Ayushman Bharat Turns 8: ₹5 Lakh Cover for 70+ Seniors, Check Card Application and Cashless Treatment
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has completed eight years, marking another milestone for India's government-backed health protection programme. Over the years, the scheme has expanded beyond its original beneficiary base, with one of the most significant changes being health coverage for senior citizens aged 70 years and above.
Under the expanded framework, eligible senior citizens aged 70 or older can access health coverage irrespective of their income, subject to the applicable PM-JAY rules. Those who are already members of families covered under AB PM-JAY can receive a separate additional cover of up to ₹5 lakh for eligible senior citizens in the family.
The benefit is associated with the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, which is specifically designed for beneficiaries aged 70 years and above.
Here is a detailed look at the scheme, eligibility, benefits and the process of getting an Ayushman card.
How Much Health Cover Is Available Under Ayushman Bharat?
The standard AB PM-JAY framework provides eligible beneficiary families with health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for specified secondary and tertiary hospitalisation services.
Treatment is provided on a cashless basis at hospitals empanelled under the scheme, subject to the applicable package and eligibility conditions.
For senior citizens aged 70 years and above, the government has expanded the programme irrespective of family income.
There is also an important distinction for seniors who belong to families already covered under AB PM-JAY.
Such eligible 70+ beneficiaries can receive an additional ₹5 lakh cover meant specifically for senior citizens, separate from the family's existing ₹5 lakh cover, under the applicable rules.
What Is the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card?
The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card is intended for senior citizens aged 70 years or above under the expanded PM-JAY coverage.
According to the figures cited in the supplied report, more than 1.36 crore senior citizens had already received Ayushman Vay Vandana Cards.
The age-based expansion is significant because eligibility for people aged 70 and above is not restricted by the family's income level in the same manner as the original beneficiary identification framework.
Senior citizens should still complete the prescribed registration and verification process before seeking benefits.
Ayushman Bharat: Key Benefits at a Glance
| Key Area | Scheme Details |
|---|---|
| Annual health protection | Up to ₹5 lakh per eligible family per year for covered treatment |
| Benefit for 70+ citizens | Coverage for citizens aged 70 and above irrespective of income, with a separate ₹5 lakh benefit for eligible seniors in already-covered families |
| Hospital network | More than 39,000 empanelled government and private hospitals, according to the supplied data |
| Treatment packages | Reported coverage across 27 specialties and 1,961 treatment/surgical packages |
| Ayushman Arogya Mandirs | More than 500 crore OPD visits reported across the primary healthcare network |
The actual treatment available depends on the health-benefit packages covered under PM-JAY and the services offered by the selected empanelled hospital.
How Many People Have Been Covered?
According to figures cited in the report, more than 60 crore people have been brought under the scheme's coverage.
More than 48.54 crore Ayushman cards have reportedly been generated.
The report also states that more than 13 crore treatments worth over ₹2 lakh crore have been provided through empanelled hospitals.
These figures reflect the programme's scale after eight years of operation.
ASHA and Anganwadi Workers Also Covered
The scheme has also been expanded to include additional categories of beneficiaries.
According to the supplied information, more than 44.81 lakh ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and helpers have been brought under the health-coverage framework and issued cards.
Other government initiatives have also extended healthcare support to specific vulnerable groups.
Coverage arrangements have been expanded for identified groups including transgender persons, waste pickers, construction workers and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), subject to the rules of the respective government programmes.
How to Apply for an Ayushman Card Online
Eligible beneficiaries can use the National Health Authority's official beneficiary platform or the official Ayushman App.
The general process involves the following steps:
-
Open the official PM-JAY beneficiary platform or Ayushman App and choose the Beneficiary option.
-
Enter your mobile number and complete OTP-based login.
-
Select your state, applicable scheme and district.
-
Search for beneficiary details using the supported identification option, which may include ration-card details, family identification information or another available government identifier.
-
If your name appears as eligible, select the member for whom the card needs to be created.
-
Choose e-KYC and complete the required identity verification.
-
Aadhaar-based OTP or biometric authentication may be offered depending on the available verification method.
-
Complete any required photograph or additional verification step.
-
Once the application and verification are successfully processed, the digital Ayushman card can be generated and downloaded where available.
The exact interface can change, so users should follow the instructions shown on the official platform.
Can You Get an Ayushman Card Offline?
Yes. People who are unable to complete the process themselves online can seek assistance through authorised offline channels.
Eligible beneficiaries can approach a nearby Common Service Centre (CSC) or the Ayushman helpdesk/Ayushman Mitra facility at a participating government or empanelled hospital, where available.
Carry the identification documents required for beneficiary verification.
Do not pay an unknown intermediary merely because they promise guaranteed PM-JAY eligibility. Eligibility is determined under the applicable government rules and cannot be created by an agent.
How Does Cashless Treatment Work?
Once an eligible beneficiary needs hospitalisation, treatment must generally be obtained through a hospital empanelled under PM-JAY for the relevant package.
At the hospital, the patient or family can approach the Ayushman helpdesk and provide the Ayushman card along with the required identification.
The hospital verifies the beneficiary's identity and eligibility before processing treatment under the applicable package.
For approved treatment, the scheme is designed to provide cashless hospitalisation, meaning the beneficiary should not have to pay the covered treatment amount upfront to the hospital.
However, patients should confirm that the specific treatment is included in the PM-JAY package and that the hospital is currently empanelled for the required specialty.
Pre- and Post-Hospitalisation Expenses May Be Covered
PM-JAY packages can also include specified expenses linked to hospitalisation.
According to the scheme information cited in the supplied report, eligible expenses may include certain diagnostic and related costs incurred up to three days before hospitalisation and specified medicines or follow-up expenses for up to 15 days after discharge, subject to the relevant package rules.
This does not mean every medical expense incurred during these periods is automatically reimbursable. Coverage depends on the approved treatment package.
Does Ayushman Bharat Cover Normal OPD Treatment?
Consumers should distinguish between PM-JAY hospitalisation benefits and the broader Ayushman Bharat healthcare ecosystem.
AB PM-JAY primarily provides financial protection for eligible hospitalisation and specified treatment packages.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, meanwhile, are part of the primary healthcare network and provide a wider range of community and outpatient healthcare services.
The two should not be treated as identical benefits.
How to Avoid Ayushman Card Fraud
Beneficiaries should use only official government platforms, authorised centres and recognised hospital helpdesks for registration and treatment.
Never share your OTP, UPI PIN, debit-card PIN, CVV or internet-banking password with someone claiming they need these details to create an Ayushman card.
Also be cautious of people promising guaranteed cash payments in exchange for an Ayushman card. PM-JAY is primarily a healthcare-benefit programme and should not be confused with a scheme that simply transfers ₹5 lakh in cash to a beneficiary's bank account.
What Senior Citizens Should Know
The expansion of Ayushman Bharat for citizens aged 70 years and above is one of the programme's most important recent changes.
The ₹5 lakh figure represents eligible healthcare coverage under the scheme—it is not ₹5 lakh deposited into the beneficiary's bank account.
Senior citizens and their families should first verify eligibility, complete the prescribed registration process and obtain the appropriate card. Before treatment, they should also confirm that the hospital is empanelled and that the required procedure falls within an approved PM-JAY package.
Note: PM-JAY eligibility, health-benefit packages, hospital empanelment and card-generation procedures can change. Beneficiaries should verify the latest details through the National Health Authority's official PM-JAY channels before seeking treatment or sharing personal information.