70-year-olds can now get free central health insurance; income no bar

The Union Cabinet has expanded the scope of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to provide health insurance coverage to people aged 70 and up, irrespective of their income levels. This is expected to benefit millions of elderly peole and their families.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "Thare are many families which have already been covered and in such families, additional coverage or top-up coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh will be provided."

This scheme's expansion aims to address the growing healthcare needs of the elderly, who often face escalating medical costs as they age.

What is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

Launched in 2018, the ABPM-JAY is the central government's flagship health insurance programme. It aims to offer affordable healthcare to the most vulnerable segments of society. The scheme plans to give benefits to approximately 55 crore people.

The scheme covers Scheduled Castes and Tribes, Lower Income Groups (LIG), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). In the rural areas, the scheme includes families with disabled-bodied adults, landless manual labourers, and primitive tribal communities. In urban areas, families of workers in specific occupational categories and those enrolled under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) are covered.

To determine the eligibility, individuals can visit the official Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY website. The process involves accessing the "Am I Eligible" section, entering a mobile number and captcha code, generating and verifying an OTP, and then submitting the required information.

Applying for the scheme requires visiting the National Health Authority’s official website, verifying Aadhaar or ration cards at designated PMJAY kiosks, providing family identification proofs, and obtaining an e-card with a unique AB-PMJAY ID.

Coverage benefits 

It offers an annual health cover of ₹5 lakh per family, which includes hospitalisation, treatment, diagnostics, medicines, surgery, and post-treatment care. The scheme facilitates cashless services at both public and private hospitals, reducing out-of-pocket expenses. Importantly, there are no caps on family size, age, or gender of beneficiaries. Coverage also includes up to three days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days of post-hospitalisation expenses. Additionally, the scheme encompasses over 1,929 medical procedures and covers all pre-existing conditions from the day of enrolment.