AP Universal Health Policy is the state’s new way of paying for hospital treatment: the first ₹2.5 lakh of cover comes through an insurer, and the Trust tops it up to ₹25 lakh for BPL families. It was set out in G.O.Ms.No.122 of 9 September 2025, and it changes how the familiar Dr NTR Vaidya Seva scheme is funded — without changing the patient’s experience at the hospital. This guide to the AP Universal Health Policy explains how the two layers work, who gets what, and what you need to do when you need treatment.
| Detail | AP Universal Health Policy |
|---|---|
| Government order | G.O.Ms.No.122, 9 September 2025 |
| BPL families | First ₹2.5 lakh via insurer, then Trust up to ₹25 lakh |
| APL families | ₹2.5 lakh, per the GO |
| Underlying scheme | Dr NTR Vaidya Seva — cashless treatment at network hospitals |
| Portal | drntrvaidyaseva.ap.gov.in |
| Admission | Hospital Aarogya Mitra help desk, with pre-authorisation |
AP Universal Health Policy: How the Two Layers Work
The AP Universal Health Policy works in two layers. The first layer is an insurer: for the first ₹2.5 lakh of a treatment, the insurer pays. The second layer is the Trust — the same Trust that runs Dr NTR Vaidya Seva — which tops up the cover to ₹25 lakh for BPL families. A patient whose treatment costs ₹1 lakh is paid for by the insurer alone; a patient whose treatment costs ₹10 lakh is paid for by the insurer for the first ₹2.5 lakh and by the Trust for the rest.
The point of the two-layer design is to spread the cost and to keep the scheme sustainable, while the patient sees no difference at the hospital. Admission is still through the hospital’s Aarogya Mitra help desk, pre-authorisation is still the approval before treatment, and the treatment is still cashless for the patient. The change is behind the scenes, in who pays the hospital — not in what the patient does.
Who Gets What Under the AP Universal Health Policy
Under the AP Universal Health Policy, BPL families get the full two layers: the first ₹2.5 lakh through the insurer, and then the Trust up to ₹25 lakh. APL families get ₹2.5 lakh, per the GO. That distinction matters, because it means the family’s category decides the ceiling of the cover — and the category is decided by the family’s records, not by the hospital.
If you are not sure whether your family is listed as BPL or APL, check your ration card and your family records at the Sachivalayam. A white ration card is the usual marker of a BPL family, and the Sachivalayam can confirm the category. Keep the record correct, because a wrong category on the file can mean a wrong ceiling when you need treatment. Our guide to a New White Ration Card in AP explains how the card and its categories work.
For a family that is unsure of its category, the Sachivalayam is the place to ask. Bring the ration card and the Aadhaar cards of the family members, and ask the staff to confirm the category on the record. If the category is wrong — for example, a family that should be BPL is listed as APL — ask what document is needed to correct it. A correction made now is worth far more than a dispute at a hospital counter later, when treatment cannot wait.
AP Universal Health Policy: A Worked Example
Take a BPL family whose member needs a surgery costing ₹4 lakh. Under the AP Universal Health Policy, the first ₹2.5 lakh is paid through the insurer, and the remaining ₹1.5 lakh is paid by the Trust. The family pays nothing at the counter for the covered treatment, as long as the hospital is empanelled, the pre-authorisation is approved, and the treatment is covered.
Now take an APL family with the same ₹4 lakh surgery. Under the GO, the APL family’s cover is ₹2.5 lakh, so the insurer pays ₹2.5 lakh and the remaining ₹1.5 lakh is not covered by the policy. That is why the family’s category matters so much — and why it is worth checking the record at the Sachivalayam before treatment is needed, not during a hospital stay.
How a Claim Works Under the AP Universal Health Policy
A claim under the AP Universal Health Policy follows the same path as a Vaidya Seva admission, because the policy sits on top of the Vaidya Seva system. First, find an empanelled network hospital — our guide to Dr NTR Vaidya Seva Network Hospitals explains the search by district and speciality on the scheme’s portal. Then go to the hospital’s Aarogya Mitra help desk with the patient’s Aadhaar card and the family’s ration card or other proof of eligibility.
The Aarogya Mitra checks eligibility, verifies the documents, and sends the pre-authorisation request. Once approved, treatment proceeds cashlessly. Behind the scenes, the first ₹2.5 lakh is settled by the insurer and anything above that — up to ₹25 lakh for BPL families — by the Trust. The patient does not deal with the insurer or the Trust directly, and should not be asked to pay the insurer’s share at the counter. Our step-by-step guide to Free Treatment under Dr NTR Vaidya Seva walks through each stage of the admission.
What the AP Universal Health Policy Does Not Change
The AP Universal Health Policy does not change where you go for treatment, or what you carry, or who helps you at the hospital. Network hospitals are the same empanelled hospitals, the Aarogya Mitra help desk is the same first stop, and the documents are the same: the patient’s Aadhaar card, the family’s ration card or proof of eligibility, and the medical records you already have.
It also does not change the helplines. For health advice, call 104. For an emergency ambulance, call 108. For grievances about a scheme or a service, use the GSWS NBM portal at gsws-nbm.ap.gov.in or call the helpline 1902 — our guide to a GSWS NBM grievance explains how to complain and track it. If a hospital asks you to pay for treatment that should be covered, ask the Aarogya Mitra to explain the charge before you pay, and keep every paper.
Frequently Asked Questions About the AP Universal Health Policy
What is the AP Universal Health Policy?
A health cover set out in G.O.Ms.No.122 of 9 September 2025. The first ₹2.5 lakh of treatment is paid through an insurer, and the Trust tops the cover up to ₹25 lakh for BPL families. APL families get ₹2.5 lakh, per the GO.
How is it different from Dr NTR Vaidya Seva?
It is not a separate hospital scheme — it is the funding design on top of Vaidya Seva. The patient still goes to a Vaidya Seva network hospital, still uses the Aarogya Mitra help desk, and still gets cashless treatment with pre-authorisation.
How much cover does a BPL family get?
The first ₹2.5 lakh through the insurer, then the Trust up to a total of ₹25 lakh per family per year.
How much cover does an APL family get?
₹2.5 lakh, per the GO. Check your family’s category at the Sachivalayam if you are unsure whether you are listed as BPL or APL.
Where do I go for treatment under the policy?
An empanelled network hospital, found by district and speciality on drntrvaidyaseva.ap.gov.in. The official state portal for general information is ap.gov.in.
The AP Universal Health Policy is best understood as a funding change, not a patient change: the insurer pays the first ₹2.5 lakh, the Trust tops it up to ₹25 lakh for BPL families, and the patient still walks into a network hospital, meets the Aarogya Mitra, and gets cashless treatment with pre-authorisation. Keep your family’s category correct, carry your Aadhaar and ration card, and ask the help desk whenever a charge is unclear.
Last updated: November 2026