Ex Servicemen Employment Index Card Application Form (X-Card)
The Government of India approved ECHS on December 30, 2002, and it went into effect on April 1, 2003. It is a publicly funded medicare scheme for ex-servicemen and pensioners, as well as their eligible dependents, that will provide medical care through out-patient treatment at 227 polyclinics across India, as well as in-patient hospitalization and treatment at Military Hospitals and out-sourced Civil Hospitals & Diagnostic Centers at all of these 227 locations.
ECHS members will be able to receive treatment/hospitalization in Service Hospitals if a specialty, medical staff, and bed space are available.
Eligibility
Armed Forces Veterans (AFV) and their dependents who are receiving a pension or disability pension.
Widows and family pensioners receiving a regular or special family pension.
Veterans of the Armed Forces (AFV) receiving a disability pension.
Age Limit, Medical Condition, and Last date for joining The ECHS
For those AFV/eligible persons who retired on or before March 31, 2003, joining the ECHS is optional. At the time of applying for membership or joining the scheme, there are no restrictions on age or medical condition. It is also stated that there is no deadline for applying to ECHS. However, ESMs who do not join ECHS will not be able to receive medical care at Service Hospitals after March 31, 2008.
Application Availability
All Station Headquarters, CSDs, and Rajya Sainik Board offices have forms available. The form can also be downloaded via the websites www.indianarmy.nic.in and www.irfc-nausena.mil.in for those who have access to the internet.
