Ayushman Bharat Insurance Scheme To Cover Everyone Above 70: Know Benefits, Eligibility

New Delhi: In a major development, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is now being extended to all those who are above the age of 70. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the expansion will benefit approximately 4.5 crore families, encompassing around 6 crore senior citizens across the country.

Ayushman Bharat Insurance Scheme Now Covers All Those Above 70

Senior citizens aged 70 and above will now be included in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the Centre announced on Wednesday. It has been clarified that senior citizens of 70 years and above who are under private health insurance policies or Employees' State Insurance scheme will be eligible to avail benefits under the the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

What is Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana?

As per the official website, "Ayushman Bharat, a flagship scheme of Government of India, was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This initiative has been designed to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its underlining commitment, which is to 'leave no one behind'." One of its two inter-related components is Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

The website explains AB-PMJAY as, “The largest health assurance scheme in the world which aims at providing a health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 12 crores poor and vulnerable families (approximately 55 crore beneficiaries) that form the bottom 40% of the Indian population. The households included are based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas respectively. PM-JAY was earlier known as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) before being rechristened.”

Ayushman Bharat Insurance Scheme Covers Those Above 70: Check List of Benefits

• Cabinet approves health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of income.
• Coverage aims to benefit 4.5 Crore families with 6 crore senior citizens with 5 Lakh rupees free health insurance cover on a family basis.
• Eligible senior citizens would be issued a new distinct card under AB PM-JAY
• Senior citizens of the age 70 years and above belonging to families already covered under AB
• PM-JAY to get an additional top-up cover up to 5 lakh per annum for themselves
• Senior citizens of the age 70 years and above who are already availing benefits of other public health insurance schemes may either choose their existing scheme or opt for AB PMJAY