Ayushman Bharat Yojana: Free Rs. 5 Lakh Health Cover For Poor Families & Senior Citizens: Are You Eligible?

In a significant step toward strengthening healthcare access for India's elderly population, the government has rolled out the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, now accessible via the Ayushman App.

Launched on September 11, 2024, under the flagship Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), the initiative offers free medical treatment up to Rs. 5 lakh per year exclusively for senior citizens aged 70 and above, irrespective of their economic status.

Spearheaded by the National Health Authority (NHA), the scheme enables elderly beneficiaries to avail cashless and paperless treatment at both government and listed private hospitals across India.

What is Ayushman Bharat Yojana?

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), is a flagship health insurance scheme of the Government of India, was launched on September 23, 2018, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ranchi, Jharkhand to provide free, cashless medical treatment of Rs. 5 lakh per family to economically weaker sections of society in both public & listed private hospitals across the country.

The scheme provides a wide range of secondary and tertiary treatments, spanning cardiac surgeries, cancer care, orthopedic procedures, and more. With over 1,949 procedures covered, the Ayushman yojna acts as a gateway to quality healthcare for the economically disadvantaged. So far, it has served more than 12 crore underprivileged families across the country.

Here's the Eligibility Criteria:

The Ayushman card is issued to all households based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas respectively.

For Rural Households:

Out of the total seven deprivation criteria for rural areas, PM-JAY covered all such families who fall into at least one of the following six deprivation criteria:

• Families living in kucha houses with only one room.
• Households without any adult male between 16-59 years.
• Families with disabled members and no able-bodied adult.
• SC/ST households.
• Landless households depending on manual casual labour.

For Urban Households:

Workers from the informal sector in urban areas are eligible for the scheme:

• Ragpickers, street vendors, cobbler, domestic workers
• Construction workers, masons, plumbers, welders, painters, Security Guards
• Drivers, rickshaw pullers, helpers, sanitation staff
• Shop assistants, waiters, electricians, mechanics, tailors
• Artisans, peons, delivery workers, and others engaged in daily-wage or unorganised work
• Mali, coolie, Washer man, Begger etc

For Senior Citizens Aged 70 and Above (Launched from Sept 11, 2024):

• All citizens aged 70 years or more are now automatically eligible, even if they are not part of SECC-2011 data.
• Receive an additional Rs. 5 lakh annual coverage under a special Ayushman Vay Vandana Card.
• Can choose Ayushman Bharat benefits even if already covered under schemes like CGHS, ECHS, or private insurance.

Who Is Not Eligible?

Certain economically secure or formally employed individuals are excluded, including:

• Government employees
• Families owning vehicles, refrigerators, landlines, or over 5 acres of land
• People paying income tax or PF
• Workers in the organised sector
• Owners of Kisan credit cards with limits over Rs. 50,000
• How to Check Eligibility
• To know your eligibility for the card, first visit the official website of the scheme pmjay.gov.in
• Now click on the option 'AM I Eligible'
• After this, some columns will appear in front of you, fill in your details in it
• Now you will know about your eligibility whether your Ayushman card can be made or not.
• If there is any issue you can call on the toll-free helpline: 14555 or 1800-111-565.

Key Features of the Ayushman Bharat Card:

• Coverage Amount: Rs. 5 lakh per family per year
• Family Floater Policy: No cap on family size, age, or gender
• Pre-existing Disease Coverage: Covered from Day 1
• Pre & Post-Hospitalisation: 3 days before and 15 days after included
• Transport & Daycare Treatment: Costs reimbursed or covered
• Empanelled Hospitals: Nationwide coverage at public and private hospitals

Beneficiaries must carry their Ayushman Bharat Card to avail services. This card is now also integrated with the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) and is accessible via digital wallets like Google Wallet.