But here’s what no one’s talking about: pensioners will pay for 70% of the cost. Yes, you read that right. A retired teacher or clerk might end up paying ₹1.25% of their pension; not much on paper, but for someone living on ₹30,000/month, it’s ₹375 a month. Multiply that across 4.93 lakh beneficiaries, and suddenly ₹117 crore/year is coming from their pockets. The state chips in just ₹24.5 crore. Smart design? Maybe. But is it fair? The system auto-raises contributions if the fund gets too low; which means if medical costs climb, retirees pay more. This isn’t charity; it’s a self-sustaining model. And that’s the real story. Government pensioners aren’t getting free healthcare; they’re paying for it, just with convenience. Think about that next time you hear 'cashless scheme'.