Showcasing Governance and Delivery: By making Punjab the first state in India to offer such comprehensive, cashless health insurance to every family, AAP demonstrates its capacity to deliver large-scale, people-centric governance. This reinforces the party’s reputation for implementing ambitious welfare policies, echoing its earlier successes in Delhi with health, education, and basic services. The scheme targets the “aam aadmi” (common citizen), providing tangible relief from catastrophic health expenses. By ensuring that no family needs to worry about medical bills, AAP positions itself as the party that genuinely addresses the everyday concerns of ordinary people. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal have publicly contrasted AAP’s focus on core welfare issues with the “lacklustre performance” and divisive politics of previous administrations. This narrative helps AAP claim the moral and practical high ground, emphasizing its commitment to inclusive development and social justice. The scheme is being projected as a model for the rest of India, with AAP leaders highlighting Punjab’s achievement as a benchmark for other states. This not only boosts the party’s image in Punjab but also supports its ambitions for national expansion by showcasing replicable governance successes. The joint launch by CM Mann and AAP convenor Kejriwal underlines party unity and strong leadership. Their visible involvement signals a “double-engine” governance model, reinforcing the party’s credibility and organizational strength. By focusing on universal benefits—irrespective of income, caste, or occupation—AAP strengthens its appeal across diverse voter groups, including rural, urban, and marginalized communities. This broadens its support base and builds enduring political capital.
Key features include:
- Universal eligibility: Every household, regardless of income or previous insurance status, is covered.
- Digital health cards: Issued via Seva Kendras, Common Service Centres, or online registration using Aadhaar or voter ID for seamless access.
- Top-up for existing beneficiaries: Families already enrolled in central or state health schemes will receive an additional ₹5 lakh cover, raising their total annual coverage to ₹10 lakh.
- No family size cap: All members of each household are included.
The scheme is designed to eliminate financial barriers to medical treatment, ensuring that no resident of Punjab has to forgo healthcare due to cost. Camps and digital outreach will facilitate widespread enrollment, with a dedicated budget allocation of ₹778 crore for 2025-26.
This bold step not only marks a significant leap in health equity and social welfare but also strengthens AAP’s reputation for delivering on promises of accessible healthcare, education, and essential services. By pioneering this model, the Aam Aadmi Party positions itself as a leader in progressive governance and sets a new national standard for inclusive public health policy
