Universal Health Policy is Andhra Pradesh’s plan to give insurance cover to every family in the state. The policy was approved by G.O.Ms.No.122, dated 9 September 2025. It does not replace Dr NTR Vaidya Seva — it adds an insurance layer on top of it. But the policy is still being operationalised in 2026, so it is important to know what has actually changed and what has not.
This guide explains the hybrid structure in plain language: who gets what cover, how much, and how to use the health cover that exists right now while the new policy is being rolled out.
Key Facts
| Government order | G.O.Ms.No.122, dated 9 September 2025 |
| Status | Approved; being operationalised in 2026 — not fully launched |
| BPL families (income up to Rs.5 lakh) | Rs.2.5 lakh insurance cover via insurer, plus cover up to Rs.25 lakh via the Trust |
| APL families | Insurance cover up to Rs.2.5 lakh, as per the GO |
| Existing scheme | Dr NTR Vaidya Seva — cashless treatment up to Rs.25 lakh a family a year |
| Health portal | drntrvaidyaseva.ap.gov.in |
| Helpline | 104 |
What GO 122 Actually Says
GO 122 creates a hybrid health cover. It has two layers that work together. The first layer is insurance: an insurer covers the family up to Rs.2.5 lakh. The second layer is the Trust — the same trust that runs Dr NTR Vaidya Seva — which covers treatment costs above the insurance layer, up to Rs.25 lakh for BPL families. The idea is that no family should have to pay for hospital treatment out of its own pocket, whether the bill is small or large.
BPL Families: What Changes
For BPL families — those with a white rice card or a family income up to Rs.5 lakh a year — the Universal Health Policy adds an insurance layer of Rs.2.5 lakh on top of the existing Vaidya Seva cover. The Trust continues to cover treatment up to Rs.25 lakh a family a year. In practice, this means the insurance pays the first Rs.2.5 lakh of a hospital bill and the Trust covers the rest, up to the Rs.25 lakh limit.
For now, the way to get cashless treatment has not changed: take your ration card or health card and your Aadhaar card to the Aarogya Mitra help desk at an empanelled hospital. The hospital checks your eligibility and gives cashless treatment under Dr NTR Vaidya Seva.
APL Families: What Changes
For APL families, the GO provides insurance cover up to Rs.2.5 lakh. Some news reports have said the APL cover is Rs.5 lakh, but the GO figure is Rs.2.5 lakh, and that is the figure this guide uses. If a hospital or an agent quotes you Rs.5 lakh for an APL family, ask them to show you the GO — and check the current position at the hospital help desk or the Sachivalayam.
Current Status: Approved, Not Fully Launched
The Universal Health Policy is approved on paper, and the government is operationalising it during 2026. It is not yet fully launched. That means there is no new health card to apply for, no new enrolment form, and no separate application process announced so far. If anyone offers to enrol you in the Universal Health Policy for a fee, or sells you a “health policy card”, do not pay — there is no such enrolment.
Until the new policy is fully rolled out, Dr NTR Vaidya Seva remains the working route to cashless treatment. It covers BPL families and families with an income up to Rs.5 lakh a year, up to Rs.25 lakh per family per year, at empanelled hospitals across the state.
How to Use Your Health Cover Now
- Go to an empanelled hospital — check the hospital list on drntrvaidyaseva.ap.gov.in or ask at the hospital.
- Take your ration card or health card and your Aadhaar card to the Aarogya Mitra help desk inside the hospital.
- The help desk verifies your eligibility and registers your case for cashless treatment.
- If the hospital says you are not eligible, or asks you to pay, call the health helpline 104 and explain the problem before paying anything.
Universal Health Policy: What Has Changed and What Has Not
Universal Health Policy changes the structure of health cover, not the way you get treatment today. What has changed is the approval of GO 122 and the design: an insurance layer up to Rs.2.5 lakh plus the Trust up to Rs.25 lakh for BPL families, and insurance cover up to Rs.2.5 lakh for APL families. What has not changed is the route to cashless treatment — Dr NTR Vaidya Seva, the empanelled hospitals and the Aarogya Mitra help desk are still how you get treated without paying.
The policy is approved and is being operationalised in 2026, which means the government is setting up the insurer arrangement and the systems that will make the insurance layer work. Until that work is finished, there is no separate Universal Health Policy card and no separate enrolment. Your ration card or health card, with your Aadhaar card, is what the hospital needs. If anyone offers you a new Universal Health Policy card for a fee, it is not official.
Universal Health Policy: Who Gets What Cover
Under Universal Health Policy, BPL families — those with a white ration card or a family income up to Rs.5 lakh a year — get Rs.2.5 lakh of insurance cover through the insurer, plus cover up to Rs.25 lakh through the Trust. The white rice card is the main proof of BPL status, so keep it valid and correct — read how to get or correct a rice card at https://unqinformation.com/ap-rice-card-how-to-apply-for-a-new-ration-card-add-members-correct-details/
APL families get insurance cover up to Rs.2.5 lakh as per the GO. Some news reports have said Rs.5 lakh, but the GO figure is Rs.2.5 lakh, so do not plan on Rs.5 lakh. If a hospital or an agent quotes Rs.5 lakh for an APL family, ask them to show you the GO. For scheme applications and corrections, the Grama or Ward Sachivalayam is the place to go — read how it works at https://unqinformation.com/grama-ward-sachivalayam-services-how-to-apply-for-any-ap-government-scheme/
Universal Health Policy: How to Use Cashless Treatment Today
Until Universal Health Policy is fully rolled out, Dr NTR Vaidya Seva remains the working route to cashless treatment. Go to an empanelled hospital — check the hospital list on the health portal at https://drntrvaidyaseva.ap.gov.in — and take your ration card or health card and your Aadhaar card to the Aarogya Mitra help desk inside the hospital. The help desk verifies your eligibility and registers your case for cashless treatment.
If the hospital says you are not eligible, or asks you to pay, call the health helpline 104 and explain the problem. Keep your ration card, health card and Aadhaar ready when you call. The AP government portal at https://www.ap.gov.in lists the state’s health schemes and services, and the health portal is the place to check which hospitals are empanelled.
FAQ
Is the Universal Health Policy launched?
It was approved by G.O.Ms.No.122 on 9 September 2025 and is being operationalised in 2026. It is not yet fully launched.
How much cover do BPL families get?
Rs.2.5 lakh through the insurer, plus cover up to Rs.25 lakh through the Trust.
How much cover do APL families get?
Insurance cover up to Rs.2.5 lakh, as per the GO. Some news reports say Rs.5 lakh, but the GO figure is Rs.2.5 lakh.
Do I need a new card for the Universal Health Policy?
No new card has been announced. Your ration card or health card, with Aadhaar, is what the hospital help desk uses.
Read also: Dr NTR Vaidya Seva: ₹25 Lakh Cashless Treatment — Eligibility, Hospitals & How to Use Your Health Card · NTR Baby Kit Scheme 2025: Baby Kits for Mothers Delivering in AP Government Hospitals — Contents, Value & Status
Universal Health Policy is a real step towards health cover for every family in Andhra Pradesh — but it is a step still being taken. Until the Universal Health Policy is fully rolled out, the Vaidya Seva card in your pocket is the cover that actually works. Keep it with your Aadhaar card, and use the Aarogya Mitra help desk at the hospital.
Last updated: November 2026