If you are a Uttar Pradesh government employee or pensioner, there is a scheme in which your hospital bill is paid directly from the scheme — not from your pocket. No paying first, no running after reimbursement files later. But to get this benefit, you need one card. Without it, no hospital has to give you cashless treatment.
In this post, we cover everything — what the scheme is, who is eligible, how much benefit you get, how to apply for the State Health Card, how to download the card, how to check the hospital list, and what to do if a hospital refuses cashless treatment. In the later sections, we also clear up the biggest confusion: the difference between the State Health Card and the Ayushman Card.
Quick-facts table
| Information | Detail |
| Scheme name | Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Rajya Karmchari Cashless Chikitsa Yojana |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Government Order (GO) date | 7 January 2022 |
| Who it is for | Serving UP government employees, retired employees / pensioners, family pension beneficiaries and their dependent family members |
| Benefit in private hospitals | Cashless treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family per year |
| Benefit in government hospitals | Cashless treatment with no financial limit |
| Card required | State Health Card (no cashless without the card) |
| Official portal | sects.up.gov.in |
| Helpline | 1800-180-04444 |
| support.sects@sachis.in |
What the scheme is and when it started
By a Government Order dated 7 January 2022, the Uttar Pradesh government provided cashless medical facilities to the state’s government servants, retired government servants and their dependent family members. The scheme is called the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Rajya Karmchari Cashless Chikitsa Yojana, and it is also known as the State Employee Cashless Treatment Scheme (SECTS).
The scheme runs under the Uttar Pradesh Government Servant (Medical Attendance) Rules, 2011, as amended in 2014, 2016 and 2021. The definition of “government servant” is given in the scheme’s GO / Guidelines. This means the final word on eligibility comes from these rules and from verification by your DDO (Drawing and Disbursing Officer).
The scheme’s framework is linked to Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). The advantage is that cashless facility is available in all private hospitals empanelled under PM-JAY as well as in government hospitals. So the hospital network is not small — it is as wide as the Ayushman network.
The scheme is run through SACHIS — the State Agency for Comprehensive Health and Insurance Scheme — which handles the State Health Card, hospital empanelment and cashless claims.
How much benefit you get
First, understand that the benefit limit depends on the type of hospital.
| Hospital type | Cashless limit |
| Private empanelled hospital | Up to ₹5 lakh per beneficiary family per year |
| Government medical institution / hospital | No financial limit |
Note — the ₹5 lakh limit is per family per year, not per person. That means all members of one family together can get up to ₹5 lakh of cashless treatment in a private hospital in one year. In a government hospital, there is no such annual limit.
One more important point: cashless means you do not pay from your pocket at the time of treatment. The hospital settles the payment directly through the scheme’s system. This is completely different from the old reimbursement system, where you first spent the money and then waited for your bills to be refunded.
Who is eligible
The following people are eligible for a State Health Card under the scheme:
- Serving employees of the Uttar Pradesh Government
- Retired Uttar Pradesh Government employees
- Family pension beneficiaries
- Eligible dependent family members of the above
Dependent family members generally include spouse, children and dependent parents as per the rules. Who counts as a dependent is described in the GO / Guidelines, and the DDO verifies it at the time of application.
Who is NOT covered — this is the most important part to understand
Teachers and teaching staff: UP teachers and teaching staff have a separate scheme — the Mukhyamantri Shikshak Cashless Chikitsa Yojana. If you are a teacher, you should apply under the Shikshak Cashless Yojana instead of this scheme. Both schemes give a State Health Card, but they are meant for different categories of beneficiaries. (Our Shikshak Cashless Yojana post has the full details.)
Contractual / daily-wage employees: The scheme works on the definition of “government servant”. Whether contractual, outsourced or daily-wage employees are covered depends on their appointment rules and DDO verification. Such employees should confirm their eligibility with their DDO before applying, so that the application is not rejected.
Employees of other states: This is only for Uttar Pradesh government employees. The employee cashless schemes of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and other states are separate — with different names, portals and rules. An employee of another state cannot apply on UP’s portal.
State Health Card vs Ayushman Card — the biggest confusion
In October 2026, most searches related to this scheme are about “card download”, and a big reason is the confusion between the State Health Card and the Ayushman Card. Are they the same or different?
