ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme)

The Veterans or retired defence personnel or pensioners who previously could only receive care in military hospitals will now be able to receive care at civil and private institutions that have a formal agreement with the ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Plan). ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Plan) is a comprehensive medical insurance program that covers all disorders, including cancer, heart disease, renal failure, and joint replacement. Via a network of 227 polyclinics (104 in military stations and 123 in non-military stations)Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme)

As per the latest records, Over the past 19 years, the programme has achieved amazing progress, going from 13 Regional Centers and 227 Policlinics to 30 Regional Centers and 433 Polyclinics with a total of 1,017 locations.

The programme has quickly garnered a reputation with a beneficiary base of almost 55 lakhs. Furthermore included in the programme are Gorkha Domiciles for Nepal.

The ECHS offers advantages to the whole range of ESM pensioners residing in remote parts of the country. Since the private polyclinic facility will be situated in designated areas and closer to Ex-Servicemen pensions, this will lessen the burden on Military Hospital.

ECHS Network as per the Map of India:-

A most essential feature of ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme):-

It provides medical coverage for widows and family pensioners as well as ESM pensioners, ensuring their health care even when the retiree is not present. The “Eligibility” chapter outlines who is qualified to join the Scheme.

The two requirements are that the prospective member be an Ex-Serviceman who has served in any rank in the Indian Military Services and that they must be receiving government-paid disability, family, or pension benefits. T

The goal is to help retirees, their spouses, widows, and permitted dependents while also bringing ECHS into compliance with medical plans available to Center Government employees of other categories.

Advantages of Becoming an ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme) Member as under:-

• (a) All ESM pensioners, their widows, and approved dependents would have access to comprehensive healthcare through the Scheme, which is conveniently located.
• With a network of polyclinics in military and non-military stations, it will cover the full spectrum of ESM residing in remote places.
• (c) The government has provided all funding for the programme.
• (d) Based only on the density of ESM in different locations, there will be a network of 227 polyclinics, including 104 military and 123 non-military station polyclinics. Next years will see an increase in the number of polyclinics.
• (e) Because an exclusive institution will be situated next to service hospitals, this arrangement will lessen the burden on such facilities.
• (f)There will be service hospitals alongside elite facilities, as well as civil empanelled hospitals.
• (g) The polyclinics’ doctors will provide all necessary outpatient care and medications without charging a fee.
• (h)An ECHS patient will first be referred to a service hospital for additional care, and if beds or care are not available there, he will be transferred to a civil empanelled hospital. The ECHS member will receive the appropriate care, medications, and ward amenities.
• (j)In Service Hospitals, treating an ECHS member or his or her dependents will follow the same protocol as treating serving soldiers and their dependents.
• In the event that therapy is not available at the service hospital, the ECHS patient may also be directed to another empanelled hospital, diagnostic facility, or consultant of their choosing.
• The choice of preferred civil empanelled hospital shall be made solely by the ECHS member, and will NOT be subject to medical interference.
• (l)An ECHS member is not required to pay any costs upon admission or upon release from the empanelled hospital (with the exception of meal expenses). The concerned Station Headquarters will pay the empanelled hospitals directly on behalf of ECHS.
• It includes all illnesses (m).
• An ECHS member who has a current Smart Card may receive care at any ECHS polyclinic located anywhere in India.
• (o)At the time of applying for membership in the plan, there are no restrictions on age or health.

Contribution to ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme)

A contributory programme is ECHS. Each pensioner will be required to join (as of April 1, 2004) upon retirement, either by making a one-time payment or paying three successive yearly installments. The contribution will be made in accordance with the table below.

Note :- (1) War widows and war-related disabilities are exempt from contribution.
(2) All retirees from the year 1996 are no longer required to make contributions.

