HomeHealth Ayushman Bharat Scheme : Senior citizens aged 70 and above to get these benefits

Ayushman Bharat Scheme : Senior citizens aged 70 and above to get these benefits

by Richa
Ayushman Bharat scheme

Ayushman Bharat health insurance: Who is eligible how to apply.

Ayushman Bharat scheme : The government has announced that health insurance coverage the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) will now be available to all senior citizens aged 70 and above regardless of their income.


This coverage expansion ensures that all individuals in this age group will have access to the program’s advantages irrespective of their socioeconomic background.

Under the updated scheme, eligible senior citizens will receive a new, unique card that will grant them access to the health insurance benefits provided by AB PM-JAY.

This initiative marks a significant step in broadening healthcare access for older adults aiming to enhance their well-being and provide financial protection against health-related expenses.

Ayushman Bharat: Who are already covered under the scheme

For all other senior citizens aged 70 and above who are not already covered under AB PM-JAY the scheme will provide a coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year on a family basis.

This means that the coverage amount will apply to the entire family rather than individually.
Ayushman Bharat scheme
Other health insurance :
Senior citizens aged 70 and above who are currently benefiting from other public health insurance schemes including the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) beneficiaries can choose to either remain with their current scheme or switch to AB PM-JAY.

They can select the scheme that best suits their needs or preferences, providing them with the freedom to choose between their current coverage and the new benefits offered by AB PM-JAY.
Private health insurance :
It has been clarified that senior citizens aged 70 and above who are covered by private health insurance policies or the Employees’ State Insurance scheme will also be eligible to receive benefits under AB PM-JAY. This ensures that they can access the advantages of AB PM-JAY in addition to their existing coverage.
Ayushman BharatWho it will benefit :
The initiative aims to benefit around 4.5 crore families encompassing 6 crore senior citizens, by providing free health insurance coverage of up to 5 lakh rupees per family.
AB PM-JAY scheme details :
According to the PIB release, the AB PM-JAY scheme has continuously expanded its beneficiary base over time. Initially, the program covered 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families, representing the bottom 40% of India’s population.

In January 2022 the Government of India revised the coverage to 12 crore families, accounting for the country’s 11.7% population growth since 2011. Further expansion included 37 lakh ASHAs, AWWs and AWHs, along with their families who were provided free healthcare benefits.
Building on this progress, AB PM-JAY is now set to offer free healthcare coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh to all citizens aged 70 years and above across the country.

This latest extension aims to enhance access to essential healthcare services for senior citizens, ensuring broader protection and support for one of the most vulnerable segments of the population.

What is Ayushman Bharat scheme ?

Ayushman Bharat scheme
It offers health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year for both secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations.

The scheme benefits 55 crore people across 12.34 crore families irrespective of family members ages.

It has supported 7.37 crore hospital admissions with 49% of the beneficiaries being women.
To date the initiative has provided over ₹1 lakh crore in healthcare benefits to the public.

How to Apply for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana :

Step 1: Visit the official website at https://abdm.gov.in/.
Step 2: Verify your Aadhaar card or ration card at a PMJAY kiosk.
Step 3: Provide family identification documents.
Step 4: Obtain your e-card which will include a unique AB-PMJAY ID.
This process ensures you are covered under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

The scheme covers all expenses related to :

Medical examinations treatments and consultations.
Pre-hospitalization care for up to three days before admission.
Medicines and medical consumables.
Non-intensive and intensive care services, including ICU care.
Diagnostic tests and laboratory investigations.
Necessary medical implants.
Accommodation and food services during hospitalization.
Management of complications arising during treatment.
Post-hospitalization follow-up care for up to 15 days after discharge.

The expansion is anticipated to benefit approximately 45 million families encompassing around 60 million senior citizens.

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