Clear answer: they are two different cards.
| Point | State Health Card | Ayushman Card (PM-JAY) |
| For whom | UP government employees, pensioners and their dependents | Eligible common families under PM-JAY (as per SECC / state list) |
| Portal | sects.up.gov.in | beneficiary.nha.gov.in / PM-JAY portal |
| Benefit | ₹5 lakh/year/family in private hospitals; no limit in government hospitals | ₹5 lakh/year/family cashless treatment as per PM-JAY rules |
| How you get it | Apply on SECTS portal + DDO verification | As per PM-JAY eligibility list |
If you are a UP government employee or pensioner, you need the State Health Card — not the Ayushman Card. Many people waste time trying to get an Ayushman Card, when their card is made through the SECTS portal. And remember — never pay any agent or shop to get the card made. The card application on the official portal is done by you, free of cost.
How to apply for the State Health Card — step by step
- Go to the official portal sects.up.gov.in.
- On the homepage, click “Apply for State Health Card”.
- Enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and the captcha code, then proceed.
- Verify your mobile number with the OTP received on your registered mobile number.
- After successful verification, the online application form will open.
- Fill in your personal, service, pension and family details in the form.
- Add the details of eligible dependent family members.
- Upload the required documents and photographs.
- Check all information carefully and submit the application form.
- The concerned authorities (DDO / TO) will verify your application and documents.
- After approval, you will receive an SMS on your registered mobile number.
- After that, your State Health Card will be generated, which you can download and print online.
There is also a facility to edit an approved application on the portal, if you need to correct something in an approved application.
How to download the State Health Card — step by step
Downloading the card after it is made is a separate step, and this is the step people ask about the most:
- Go to the official portal sects.up.gov.in.
- Verify your mobile number through OTP.
- Search your record by selecting the State, Scheme Name, District and Registration ID.
- Choose whether you are downloading the card for yourself or for a dependent family member.
- Complete the eKYC process using Aadhaar OTP.
- After successful verification, an SMS will be sent confirming that your State Health Card has been generated, along with its Unique ID.
- Click on the option to download or print the State Health Card.
- Save the card and keep a printed copy with you — this is the card that will work at the hospital.
Remember: use the same mobile number for card download that you gave at the time of application and that is linked with Aadhaar. The OTP will come on this number.
How to check the hospital list
Cashless treatment is available only in empanelled hospitals. So before treatment, it is wise to check which hospitals in your district or city are linked to the scheme.
- The portal has a District Wise List of Government and Private Hospitals option.
- Select your district to see the list of government and private empanelled hospitals.
- Before treatment, also confirm with the hospital that it is giving cashless facility under this scheme and that your illness / procedure is covered.
How cashless treatment works at the hospital
- When you go to an empanelled hospital, carry your State Health Card with you.
- The hospital will verify your identity using the card.
- After admission, the hospital will take cashless approval through the scheme’s system.
- After approval, treatment will begin and the payment will go directly from the scheme — you will not have to pay the hospital bill from your pocket.
- At the time of discharge, complete the card and identity formalities and definitely take the discharge summary for your records.
What to do if a hospital refuses cashless treatment
Sometimes a hospital may say that its panel is closed, or that the procedure is not covered, or that you must deposit money first. In such a situation, do not panic:
- First, ask the hospital in writing for the reason — which rule or condition is coming in the way.
- Call the scheme helpline 1800-180-04444, explain your problem, and keep your State Health Card Unique ID with you.
- For a complaint by email, write to support.sects@sachis.in.
- You can also contact the SACHIS office (CEO, Ayushman Bharat — SACHIS, 4th Floor, Navchetna Kendra, 10 Ashok Marg, Hazratganj, Lucknow, UP — 226001).
- Keep every bill, receipt and paper from the treatment safely — these papers will be needed in any complaint or later enquiry.
In no case should you fall for an agent or middleman who asks for money to “arrange cashless”. Cashless facility comes through the card and the portal system, not by paying money.
What is NOT covered — keep these points in mind
- No cashless without the card. The card is the proof of your identity. Without the State Health Card, the hospital is not bound to give cashless facility.