Treatment in Emergency for ECHS Members

• If there is an emergency, ECHS pensioners and qualified family members may go to the closest hospital, ideally one that is empanelled, and notify the situation to the regional centre within 48 hours after admission.
• If a patient is admitted to a hospital with an empanelled status, ECHS will pay the hospital’s bills immediately. However, in the event of an emergency admission to a non-empanelled hospital, the member must first settle the debt before submitting a claim for reimbursement to the dependent ECHS Polyclinic, together with the required supporting documentation.
• If ECHS is happy with the emergency’s justifications and the treatment’s appropriate cost, the bills will be paid. The member is responsible for demonstrating the exigency, and ECHS may or may not clear all bills in full in this situation.
• if emergency supplies are questioned or misused only those expenses authorised for reimbursement will be paid by Central Government ECHs at approved Government rates.

The following are the very important information ECHS :-

(a) An initial contribution at the established rates is required to join the ECHS. Subsequently, no payment is to be paid for any medicines or therapy supplied under the scheme.

(a) Under the ECHS rules, there are no limitations on the illnesses that can be treated or medications that can be given to an ECHS Member.

(c) An ECHS member has a choice between getting a single ECHS Smart Card for themselves and all of their dependents or getting one for themselves and a maximum of two add-on cards for their dependents. If the system becomes more stable, we might allow one card per dependent.

(d) Fingerprints of the member and any dependents who are allowed to use them must be included on all cards.

(e) The ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme) Smart Card must be shown for every visit to a Polyclinic. Without the Card, the Polyclinic’s computer will not activate the patients’ records or data, and the member or dependent will not be able to receive care outside of an emergency. If a card is missing, notify the issuing Station HQ/Regional Center right away.

(f) Only a Polyclinic Doctor may refer a patient to an empanelled Civil Hospital, Diagnostic Center, Consultant, or Service Hospital (s).
Members of the ECHS are NOT allowed to go there directly.

(g) Patients must carry both their membership smart card and the Polyclinics Referral Card when they are referred by the doctor(s) of the Polyclinic to a Service Hospital or to an empanelled facility. Without these, neither the Service Hospital nor the empaneled facility will entertain them.

(h) Members are not required to pay for medical care (within the scope of the pricing agreement reached with Hospitals/Diagnostic Centers) or medications; ECHS will handle this. (The patient is responsible for covering hospital stoppages and dietary costs.) Requests for reimbursement will not be considered because members are not obligated to purchase medications or pay for medical care. Drugs so purchased will be paid for by the patient.

(j) An ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme) patient may be transported urgently to the closest Service hospital or an empanelled hospital in an emergency (if nearby).The member may go to a non-empanelled hospital for care, though, if one is not close by or if it would be inconvenient given the nature of the emergency. In any instance, he or she is required to notify the dependent Polyclinic, Station HQs, or Regional Center within 48 hours of the admittance.

(k) Wherever in India, an ECHS member with a SMART Card may receive treatment at an ECHS Polyclinic. If he has an authorised Referral slip from an ECHS Polyclinic, he may also visit any empanelled Civil Hospital/Diagnostic Center.

(l) All intercity travel will always be at the expense of the member, unless the member is moved on the basis of medical advice. A thorough policy will be released when the time is right. At the discretion of the OIC Polyclinic or the Polyclinic doctors, ECHS ambulances may be employed to transport critically ill and immobile patients from an ECHS Polyclinic to the Civil Hospital/Diagnostic Center for transportation inside town/city borders.

(m) Service Hospitals have their empanelled status under the ECHS automatically.
As a result, free therapy and medications will be given to ECHS members and eligible dependents, pending the availability of beds, a treatment center, and licensed physicians. Before discharge, nominal stoppages must be paid in cash.

(n) Serving members and their authorized dependents are given first priority for care in Service Hospitals. As a result, ECHS members may not be allowed to enter Service Hospitals if there are no open beds. However, not all Service Hospitals offer certain treatment modalities (cancer, heart, hip/knee replacements, renal, etc.); in those hospitals, admission may be refused.

