New Delhi, September 14: The Union cabinet has approved health coverage for senior citizens on Wednesday under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), India’s flagship health insurance scheme, offers comprehensive coverage for senior citizens, ensuring access to quality healthcare services.
According to union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the scheme will benefit close to six crore senior citizens.
Eligible beneficiaries will get a cover up to ₹5 lakh under the scheme. The scheme is expected to benefit around 4.5 crore families in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the scheme with a post on X saying, “We are committed to ensuring accessible, affordable and top-quality healthcare for every Indian. This scheme will ensure dignity, care and security to six crore citizens!”
Take a look below to find out who all are eligible for the scheme under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Eligibility Criteria for Senior Citizens
To be eligible for Ayushman Bharat health insurance coverage, senior citizens must meet the following criteria:
Age: The primary beneficiary or any family member must be above 60 years of age.
Family Identification Number (FID): The family must have a valid Family Identification Number (FID) issued by the government.
Annual Family Income: The annual family income must be below the prescribed threshold, which varies from state to state.
Benefits for Senior Citizens
Ayushman Bharat provides comprehensive health insurance coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family per year. This covers the cost of hospitalization, including:
In-patient hospitalization: Room rent, doctor’s fees, nursing care, diagnostic tests, and medicines.
Pre-hospitalization expenses: Expenses incurred up to 30 days before hospitalization.
Post-hospitalization expenses: Expenses incurred up to 90 days after hospitalization.
How to Apply for Ayushman Bharat
There are multiple ways to apply for Ayushman Bharat health insurance:
1. Online Application: Visit the official Ayushman Bharat website or the state portal and fill out the online application form.
2. Common Service Centers (CSCs): Visit a nearby CSC and submit the required documents.
3. Government Hospitals: Approach government hospitals in your area for assistance with the application process.
Health Insurance: Required Documents
Aadhaar card of the family head
1. Ration card
2. Income certificate
3. Mobile number
4. Bank account details
Planning To Apply For Health Insurance: Important Note
The eligibility criteria and application process may vary slightly from state to state. It is advisable to contact your local health department or government hospital for specific details.
If you face any difficulties in the application process, you can seek assistance from the Ayushman Bharat helpline.
According to the government, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana scheme is the is the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance programme.
Under the programme, a health cover of ₹5 lakh is provided to every eligible family annually and serves close to 55 crore individuals and 12.34 crore families in India.