Ayushman Bharat Yojana, also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), is one of the world’s largest healthcare schemes aimed at providing financial support to economically weaker sections. Through this initiative, families can avail free medical treatment of up to ₹5 lakh annually. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to apply for the Ayushman Bharat Card, the eligibility criteria, and the benefits it provides.
What is Ayushman Bharat Yojana?
The Ayushman Bharat Yojana, launched in 2018, is a flagship healthcare scheme by the Indian government. It covers secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations for families across India, helping to alleviate the financial burden of medical expenses, particularly for families in the Economically Weaker Section (EWS). Over 12 crore poor families have benefited from the scheme since its inception. The aim is to ensure that no family falls into poverty due to high healthcare costs.
Benefits of Ayushman Bharat Card
The Ayushman Bharat card provides numerous benefits to its holders. Below are some key features:
- Cashless Treatment: Beneficiaries can avail of free treatment in empaneled hospitals (both private and government) without any out-of-pocket expenses. Simply presenting the card will allow them to access cashless services.
- Extensive Coverage: The scheme covers over 1,929 medical procedures including consultations, surgeries, hospitalization, ICU services, diagnostics, and medicines.
- No Family Size Restrictions: There is no cap on the number of family members covered. Whether it’s a large joint family or a nuclear family, all members can benefit.
- Pre-existing Conditions Covered: All pre-existing diseases are covered from day one. Beneficiaries don’t have to worry about waiting periods for chronic conditions.
- Free Post-Hospitalization Coverage: The expenses for up to three days before hospitalization and 15 days after discharge, including diagnostic tests and medicines, are also covered.
Eligibility Criteria for Ayushman Bharat Yojana
To be eligible for the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, families need to meet certain criteria outlined by the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011:
- Families classified under deprivation criteria like those living in houses with raw walls and roofs, families with no adult members aged between 16 and 59, or female-headed households.
- Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) households and families with no means of income except manual labor are automatically included.
- Beneficiaries from urban areas include those involved in 11 different occupations such as rag pickers, domestic workers, plumbers, security guards, etc.
Some automatic inclusions include households of bonded laborers, scavengers, and those living on charity.
Who is Not Eligible?
The scheme excludes families that have:
- Mechanized farming equipment.
- Own two, three, or four-wheeled vehicles.
- Government-managed non-agricultural enterprises.
- Earn more than ₹10,000 per month.
- Own a Kisan Credit Card with a limit above ₹50,000.
- Possess landlines, refrigerators, or significant agricultural land (over 5 acres).
How to Check Your Eligibility
Checking your eligibility for the Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a simple online process:
- Visit the official website: https://pmjay.gov.in.
- Click on the “Am I Eligible?” option.
- Enter your mobile number to receive an OTP (One-Time Password) for verification.
- After entering the OTP, select your state, and either your ration card number or mobile number.
- The system will show if you are eligible for the Ayushman Bharat card.
How to Apply for Ayushman Bharat Card
If you’re eligible, here’s how you can get your Ayushman Bharat card:
- Visit a Jan Seva Kendra: Go to the nearest Common Service Center (CSC). These centers help in verifying your documents and processing your Ayushman Bharat card application.
- Document Verification: The officer at the center will check your eligibility and verify the necessary documents such as Aadhaar card, ration card, and income certificate.
- Application Completion: Once the documents are verified, your application is processed, and the Ayushman card is issued.
Downloading Ayushman Card Online
Beneficiaries can also download the Ayushman card online:
- Ayushman Bharat App:
- Download the app from the Google Play Store.
- Log in using your mobile number and verify via OTP.
- Enter your state and scheme (PM-JAY) details to search for your family.
- If needed, complete eKYC verification using Aadhaar OTP or fingerprint.
- PMJAY Website:
- Visit the PMJAY official website.
- Follow similar steps as the app by verifying your mobile number and searching your details.
- Once the eKYC is complete, the Ayushman card can be downloaded for each family member.
Important Documents for Ayushman Bharat Application
Ensure you have the following documents ready for the application:
- Aadhaar card or Ration card.
- Income certificate.
- Mobile number and email address.
- Caste certificate (if applicable).
Conclusion
The Ayushman Bharat Yojana has transformed healthcare access for millions of families across India. By providing free medical treatment up to ₹5 lakh, it is not just a health assurance scheme but also a lifeline for families facing high medical expenses. Eligible families should take advantage of this initiative by applying for the Ayushman Bharat card and securing access to critical healthcare services.
Apply today and make sure your family is protected under Ayushman Bharat!