilities available for ex-servicemen, such as empanelled hospitals, polyclinics, diagnostic centres, and pharmacies, allowing access to quality healthcare without worrying about paying the bills.
The services of this scheme range across the country, so if the veteran and their family choose to shift to a different area, they will still be able to gain access to these services.
The following are the people who are qualified to apply for the ECHS:
Here are documents you may need by your side while registering for the ECHS:
To start applying for an ECHS card offline, follow these simple steps:
| Step | What To Do |
|---|---|
| Get the ECHS application form | Collect the form from an ECHS polyclinic, regional centre, or download from the website. |
| Fill out the form | Complete all personal, service, and dependent details as required. |
| Attach the required documents | Attach copies of pension papers, ID proof, photographs, and other necessary documents. |
| Pay the one-time fee | Submit the required contribution fee as per your category. |
| Submit the form and documents | Hand over the filled form, documents, and fee receipt to the nearest polyclinic or by post. |
| Collect your ECHS Smart Card | After verification, you will be informed when and where to collect your ECHS Smart Card. |
The list of treatments and services that are provided by this scheme includes:
Six major changes were introduced to ECHS in the year 2024. Let’s see what they are:
You can now change your registered mobile number yourself, without needing approval from the Officer in Charge (OIC).
If you want to change your main (parent) polyclinic, it will be approved automatically, without waiting for extra permissions from existing or new OICs.
If you visit a different polyclinic (not your main one), the officer there can directly give you a referral for specialist care, without needing any approval from your main polyclinic.
New reports in the OIC Module will help ECHS staff track which polyclinics people are visiting, so they can analyse utility patterns and manage their resources better.
The old patient registration report in the OIC Module has been removed, making the system simpler to focus only on essential data.
This new report added in the OIC Module will help examine how many people depend on each polyclinic, helping with better resource planning and allocation.
An ECHS Smart Card allows cashless treatment at various ECHS empanelled hospitals or facilities. Here is a simple way you can get your hands on one through online means:
Step 1: Visit the official ECHS website (https://echs.gov.in) and fill in both personal and service-related details.
Step 2: Create login credentials and verify the necessary contact details.
Step 3: Log in and fill out the application form.
Step 4: Pay the subscription fee.
Step 5: Once the application is approved, the card is then printed and sent over through the portal or to the regional centre.
To check the complete ECHS panel hospital list and healthcare providers available, visit the official ECHS portal (https://echs.gov.in/ ). Additionally, for any queries or guidance, you can also get in touch with them via:
With the help of annual validation, the validity of ECHS card membership for dependents is ensured. Simply:
The most common problems faced are:
All these issues can be resolved by visiting the official portal, contacting the helpline number, and even directly getting in touch with the hospital authority or polyclinic.
Through the introduction of the ECHS programme, quality and affordable healthcare is assured to both India’s military veterans and their families. This scheme ensures the care and respect for those who have served the nation, as simply by showing the ECHS card, offering a wide range of medical services including critical surgeries, specialised treatments, consultations and hospitalisations.
For those who may not be eligible for ECHS or are seeking additional health coverage, buy health insurance online on Coverfox, with a wide range of health insurance plans that can be compared and purchased online!
There is no age limit or last date as such. Based on the eligibility criteria, any military service member who is retired can apply for this scheme.
Based on the eligibility criteria, this scheme covers the spouse, and dependents earning less than ₹2,200 a month, like sons (up to 25 years), divorced/unmarried daughters, dependent parents, sisters, brothers and special children.
No, all treatments at ECHS polyclinics and empanelled hospitals are cashless, with bills directly settled by the ECHS organisation. There is no reimbursement claim under this scheme.
The subscription rates for ECHS membership vary by rank, ranging generally between Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 1.20,000.
Simply showing an ECHS Smart card helps ex-servicemen and their dependents to carry out cashless treatment at the ECHS empanelled hospitals or polyclinics across the country. With a storage of 64KB, it stores important details about members like medical history, bills or records.
