Government Expands Ayushman Bharat Scheme to Cover Citizens Over 70

The Union government has approved extending health coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to all citizens aged 70 and above. This decision, announced by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is set to benefit over 4.5 crore families, ensuring health security for 6 crore senior citizens.

Under this scheme, eligible individuals will receive free health coverage worth ₹5 lakh per family annually. The expansion marks a significant step toward providing comprehensive healthcare to the elderly population, irrespective of their socio-economic status.

In an official statement, the government highlighted that all senior citizens aged 70 years and above will be eligible to avail the benefits of AB PM-JAY, regardless of their socio-economic background. A new distinct card will be issued to these individuals under the scheme.

For senior citizens who are part of families already covered under AB PM-JAY, an additional top-up cover of ₹5 lakh per year will be available exclusively for those above 70. This top-up is reserved for the senior member of the family and does not extend to younger family members. Those who are already enrolled in other public health insurance programs such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will have the option to either continue with their existing plans or switch to AB PM-JAY.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring quality healthcare for every Indian. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), he said, "We are committed to accessible, affordable, and top-quality healthcare for all. Today’s decision to expand Ayushman Bharat to cover all citizens above 70 ensures dignity, care, and security to six crore senior citizens."

Additionally, senior citizens who are currently covered by private health insurance or the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIC) will also be eligible for AB PM-JAY benefits.

AB PM-JAY is recognized as the world's largest publicly funded health assurance initiative, offering ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary hospital care. The scheme covers approximately 55 crore people from 12.34 crore families. Since its launch, it has facilitated 7.37 crore hospital admissions, with women accounting for 49% of the beneficiaries. Over ₹1 lakh crore has been spent on healthcare under the scheme. 

The recent expansion to include those aged 70 and above was initially announced by PM Modi in April. The scheme has continued to broaden its reach since its inception, beginning with 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families, covering the bottom 40% of India's population. 

We are committed to ensuring accessible, affordable and top quality healthcare for every Indian. In this context, the Cabinet today has decided to further expand the ambit of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to provide health coverage for all citizens above 70 years. This scheme will…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 11, 2024