The Union Cabinet has approved health coverage for senior citizens under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) on Wednesday. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the scheme will benefit nearly six crore senior citizens.
Eligible beneficiaries will receive coverage of up to ₹5 lakh under this scheme, which is expected to aid approximately 4.5 crore families across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the initiative, posting on X: “We are committed to ensuring accessible, affordable, and top-quality healthcare for every Indian. This scheme will provide dignity, care, and security to six crore citizens!”
Below are the eligibility criteria for the scheme under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Eligibility:
- Senior citizens aged 70 and above are eligible for the scheme, receiving a health cover of ₹5 lakh on a family basis.
- Senior citizens from families already enrolled in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana will receive an additional top-up of ₹5 lakh exclusively for themselves, which does not need to be shared with their family members.
- Senior citizens with private health insurance can also benefit from this scheme.
- However, those enrolled in other public health schemes, such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), must choose between their existing coverage or the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
All eligible beneficiaries will be issued a distinct card to access the benefits of the scheme.
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The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance programme, offering an annual health cover of ₹5 lakh to each eligible family, benefiting approximately 55 crore individuals and 12.34 crore families in India.