The Ayushman Bharat Yojana, also known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), is the central government’s ambitious and the world’s largest health assurance scheme. Its primary objective is to provide free medical services to poor and needy families, particularly covering hospitalization expenses for serious illnesses for those who cannot afford treatment.
Key Features and Benefits of the Scheme
| Feature/Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) |
| Health Cover | Free health insurance cover up to ₹5,00,000/- (Five Lakh Rupees) per eligible family per year. |
| Treatment Mode | Cashless and Paperless treatment. Beneficiaries do not need to pay any money at the hospital for covered treatments. |
| Coverage Includes | Covers pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses, surgery, diagnostic tests, medicines, medical consumables, accommodation benefits, and up to 15 days of follow-up care. Covers a total of 1,300+ treatment packages. |
| Hospitals | Available for free treatment in both government and empanelled private hospitals across the country. |
| Eligible Families | Poor and economically backward families based on the SECC 2018 data, and those meeting specific socio-economic criteria (e.g., landless labourers, SC/ST households, destitutes, etc.). |
| New Expansion | Recently expanded to include all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of their socio-economic status, for free treatment up to ₹5 lakh. |
How to Avail Benefits (Getting the Ayushman Card)
To get benefits under the scheme, the beneficiary must possess an Ayushman Card (Golden Card).
- Check Eligibility: You can check your eligibility on the official portal (e.g., pmjay.gov.in or beneficiary.nha.gov.in) or at a Common Service Center (CSC).
- Get the Card: If you are eligible, you can get your Ayushman Card made at the nearest CSC, empanelled hospitals, or state government health centers. An Aadhaar Card is necessary for this process.
- Receive Treatment: Once you have the card, you can receive free treatment up to ₹5 lakh at any empanelled hospital.
