Under national insurance Ayushman Bharat scheme, the Modi Cabinet approves ₹5 lakh in health coverage for seniors 70 and above will be on a family basis.
Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the Union Cabinet has approved health coverage of ₹5 lakh for all senior citizens aged 70 and above, no matter what their income. Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday that the decision made by the Cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to benefit 4.5 crore families nationwide.
According to a Modi government announcement that all senior citizens of the age of 70 and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, would be eligible to avail the benefits of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
What is Ayushman Bharat scheme ?
Ayushman Bharat is a flagship healthcare initiative of the Government of India, launched in 2018. It aims to provide affordable healthcare to millions of Indian citizens, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
- The world’s largest publicly provided health guarantee program is Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
- It offers ₹5 lakh in year health coverage per family for treatment in secondary and tertiary care.
- The largest publicly covered health insurance program in the world, AB PM-JAY, covers ₹ 5 lakh per family year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization for 55 crore individuals, or 12.34 crore families.
- The initiative has covered 7.37 crore hospital admissions, with women accounting for 49 percent of the beneficiaries, according to a government statement.
- This healthcare initiative has provided over ₹1 lakh crore in benefits to the public.
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How to avail Ayushman Bharat scheme ?
- Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), senior individuals who are 70 years of age or above will obtain a special card for healthcare coverage.
- Senior persons in their families will receive an additional ₹5 lakh annually as a top-up for those who are currently covered under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY).
- Seniors who already receive coverage from another public health insurance program have the option of switching to Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY) or continuing with their present plan.
- Senior citizens over 70 who are currently receiving benefits from other public health insurance programs, such as the Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), and Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), can decide whether to take part in Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY) or continue with their current program.
- It has been made clear that senior adults 70 years of age and older who are covered by Employees’ State Insurance Scheme or private health insurance policies will be able to receive benefits under (AB-PM-JAY) scheme.