If you are 70 years or older, here is some good news! The Union government has approved health coverage for everyone under the national insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X shared the news and said, “ We are committed to ensuring accessible, affordable and top quality healthcare for every Indian. In this context, the Cabinet today has decided to further expand the ambit of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to provide health coverage for all citizens above 70 years. This scheme will ensure dignity, care and security to 6 crore citizens!”
We are committed to ensuring accessible, affordable and top quality healthcare for every Indian. In this context, the Cabinet today has decided to further expand the ambit of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to provide health coverage for all citizens above 70 years. This scheme will…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 11, 2024
The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, said in a statement that the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) will benefit 4.5 crore families and six crore senior citizens. The free cover is worth ₹ 5 lakh and will be on a family basis.
“With this approval, all senior citizens of the age 70 years and above irrespective of their socio- economic status would be eligible to avail the benefits of AB PM-JAY. The eligible senior citizens would be issued a new distinct card under AB PM-JAY,” the government said in the statement.
The Eligibility Criteria
The government said senior citizens 70 years of age and above belonging to families already covered under AB PM-JAY would get an additional top-up cover of up to ₹ 5 lahks per year for themselves (which they do not have to share with other family members who are below the age of 70).
However, senior citizens who are already benefiting from other public health insurance schemes, such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), and the Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), may either choose their existing scheme or opt for AB PMJAY.
But those under private health insurance policies or Employees’ State Insurance Scheme will be eligible for benefits under AB PM-JAY.
The Scheme Covers…
The scheme has covered 7.37 crore hospital admissions, including 49 percent of women beneficiaries. The government said the scheme has benefited the public by over ₹ 1 lakh crore.
It plans to cover 37 lakh ASHAs/AWWs/AWHs working across the country and their families for free healthcare benefits.
The PM also added that those belonging to the transgender community will be included in the purview of Ayushman Bharat. “BJP has decided to bring transgender community also under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat scheme,” he said.
What is the Ayushman Bharat Scheme?
The Ayushman Bharat scheme provides health insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh to over 80 crore people all over India. It was originally launched by the late Arun Jaitley, the ex-Finance Minister of India, during the FY19 Union Budget announcement.
According to its website, “Ayushman Bharat is an attempt to move from sectoral and segmented approach of health service delivery to a comprehensive need-based health care service.”
One can use facilities like prevention, promotion, and ambulatory care at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. It covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days of post-hospitalisation expenses like diagnostics and medicines.
