Health coverage for seniors: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), extending the health cover of Rs 500,000 to all persons aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their income. This new provision will benefit about six crore senior citizens, according to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The initiative, aimed at providing free health insurance, will cover senior citizens from about 4.5 crore families. Beneficiaries will be provided with a new, separate health card under this scheme.
Recharge Coverage Details
For senior citizens already covered under AB PM-JAY, there will be an additional annual cover of Rs 500,000, exclusively for them, without affecting the cover available to other family members below 70 years of age. For all other senior citizens aged 70 years and above, the scheme will provide up to Rs 500,000 per year on a family basis. The scheme includes those already enrolled in private health insurance or the Employees State Insurance (ESI) scheme. However, people currently covered under other public health insurance schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) or Central Armed Police Force Ayushman Scheme (CAPF) will have the option to continue with their existing cover or switch to AB PM-JAY.
Comprehensive overview of benefits
AB PM-JAY is recognised as the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance scheme, providing an annual coverage of Rs 500,000 for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisations to 550 million people across 12.34 billion families. Since its inception, the scheme has facilitated 7.37 billion hospital admissions, of which nearly 49 per cent benefited women. It has provided health benefits exceeding Rs 100,000 crore. It initially covered 10.74 billion families from the poorest 40 per cent of the population, and in January 2022, it was expanded to include 120 million families, reflecting India’s growing population. Additionally, in the latest expansion, the scheme now covers 370,000 ASHAs, AWWs and AWHs and their families.
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