Senior citizens already had some coverage under this scheme, but now, the Modi government has rolled out something new with Ayushman Bharat. On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet gave the green light: every Indian aged 70 or above will get health coverage under this flagship plan.
So, who actually gets this?
From now on, anyone 70 or older qualifies, no matter how much money they have or where they come from. The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, made it official—age is the only thing that matters for this benefit. Income or social background doesn’t come into play.
What’s in it for them?
After the cabinet meeting, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “It has been decided to cover senior citizens above 70 years of age under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which provides universal health coverage. This is a very significant decision. This decision reflects great humanitarian thinking. They will receive free medical treatment benefits up to Rs 5 lakh. This will cover approximately 4.5 crore families in the country, including about 6 crore senior citizens.”
Free services will be available regardless of socio-economic status
According to a cabinet statement, all senior citizens aged 70 years or older, regardless of their socio-economic status, will be eligible to receive the benefits of AB PM-JAY. Eligible senior citizens under this scheme will be issued a new, separate card.
Senior citizens aged 70 years or older who are already covered under this scheme will receive an additional top-up cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh per year (which they will not have to share with other members of their family who are under 70 years of age). All other senior citizens aged 70 years or older will receive a cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh per year on a family basis.
You can choose either option
Those senior citizens of the specified age who are already receiving benefits under other public health insurance schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) can continue with their existing scheme or opt for AB PMJAY.
You will receive benefits even if you are covered under a state government scheme
Those who have private health insurance policies or are covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme will also be eligible to receive benefits under AB PM-JAY.
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What is Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana?
AB PM-JAY is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, providing health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family for secondary care hospitalization to 55 crore individuals across 12.34 crore families. All eligible family members, regardless of age, are covered under this scheme. The statement said that it has facilitated 7.37 crore hospitalizations, including 49 percent female beneficiaries. The public has received benefits worth over Rs. 1 lakh crore under this scheme.
The AB PM-JAY scheme has witnessed a continuous expansion of its beneficiary base. Initially, 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families, comprising the bottom 40 percent of India’s population, were covered under this scheme. Subsequently, the government revised the beneficiary base under AB PM-JAY from 10.74 crore to 12 crore families, considering an 11.7 percent increase in India’s population compared to the 2011 census. The scheme was further expanded to cover 37 lakh ASHA/AWW/AWH workers across the country and their families for free healthcare benefits.