New Delhi, Sep 11: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved free health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of income, under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
This decision is set to benefit approximately 4.5 crore families, including 6 crore senior citizens, who will receive a health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for medical treatments.
The scheme aims to ensure that all senior citizens aged 70 and above are eligible for this coverage, irrespective of their socio-economic background.
Eligible senior citizens will receive a distinct card under the AB PM-JAY scheme. Senior citizens already covered under the scheme will receive an extra 5 lakh top-up cover for themselves, separate from other family members under 70.
Those aged 70 and above who are covered by other health schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), and Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) can choose to continue with their existing scheme or switch to AB PM-JAY. Additionally, senior citizens with private health insurance or Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) are also eligible for AB PM-JAY benefits.
The AB PM-JAY is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, providing health coverage of 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisations.
The scheme currently covers 12.34 crore families, reaching 55 crore individuals. It has supported 7.37 crore hospital admissions, with 49 percent of beneficiaries being women.
So far, the public has benefited from over Rs 1 lakh crore worth of healthcare services under the scheme, officials of the health ministry said.
Initially, the scheme covered 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families, constituting the bottom 40 percent of India’s population.
In 2022, this number was expanded to 12 crore families, accounting for India’s population growth.
Later, the scheme extended coverage to 37 lakh ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers (AWW), and their families.
Now, all senior citizens aged 70 and above will be included under the scheme, as part of the government’s commitment to expanding healthcare access.
