All Indians aged 70 and above will now receive ₹5 lakh in free health insurance under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, marking a milestone in senior care.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Union Cabinet has made history by announcing that all senior citizens 70 years of age and older, regardless of income, will receive free health insurance. The goal of this expansion under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is to provide millions of senior Indians with access to healthcare and financial relief (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
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Free Health Insurance Scheme: A Lifeline for Families Worth 4.5 Crores
It is anticipated that approximately 4.5 crore families, or nearly 6 crore senior citizens in India, will benefit from this new initiative. Each eligible individual will receive ₹5 lakh in free health insurance annually, which is available to families.
Senior citizens 70 years of age and older who are already covered by AB PM-JAY will receive an extra ₹5 lakh top-up, which they are not required to give to younger family members. This entails increased financial security and coverage specifically for the medical needs of the elderly.
New Ayushman Cards for Senior Citizens
A unique AB PM-JAY card will be given to each eligible senior citizen, making it easier for them to access medical facilities and services. People who are currently enrolled in other public health insurance programmes, such as CGHS, ECHS, or Ayushman CAPF, have the option of switching to AB PM-JAY or staying with their current plan.
To ensure that no one is left behind, AB PM-JAY will provide benefits to seniors covered by Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) or private health insurance.
The World’s Largest Health Assurance Scheme Gets Bigger
With an annual hospital care coverage of ₹5 lakh per family, AB PM-JAY is already acknowledged as the largest publicly funded health assurance programme in the world. With 49% of beneficiaries being women, it has facilitated 7.37 crore hospital admissions to date and given Indian families financial security totalling more than ₹1 lakh crore.
The programme, which included 37 lakh ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, and helpers, initially covered 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families before growing to 12 crore families in 2022. Now that all citizens 70 years of age and older are included, the coverage is practically universal.
Caring for Those Who Cared for Us
This expansion fulfils Prime Minister Modi’s April 2024 pledge to guarantee that all elderly people, who have contributed to society and families for decades, are treated with dignity and have access to reasonably priced healthcare.
The ruling represents a significant step towards India’s goal of universal health coverage. The government guarantees that everyone, especially those who need it most, has access to healthcare by including all citizens over 70. This action reaffirms India’s dedication to providing its ageing population with a compassionate, inclusive, and healthy future.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana In a Nutshell
- Who benefits? All citizens aged 70 years and above
- Coverage: ₹5 lakh per year, per family
- Beneficiaries: 4.5 crore families (approx. 6 crore seniors)
- Special top-up: Extra ₹5 lakh for seniors in existing AB PM-JAY families
- Flexibility: Option to continue or switch from other public health schemes
A Health Shield for India’s Elders
The ruling represents a significant step towards India’s goal of universal health coverage. The government guarantees that everyone, especially those who need it most, has access to healthcare by including all citizens over 70. This action reaffirms India’s dedication to providing its ageing population with a compassionate, inclusive, and healthy future.
Reference:
- Press Releases – (https://www.mohfw.gov.in/?q=/press-info/7742)
Source-Ministry of Health & Family Welfare