Prime Minister Modi Launches Health Coverage for Senior Citizens Under Ayushman Bharat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a new health program on Tuesday, October 29.

This program will give health coverage to all citizens aged 70 and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

This information comes from reports by PTI.

With this program, citizens with an Ayushman card can get free medical treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh at any participating hospital.

This starts from the launch date and aims to help senior citizens receive necessary medical care without financial worries.

The Prime Minister will also introduce other important projects. One of these is the U-WIN portal.

This portal will keep a digital record of vaccinations for children from birth to age 17, as well as for pregnant women. This system is based on the successful COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Key Details About the AB-PMJAY Health Coverage Plan:

1. Eligibility: All citizens aged 70 and above can get health coverage. This is based on their Aadhaar card and does not depend on income.

2. Estimated Beneficiaries: The program is expected to assist about six crore citizens, including around 4.5 crore households.

3. Registration Process: To access health coverage, individuals must register on the PMJAY portal or the Ayushman app. Current Ayushman cardholders will need to apply again and complete their eKYC for a new card.

4. Where It Works: The program is available in 33 states and Union territories. It does not include Delhi, Odisha, and West Bengal.

5. Extra Coverage: Senior citizens aged 70 and above from already covered families will receive an additional ₹5 lakh per year, not shared with younger members.

6. Hospital Admissions: The PMJAY program has helped with 7.37 crore hospital admissions. About 49 percent of beneficiaries are women. The program has provided over ₹1 lakh crore in benefits.

7. Insurance Eligibility: Senior citizens with private health insurance or under the Employees' State Insurance scheme can also receive benefits from this program..

8. Choosing Between Schemes: Senior citizens aged 70 and above using other public health insurance must decide between their current scheme and the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

9. Coverage Statistics: The AB-PMJAY scheme covers 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families, representing the bottom 40 percent of India's population.

10. Hospital Network: As of September 1, 2024, there are 29,648 hospitals, including 12,696 private ones, offering treatment under the PMJAY scheme.