The Indian government recently extended the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), a major healthcare scheme, to benefit all senior citizens aged 70 and above. This expansion, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage to India’s elderly, regardless of income, by covering medical expenses up to ₹5 lakh annually.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana: Providing Universal Healthcare Access
Ayushman Bharat, India’s flagship health insurance scheme, was initially launched to cover secondary and tertiary hospital care for the economically disadvantaged. The scheme has already reached about four crore people, offering them necessary healthcare without financial burden. Now, with this latest initiative, every citizen aged 70 and above can access health services at no cost through the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card.
Benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme for Senior Citizens
The expanded AB-PMJAY scheme offers several benefits:
- Income-Independent Access: Senior citizens, irrespective of income, can now access free healthcare services. This includes individuals from various economic backgrounds, such as low-income, middle-class, and affluent families.
- Increased Healthcare Reach: The scheme now benefits approximately six crore senior citizens across 4.5 crore households.
- Widespread Hospital Network: More than 29,000 hospitals are empaneled under PMJAY, including 12,696 private hospitals, ensuring seniors can receive care at numerous facilities across the nation.
- No Cost for Eligible Treatments: Coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year allows seniors to undergo treatments without any financial outlay.
Eligibility and How to Apply for Ayushman Bharat Senior Citizen Benefits
To be eligible, individuals must:
- Be aged 70 years or above (as per Aadhaar records).
- Register on the PMJAY portal or Ayushman Bharat mobile app. Existing cardholders must reapply and complete eKYC verification for the updated benefits.
Major Milestones in Ayushman Bharat PMJAY
Ayushman Bharat has recorded over 7.37 crore hospital admissions, with women beneficiaries making up 49%. In financial terms, it has covered treatments worth over ₹1 lakh crore, reducing the out-of-pocket expenses for India’s most vulnerable citizens.
Availability Across India
Currently, 33 states and Union Territories participate in AB-PMJAY, with exceptions in Delhi, Odisha, and West Bengal. Addressing these exceptions, Prime Minister Modi expressed regret for residents of these states who remain unable to access benefits due to local government decisions.
Complementary Healthcare Initiatives
In addition to AB-PMJAY’s expansion, Prime Minister Modi recently inaugurated various healthcare projects, totaling over ₹12,855 crore in investments, which include:
- New medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh.
- Expansions at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
- Launch of the U-WIN portal for digitizing immunization records for children and pregnant women.
This move is part of India’s broader vision to integrate digital technology into healthcare, inspired by the success of the Co-WIN platform during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The U-WIN portal aims to secure and maintain lifelong immunization records for better access to healthcare services.
Conclusion
The Ayushman Bharat health scheme’s expansion is a transformative step towards universal healthcare for senior citizens in India. With the inclusion of citizens aged 70 and above, the initiative provides robust health support for India’s aging population, reducing the financial burdens on elderly individuals and their families.
