Over 6.5 lakh senior citizens have recently joined the Ayushman Bharat scheme following its recent expansion, according to data from the National Health Authority. Within just eleven days of extending the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) to cover individuals aged 70 and above, a significant surge in enrollments from elderly beneficiaries was recorded.
Nearly 6.5 lakh senior citizens received Ayushman cards during this period, with Kerala leading in new enrollments, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Haryana. This extension allows those over 70 to access free medical treatment worth up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually under PMJAY.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched PMJAY in Ranchi, Jharkhand on September 23, 2018, with the aim of enhancing healthcare access for impoverished and disadvantaged families by providing comprehensive health insurance coverage. The scheme offers cashless treatment, covering medicines, consultations, surgeries, ICU care, and other medical expenses. With the recent Cabinet approval on September 11, all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income, are eligible for these benefits under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY.
During the expansion announcement, Prime Minister Modi said, “Every senior citizen in the country aged 70 and above will receive free hospital treatment through the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card.” AB PM-JAY, the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, provides health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 55 crore individuals, covering 12.34 crore families.
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The scheme, which has benefited the public by over Rs. 1 lakh crore, has covered 7.37 crore hospital admissions, including 49% women beneficiaries. In January 2022, the Government of India expanded the beneficiary base from 10.74 crore to 12 crore families, considering India’s decadal population growth of 11.7%. Additionally, the scheme now includes 37 lakh ASHAs, AWWs, and AWHs and their families for free healthcare benefits.
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