The Ayushman Bharat Yojana is the country’s largest government health scheme, giving impoverished families a new lease of life by providing free treatment. People often ask which diseases are covered by the Ayushman card and whether you can be hospitalized unlimited times throughout the year. Let’s explain the Ayushman card’s limitations, benefits, and process in simple terms.
What is the Ayushman Card
The Ayushman card was launched in 2018 under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). It is a health card that allows you to receive free treatment up to ₹5 lakh per year at thousands of government and private hospitals across the country.
The biggest advantage of this card is that it requires no agents or lines. The entire process is digital, and the Ayushman card is downloaded instantly. This scheme is especially suitable for low-income families who find it difficult to afford expensive treatment.
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How many times a year can you get free treatment
Many people think that the Ayushman Card provides unlimited free treatment throughout the year. In reality, this is not the case. The card’s ₹5 lakh limit applies to the entire family. This means that if there are six members in the family, they can all receive free treatment up to ₹5 lakh.
However, you can get hospitalized and treated as many times as you want in a year, but this is only possible until the annual limit of ₹5 lakh is reached. Once the limit is reached, the free treatment benefit will no longer be available.
What diseases are covered by the Ayushman Card
This plan is extremely beneficial for patients who require hospitalization due to a serious illness. Major treatments covered under the Ayushman Card include:
Heart Valve Replacement
Pacemaker Implant
Prostate Cancer Treatment
Major Spine Surgery
Kidney Transplantation
Corneal Transplant
Skull Base Surgery
Carotid Angioplasty
Patients do not have to pay hospital bills for these major treatments. Please note that the Ayushman Card does not cover OPD (Outpatient Department) services, such as general medicine, X-rays, blood tests, and brief doctor consultations. This card is only applicable for inpatient treatment.
Who can get an Ayushman Card
The Ayushman Card is for those who are economically weak or work in the unorganized sector. This includes:
People working in the unorganized sector
People over 70 years of age
Poor and low-income groups
People who do not receive ESIC benefits
Those who do not pay PF
All such people are considered eligible for this scheme.
How to make an Ayushman card from home
The government has simplified the process of making the card so that people can get it from the comfort of their homes without any hassle:
First, visit the scheme’s official website, mera.pmjay.gov.in, or the PMJAY/Ayushman app.
Check your eligibility here.
If you are eligible, log in to the app or website.
Now enter your Aadhaar number and enter the OTP received on your mobile.
Click your photo with your mobile camera and submit it.
In a few seconds, your Ayushman card will be ready and available for download. If you find the online process difficult, you can also get the card made at your nearest CSC (Common Service Centre).
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