In a letter sent to states and UTs, Union Health Ministry Additional Secretary LS Changsan said that a separate module has been created in the mobile phone application (Ayushman App) and web portal (beneficiary. nha.gov.in) for the registration of those senior citizens who wish to avail the benefits of the scheme.
“Desiring senior citizens will have to apply on this portal or app. A separate Ayushman card will be issued to all eligible senior citizens aged 70 years and above, both for existing and new families,” he said in a recent letter.
Registration for all eligible seniors age 70 and older will be application-based only and registration will be a rolling process, allowing for year-round registration.
“The plan will be implemented shortly,” Changsan said.
Can people over 70 years of age apply?
AB-PMJAY benefits will now be available to all seniors aged 70 or older, regardless of their socioeconomic status, Changsan said.
These benefits will be available to seniors age 70 and older in families already covered by AB PM-JAY, as well as families not covered by the plan.
The only eligibility criterion to avail the benefits of the plan would be that the individual has reached the age of 70 or older. This would be determined on the basis of the age recorded in Aadhaar.
As per prevailing practice, Aadhaar would be the only document required for registration. Aadhaar-based e-KYC will be mandatory for enrollment and issuance of Ayushman cards for eligible senior citizens of new and existing families, it said.
Beneficiaries of other central and state government health insurance plans will have the sole option of choosing between their current plan or the AB PMJAY plan to avoid duplication.
Can people over 70 years of age with active private health insurance or other policies apply?
Senior citizens aged 70 years and above who have active private health insurance policies or senior citizens aged 70 years and above who are beneficiaries of the state employee insurance plan would also be entitled to avail the benefits of the expanded plan, it said. the additional secretary. informed.
“Additional shared top-up cover of up to 25 lakh per annum will be provided for senior citizens aged 70 years and above in families already covered under AB PM-JAY. This top-up cover of up to a total of 5 lakh for treatment of older people if the other members have used all or part of the original family portfolio.
“Furthermore, if senior citizens (70 years and above) fully or partially use the original 5 lakh family wallet, other family members will receive recharge cover of up to $5 lakh,” he said.
“A shared cover of $5 lakh per family per year will be available for senior citizens in families who are currently not covered under AB PM-JAY. This coverage will be exclusive to people aged 70 and over,” the letter states.
The additional cost of covering senior citizens, including administrative expenses, will be shared between the central and state governments as per the existing fund release guidelines in AB PM-JAY.
The letter emphasized that implementation of the scheme would require states and Union Territories to facilitate enrollment of all eligible senior citizens aged 70 years and above.
States and UTs were asked to carry out extensive IEC activities to create awareness about the expansion of AB PM-JAY for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above.
This would include creating and distributing informational materials, conducting community outreach programs, and using various media channels to ensure wide dissemination of information.
Additionally, all relevant stakeholders, including hospitals, local government agencies, healthcare providers and community organizations, would need to be involved to successfully implement the plan’s benefits to eligible seniors, according to the letter.
Three states: Odisha, Delhi and West Bengal are yet to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri—Jan Arogya Yojana.
READ ALSO | Who is eligible for Ayushman Card? See updated rules and steps to apply
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