The following is the link button for ECHS portal:-

The following are the telephone and phone directories of ECHS:-

PROCEDURE OF ONLINE APPLICATION FOR ECHS CARD

Preparation

Part A

1. Scan the following documents and save each one as a separate JPEG file with a maximum file size of 1 MB for uploading. –
2. The pension payment order (PPO) of the primary beneficiary, which is either his wife or the ex-serviceman (ESM) if the latter is still alive.
3. Main Beneficiary’s Temporary Slip and Old ECHS Card (front side only).
4. Image of the Principal Beneficiary (Passport size colour photo in white background)
5. Main Beneficiary’s signature in blue ink
6. Images of a Dependent (Passport size colour photo in white background)
7. Dependents’ signatures in blue ink or thumbprints
8. ESM’s death certificate, if he is not still alive
9. If the impairment is a battle disability, the ESM’s disability certificate.
10. A disability certificate for any dependents who are disabled.
11. For pre-2003 retirees applying for the first time, you’ll need (a) a DPDO or bank certificate attesting that the Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) has been discontinued.
    (b) MRO receipt showing payment of ECHS membership dues for retirees between 1996 and 2002.

Part B

Have the following information available to fill out the application:

1. The primary beneficiary’s PAN card and all dependents’ Aadhar cards
2. Dependents’ PAN cards, if any are accessible
3. The pension account’s bank passbook and the ESM discharge book
4. The pensioner’s permanent and temporary addresses 5. The blood type of the pensioner and his dependents
5. A debit or credit card and the phone that is linked to it are required to obtain an OTP and pay the online application fee (Rs. 177 per card).
6. Email address, if one is provided, for obtaining passwords, etc.

How to Register for ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme):-

1. Visit the following portal of ECHS

3. Fill all the correct details and then click “REGISTER”
4. After that, register your application while keeping the following in mind:
5. Leave the Prefix field empty if there is none. In the absence of a suffix, enter “$” in the blank.
6. Type your mobile number, which must be active in order to receive the OTP and any subsequent messages regarding your ECHS Card.
7. Establish a password. Keep this mobile number and password with you until you receive your ECHS card so that you may track the status of your application and make note of any observations that may have been made while processing your ECHS card.

How to fill ECHS the Application Form Online

1. Visit https://echs.gon.in on the internet. Choose “OK”
   Choose “ONLINE SMART CARD APPLICATION” in step two.
   Choose “ONLINE APPLICATION” 3.
2. Press “OK”
   Then select “ALREADY REGISTERED.” 5. LOGIN BY CLICKING
3. Click the “Drag down Icon, little arrow” button to choose the Application Category.
4. Complete the details for EX SERVICEMANS (ESM).
   Add the primary beneficiary’s picture and signature.
5. Fill out the Main Beneficiary’s other information.
6. Add pictures, signatures, and other information as necessary.
7. Upload the Main Beneficiary’s PPO and Old ECHS Card
   If ESM is not living, upload a death certificate.
8. Submit your temporary slip and any other necessary documentation.
9. Check the “I AGREE” box after reading the SELF-DECLARATION.
10. Add pictures, signatures, and other information as necessary.
11. Upload the Main Beneficiary’s PPO and Old ECHS Card
    If ESM is not living, upload a death certificate.
12. Submit your temporary slip and any other necessary documentation.
13. Check the “I AGREE” box after reading the SELF-DECLARATION.
14. Click “SAVE DETAILS” to save the information entered.
    If necessary, saved information can be changed or amended by logging in again and storing the updated information.
15. Make payment by selecting “MAKE PAYMENT” and entering the necessary information.
16. After paying the fee, log in and print the application form, the payment receipt, and the temporary slip. At the bottom of the application printout, make a note of your phone number, password, mother’s name, and place of birth for future use.
17. Get the OIC ECHS’s signature on the temporary slip so that it can be used in place of your ECHS card until your new card arrives.
18. Once the application is approved by the relevant Record Office, log in often to check for any observations from that office. Sort out the observations with the appropriate responses, and if necessary, modify your details by editing your application. After editing the application, save the details once more.
19. Await the SMS containing the OTP needed to pick up the NEW ECHS Cards from Station Headquarters.

Contact Details Issues related to Application Form filling of ECHS

echs@sourceinfosys.com

WhatsApp on
+91-7703818578 / 7701976194 / 8448086480 / 8448086481 / 8448086482

For any other issues please for ECHS call on Toll Free No : 1800 114 115

Frequentently Asked Question regarding ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme)