The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), or Ayushman Bharat Yojana, is a health insurance scheme and is open to all Indians, who are economically weak and seniors, regardless of age or income status. Initially meant only for the economically weaker strata of society, it has come a long way since its launch in 2018. To remove any confusion over age or income status for eligibility, on September 11, 2024, the Union Cabinet reiterated that all senior citizens aged 60 or above, irrespective of their income, can apply for the scheme.

The scheme provides coverage of Rs 5 lakh at government and empanelled private hospitals. The plan covers three-day pre- and 15-day post-hospitalisation costs and charges for intensive and non-intensive care (non-ICU) services, diagnostic, tests, medicines, supplies, accommodation, and follow-up care. Over 12 crore families are already benefitting from the scheme, and six crore more seniors are expected to join the scheme after the cabinet announcement.

Who Is Eligible For The Scheme?

Until now, the beneficiaries have been determined based on the socio-economic caste census of 2011 and beneficiaries of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) plan. Now, all are covered under the scheme.

· Seniors who can afford or already have insurance from private insurers are also eligible for the Ayushman Bharat scheme. So, income criteria are no longer a determinant for seniors of 70 years and above to avail themselves of the PM-JAY benefit.

· It is also available for retired government employees. However, they can only use one facility: either their existing scheme or the Ayushman Yojana. For example, central government employees who get the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) facility, Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) now have the option to choose from existing scheme or Ayushman Yojana for their healthcare needs.

· Besides this, seniors from weaker economic backgrounds, who were already covered under the scheme, can avail themselves of an additional Rs 5 lakh in addition to the family cover. It will bring the total coverage amount to Rs 10 lakh (Rs 5 lakh for the family plus Rs 5 lakh for the senior citizen in the family).

Also Read: SBI, IDBI & 2 More Banks’ Special FDs Closing On Sep 30; Know Details

How To Avail Of The Benefit?

As per government notification, all senior citizens will be issued a card under the AB PM-JAY scheme to avail of the benefits. However, the existing beneficiaries can apply for the card after checking their eligibility on the portal. If it shows their information, they can apply for the card online.

One can check the eligibility on the official website of the Ayushman (PMJAY) scheme by clicking on the ‘Am I eligible’ tab. The portal then asks for a few details to fill out, such as the captcha code, phone number, one-time password, state name, Aadhaar details, etc., to check eligibility.

How To Apply For The Card?

The eligible beneficiaries need to visit the official Ayushman Bharat website and then, using the quick links, click on ‘Register Yourself on SETU’. On the next window, register yourself by filling in the data like name, date of birth, gender, district, state name, etc. After registration, one must complete the ‘Know your customer (KYC)’ formalities and wait for approval by the authorities. When the details are approved, the beneficiary can download the card by clicking on the ‘Download your Ayushman Card’ option after filling up the Aadhar number, selecting the state, and then clicking on the ‘Download’ button on the right-hand corner of the screen.

In a notification on September 20, 2024, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda said the expanded Ayushman Bharat scheme will be implemented from October this year. As per PTI, 29,648 hospitals (including 12,696 private hospitals) were empanelled under the PMJAY as of September 1, 2024. So far, 33 states and union territories have been running this scheme, and around 49 per cent of the total Ayushman cards issued were for women.