GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th Sept. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a major expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to provide health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of income.
This decision aims to benefit approximately 4.5 crore families, which equates to around 6 crore senior citizens. Each eligible senior citizen will receive up to ₹5 lakh in free health insurance coverage per year.
The new policy will issue distinct AB PM-JAY cards to senior citizens aged 70 and above. Those already covered under AB PM-JAY will receive an additional top-up of up to ₹5 lakh per year, specifically for their personal health coverage, separate from family benefits.
Senior citizens under other public health insurance schemes, such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), can either continue with their current plans or opt for AB PM-JAY benefits.
Private health insurance policyholders and those under the Employees’ State Insurance scheme will also be eligible for AB PM-JAY coverage.
AB PM-JAY, the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, provides up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
The scheme covers 55 crore individuals across 12.34 crore families and has facilitated over ₹1 lakh crore in healthcare benefits. Since its initial rollout, the scheme has expanded from covering 10.74 crore families to 12 crore families, reflecting India’s population growth.
The expansion to include senior citizens aged 70 and above was initially announced by Prime Minister Modi in April 2024. This move marks a significant step in enhancing healthcare accessibility and financial protection for India’s elderly population, furthering the mission of providing universal health coverage under AB PM-JAY.
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