₹5 lakh health cover to all 70 and above under Ayushman Bharat; income no bar

Health coverage will now extend to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of socio-economic status, under the Centre’s flagship under Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana. This expansion will benefit over six crore seniors across 4.5 crore families, offering ₹5 lakh in annual health insurance coverage per family, according to a government press release following the cabinet's approval on Wednesday.

A new distinct card under the scheme will be issued to the senior citizens.

Seniors already covered under the scheme will receive an additional top-up of ₹5 lakh per year exclusively for themselves, separate from the family’s existing coverage for members under 70 years old.

Those who are already enrolled in public health insurance schemes like the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) can choose to continue with their current scheme or switch to AB PM-JAY.

Senior citizens with private health insurance or coverage under the Employees’ State Insurance scheme will also be eligible for benefits under AB PM-JAY.

The world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme offers health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care to 55 crore individuals (nearly 40% of the 140-crore population of the country). Initially targeting 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families, the scheme has seen continuous expansion, now covering 12.34 crore families due to India's decadal population growth of 11.7%.

To date, 7.37 crore hospital admissions have been covered, with 49% of the beneficiaries being women.

In January 2022, the scheme was further expanded to include 37 lakh ASHAs, AWWs (Anganwadi Workers), AWHs (Anganwadi Helpers), and their families for free healthcare benefits.