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WB Health Scheme Cashless Limit Increased: An important announcement has been made for WBHS beneficiaries in accordance with the Memorandum dated September 17, 2026, issued by the Medical Cell of the State Government’s Finance Department.
In a major relief for beneficiaries of the West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS), the state government has increased the maximum cashless limit for inpatient treatment at private empanelled hospitals from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.5 lakh per hospitalisation.
The decision has been announced by the Medical Cell of the Finance Department, Government of West Bengal, through a memorandum dated September 17, 2026.
The enhanced limit will come into effect for eligible inpatient treatment where the patient’s date of admission is on or after October 1, 2026.
WB Health Scheme Cashless Limit Increased to Rs.5 lakh
Under the existing provisions of the West Bengal Health Scheme, beneficiaries were entitled to cashless inpatient treatment at private empanelled hospitals within the state, subject to a maximum limit of Rs.2 lakh per hospitalisation.
According to the latest memorandum, the government has now enhanced this ceiling to Rs.5 lakh per hospitalisation.
This means eligible WBHS beneficiaries admitted to private empanelled hospitals from October 1, 2026, may receive cashless IPD treatment subject to the revised ceiling and other applicable conditions of the scheme.
What was the earlier limit?
- Previous cashless limit: Rs.2,00,000 per hospitalisation
- New cashless limit: Rs.5,00,000 per hospitalisation
- Increase: Rs.3,00,000
- Effective for admissions: On or after October 1, 2026
- Applicable to: Eligible IPD treatment in private empanelled hospitals within West Bengal
Official Notification: Download PDF
WB Health Scheme Cashless Limit Increased: Who will benefit from the revised WBHS limit?
The enhanced cashless limit will apply to beneficiaries enrolled under the West Bengal Health Scheme, including:
- Government employees covered under WBHS
- Pensioners covered under the scheme
- Their eligible beneficiaries
The memorandum makes it clear that the revised ceiling will be subject to the existing terms and conditions governing the West Bengal Health Scheme.
October 1 is the key date
One of the most important points in the government order is the date of hospital admission.
The Rs.5 lakh limit will apply to IPD treatments where the admission date at a private empanelled hospital within West Bengal is October 1, 2026, or later.
Therefore, the revised ceiling is linked to the admission date rather than simply the date on which the treatment or medical procedure takes place.
Other WBHS rules remain unchanged
The increase in the cashless limit does not mean that other provisions of the West Bengal Health Scheme have been changed.
The government memorandum specifically states that the other terms and conditions governing cashless treatment under WBHS will remain unchanged.
Existing rules regarding eligibility, empanelled hospitals and admissible treatment will therefore continue to apply unless separately modified by the government.
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WB Health Scheme Cashless Limit Increased: Why the Rs.5 lakh limit matters
The increase comes at a time when hospitalisation and medical treatment can involve substantial expenses, particularly in cases requiring surgery, prolonged inpatient care or specialised treatment.
Raising the cashless ceiling from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.5 lakh provides a significantly higher financial coverage limit for eligible beneficiaries receiving inpatient treatment at private empanelled hospitals.
However, beneficiaries should still check whether a particular treatment is covered under the scheme and whether the hospital is an empanelled facility before admission.
Government memorandum details
The order has been issued by the Medical Cell, Finance Department, Government of West Bengal.
Memorandum No.: 81-F(MED)/WB
Date: September 17, 2026
Scheme: West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS)
Previous limit: Rs.2 lakh per hospitalisation
Revised limit: Rs.5 lakh per hospitalisation
Effective from: October 1, 2026
Hospital category: Private empanelled hospitals within West Bengal
Treatment: IPD treatment
The memorandum has been issued by order of the Governor of West Bengal.
West Bengal Health Scheme beneficiaries should note this date
For WBHS beneficiaries, October 1, 2026 will be the key date for the revised cashless hospitalisation ceiling. From admissions on or after this date, the maximum cashless limit for eligible IPD treatment at private empanelled hospitals will be Rs.5 lakh per hospitalisation, subject to the scheme’s existing rules and conditions.
Important: The Rs.5 lakh figure is the revised maximum cashless limit per hospitalisation. It should not be interpreted as an unconditional payment for every medical expense. Coverage remains subject to the provisions of the West Bengal Health Scheme and applicable treatment rules.
