PM Modi expands Ayushman Bharat coverage for elderly citizens aged 70 and above

Ayushman Bharat scheme: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) on Tuesday, October 29, now providing coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above.

Launched on Ayurveda Day, this development aims to offer up to Rs 5 lakh in treatment for each individual, ensuring seniors receive comprehensive health support under the government’s flagship insurance scheme. 

For seniors already enrolled in AB-PMJAY, the expansion grants additional health coverage without requiring them to share their insurance limit with other family members. Eligible individuals simply need to complete an e-KYC verification to update their Ayushman card, activating the new benefit.

Extensive coverage for elderly people

The scheme is expected to benefit close to six crore senior citizens across India, with a projected reach of approximately 4.5 crore households. To access these benefits, eligible citizens must register through the PMJAY portal or the Ayushman app, ensuring their Aadhaar identification is verified via an e-KYC update. The scheme currently operates in 33 states and union territories, excluding Delhi, Odisha, and West Bengal.

As of September 2024, AB-PMJAY has recorded a notable impact, having facilitated over 7.37 crore hospital admissions and offering Rs 1 lakh crore in health benefits to citizens. Nearly half of the scheme’s beneficiaries are women, highlighting its broad reach and importance for vulnerable sections of the population.

Options for comprehensive care

The scheme's expansion will also allow seniors with private health insurance or enrolled in the Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESIC) to participate in AB-PMJAY. However, seniors who are beneficiaries of other public health schemes, such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), and Ayushman CAPF, must choose between their existing coverage and the Ayushman Bharat plan.

The AB-PMJAY initiative currently has a network of 29,648 empanelled hospitals, including 12,696 private facilities, providing a wide range of treatment options for beneficiaries. Alongside this expansion, PM Modi also launched the U-WIN portal, modeled after India’s COVID-19 vaccine management system, and inaugurated critical care facilities at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Kalyani, and new super-specialty facilities in Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.