- OPD (treatment without admission) is not cashless. This scheme is for treatment with hospital admission (IPD) — scheme-information sources state that OPD is not covered cashless. Do not claim cashless for tests, medicines or consultations without admission; if in doubt, confirm on the helpline.
- No cashless in non-empanelled hospitals. Always check the hospital’s panel status before treatment.
- The ₹5 lakh limit is for private hospitals. In one year, expenses above this limit in a private hospital will not be cashless.
- People outside eligibility. People who do not fall within the definition of “government servant” will not get the scheme’s benefit — even if they have filled the form. The DDO verifies the application.
How it differs from other schemes — at a glance
| Scheme | For whom | Main benefit |
| Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Rajya Karmchari Cashless Chikitsa Yojana (UP) | UP government employees, pensioners, dependents | ₹5 lakh/year/family in private; no limit in government hospitals |
| Mukhyamantri Shikshak Cashless Chikitsa Yojana (UP) | UP teachers and teaching staff | Separate cashless system for teachers |
| Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY | Eligible common families | ₹5 lakh/year/family cashless treatment |
| Bihar government employee cashless scheme (new) | Bihar employees, pensioners | Bihar government’s separate scheme — rules still to be issued |
| MP employee cashless scheme (proposed) | MP employees, pensioners | In proposal stage — different from the UP scheme |
One thing is clear from this table: every state’s employee cashless scheme is different. A UP employee should apply only in the UP scheme, and should not get confused by news from other states.
Documents required
| Document | For whom |
| Aadhaar Card | For the applicant |
| Aadhaar-linked mobile number | For OTP verification |
| Photograph | Of the applicant |
| Aadhaar Cards of dependents | For family members |
| Photographs of dependents | For family members |
| Birth certificate of children | If applicable |
| Disability certificate | If applicable |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the Deendayal Cashless Chikitsa Yojana?
It is a Uttar Pradesh government scheme in which state government employees, pensioners and their dependent family members get cashless medical treatment in empanelled hospitals. In private empanelled hospitals, treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family per year is covered, and in government hospitals there is no limit.
2. How is the State Health Card made?
Apply by clicking “Apply for State Health Card” on sects.up.gov.in. After Aadhaar-linked mobile OTP, form filling, document upload and DDO verification, the card is made, which you can download.
3. How do I download the State Health Card?
On the portal, verify your mobile with OTP, search your record with State / Scheme / District / Registration ID, complete Aadhaar OTP eKYC, then use the Download / Print option to get the card.
4. How much cashless treatment will I get in a private hospital?
Up to ₹5 lakh per beneficiary family per year. In a government hospital, there is no financial limit.
5. Can pensioners also get the benefit of this scheme?
Yes. Retired employees, pensioners and family pension beneficiaries, along with their eligible dependents, are covered under this scheme.
6. Can teachers apply in this scheme?
No. Teachers and teaching staff have a separate Mukhyamantri Shikshak Cashless Chikitsa Yojana. Teachers should apply in that scheme.
7. Will I get cashless facility in OPD also?
No — as per scheme-information sources, cashless facility is for treatment with hospital admission (IPD), not OPD. If in doubt, confirm on helpline 1800-180-04444.
8. What is the difference between the State Health Card and the Ayushman Card?
The State Health Card is made for UP government employees through the SECTS portal, while the Ayushman Card is made for eligible common families under PM-JAY. An employee needs the State Health Card.
9. What should I do if a hospital refuses cashless treatment?
Call helpline 1800-180-04444 or email support.sects@sachis.in. Keep all bills and papers safely.
10. Is there any fee to get the card made?
The scheme’s official description mentions no fee for the card. If someone asks for money in the name of making the card, it may be fraud — complain on the helpline.
Official links
| Work | Official link |
| Scheme portal (apply / download / hospital list) | sects.up.gov.in |
| State Health Card — SETU | setu.pmjay.gov.in/setu/pt-deendyal-upadhyay |
| Helpline | 1800-180-04444 |
| support.sects@sachis.in |
Disclaimer: This is a private information portal, not a government website. The information given here is based on the government portal and the scheme’s official description. Before any application, always check the latest rules on the official portal sects.up.gov.in.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
