The government is considering including all individuals over the age of 70 under Ayushman Bharat and increasing the insurance coverage from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh per year. According to official sources, the National Health Authority’s prepared estimates indicate that if these proposals are approved, it would result in an additional annual expenditure of ₹12,076 crore for the government.
This expansion would provide health insurance to over two-thirds of the country’s population. Medical expenses are one of the primary causes of families falling into debt, and these proposals or parts of them are expected to be announced in the general budget on July 23.
Another source mentioned that approximately 4-5 crore additional beneficiaries over the age of 70 have been included under this plan. The ₹5 lakh limit for AB-PMJAY was set in 2018.
Also Read: Is Your Car Protected? Find Out Now If Your Insurance Covers Flood Damage!
In the interim budget of 2024, the government increased the allocation for AB-PMJAY to ₹7,200 crore, which provides health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations for 12 crore families.
For the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), ₹646 crore was allocated. President Droupadi Murmu, in her address to the joint session of Parliament on June 27, stated that all elderly individuals over the age of 70 would now receive free treatment benefits under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.