Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY) Goa

Why Was the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana Scheme Introduced

Before this scheme, many Goa residents who needed surgery or hospital care for a serious illness had to pay large amounts out of their own pocket, even at government hospitals, because certain procedures and diagnostics weren't fully free. This pushed some families into debt or forced them to delay treatment.

The Goa government launched DDSSY on 30 May 2016 (Goa Statehood Day) to close this gap and expand government-funded health insurance coverage to all eligible residents of the state. Unlike many state-sponsored health insurance schemes that primarily target economically weaker sections, DDSSY was designed to provide health insurance coverage to the entire resident population of Goa, irrespective of income, provided they meet the residency criteria. This universal approach distinguishes it from schemes such as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (Maharashtra), Rajiv Aarogyasri Scheme (Telangana), and Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP) (Kerala), which are largely intended for eligible low-income or vulnerable families.

DDSSY – Key Highlights

Who is Eligible for DDSSY?

• Any person or family that has lived in Goa continuously for five years or more can apply, regardless of income level.
• The scheme covers the applicant and their family members jointly or individually, up to the family's annual limit.
• Government employees are not covered under DDSSY. They are instead covered under the Goa Civil Services Medical Attendance (CSMA) rules for reimbursement of medical expenses.

Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana Benefits

• Cashless hospitalisation and surgery at empanelled government and private hospitals, up to the annual family limit.
• 447 listed secondary and tertiary medical and surgical procedures that typically need hospitalisation and involve high out-of-pocket costs. These were selected by a panel of doctors from DHS and Goa Medical College (GMC), based on Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rates and other state scheme lists.
• Medication for long-term lifestyle conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, up to ₹15,000 a year.
• Treatment for conditions like epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy.
• Mental health and Ayurveda hospitalisation, but only at government hospitals or institutions and only when advised through NIMHANS or AYUSH protocols.
• High-end diagnostic tests, but only when referred by a government hospital or doctor, at rates fixed by GMC.
• Outpatient (OPD) and primary care remain free as usual at government hospitals, this was already the case before DDSSY and continues unchanged.
• No age restriction the scheme covers family members of all ages, including senior citizens.

Not Covered:

• Any procedure that is not on the official list of 447 procedures.
• Government employees (they fall under CSMA instead).
• Costs beyond the annual family limit (₹2.5 lakh or ₹4 lakh), unless the person has separately bought a higher personal cover from the insurer at their own cost.

How to Apply for Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana – Step by Step

New enrolment and renewal of the scheme is done online via the Goa Government’s e-services portal, goaonline.gov.in

• Visit goaonline.gov.in and click Register if you don't already have an account, or Login if you do.
• Complete registration using your email ID, mobile number, name, address, and date of birth, and verify your mobile number with the OTP sent to you.
• After logging in, go to Services → All Services, and look for Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY) – New Enrollment under the Schemes section (service code DHS01), or the Renewal option (DHS02) if you already hold a card.
• Fill in the application form with details of all family members who will be covered.
• Upload the required documents (listed below).
• Pay the registration/renewal fee online through the portal's payment gateway.
• Submit the application. You will receive an acknowledgement number save this for tracking.
• Once your application is verified by the concerned office, you can collect your DDSSY health card, or it may be issued digitally, within the timeline stated on your acknowledgement.

You can also apply offline at any designated DDSSY centre or camp, or seek help from your local Village Panchayat, which assists with document verification and online registration, especially in rural areas.

Documents Required for Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana

• Duly filled application form
• Aadhaar card of all the members of the family for whom the person is applying.
• Ration card (if available)

Proof of residence in Goa for a period of at least five years, which may include the following:

• Residence Certificate
• Passport
• Driving Licence
• Bank Account statement
• Election (Voter ID) Card

How to Check Your DDSSY Application or Card Status

• Visit the official Goa government portal at goaonline.gov.in.
• Under the Tracking menu, select the DDSSY Card Status option.
• Fill in the required information such as application/acknowledgement number or the DDSSY card number to view the status of your application or card.
• You can also use the general Track Status option on the same portal by selecting the DHS department and the relevant DDSSY service.

What to Do If Your Application is Rejected or Delayed

• First of all, check the reason for rejection or delay appearing on Track Status on the portal. In most cases, the reason appears to be incompletely submitted documents or verification of any documents regarding your stay.
• In case the documents were to be the reason for the rejection, you can resubmit the application with complete details.
• For complaints, unresolved issues, and other queries regarding the Goa Card, you may contact the DDSSY helpline at +91-8882988000 (between 9:45 AM to 5:30 PM), or you can also send your queries to services.goa@gov.in
• You may also track your grievance through the CM Helpline Track Status option on goaonline.gov.in
• This is the official portal for grievance redress, which is for the general public. It is advised to cross-verify the current grievance escalation process and time via the portal, as the contact details might change.

DDSSY and Other Schemes

• Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) - India's central health insurance scheme covering up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for economically weaker households.
• Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) - Maharashtra's cashless state health scheme for BPL and marginally above-BPL families, covering up to ₹1.5 lakh per year.
• Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY) - Odisha's current flagship health scheme, which replaced the earlier Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) and now integrates with PM-JAY for pan-India cashless treatment.
• Swasthya Sathi Scheme - West Bengal's cashless health insurance scheme covering hospitalisation for eligible resident families.
• Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) - Tamil Nadu's scheme for low-income families, insured up to ₹5 lakh.