Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has extended its benefit to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, by providing health coverage of 5 lakhs per year, irrespective of their socioeconomic status. On Wednesday the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the decision. This decision ensures that approximately 4.5 Crore families with 6 crore senior citizens will benefit from 5 Lakh rupees of free health insurance coverage on a family basis.
Under the AB PM-JAY scheme, a new distinct card will be issued to all senior citizens aged 70 years or above, irrespective of their income. The eligible senior citizens belonging to families already covered under AB PM-JAY will get the additional top-up coverage of up to 5 lakh per year exclusively for themselves. This top-up of added 5 lakh per year will not be shared with other family members below 70 years. Those who are already benefiting from other public health insurance schemes, such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), may choose their already opted health insurance or they can opt for AB PM-JAY. Eligible senior citizens, covered under private health insurance policies or the Employees’ State Insurance scheme, will also be eligible for AB PM-JAY benefits. In a family where two senior citizens (above 70 years) are present, then this Rs 5 lakh health coverage will be shared between them.
Ayushman Bharat PM -JAY was first launched on 23rd September 2018. It is a component of Ayushman Bharat, a flagship scheme of the Government of India, and the largest health assurance scheme in the world, which provides a health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. It offers secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 12.34 crore poor families (approximately 55 crore beneficiaries come from the bottom 40 percent of the population economically). It helps beneficiaries have cashless access to healthcare facilities in hospitals across all empanelled private and public hospitals in India. The Scheme covers individuals of all ages in the family with no restriction on the family size.
The beneficiary base of the AB PM -JAY scheme has increased substantially; the Government of India has revised the beneficiary base from 10.74 crore to 12 crore families, further expanding its base to 37 lakh ASHAs, AWWs, and AWHs working across the country, along with their families, providing them with free healthcare benefits.
It is observed that 24 per cent of people admitted under the AB PM -JAY scheme are senior citizens. Mostly insurance companies do not offer insurance to senior citizens aged 70 or more or even if they provide, they charge very high premiums. Senior citizens above 70 often lack the financial means to afford costly medical treatments, drugs, and therapies. Dialysis is the most frequently claimed procedure under the AB PM -JAY scheme. Elderly people are prone to serious ailments related to heart, kidney, brain, and lung functions. With their increased vulnerability post-COVID-19, making healthcare affordable is even more crucial for them. This decision will further ensure the social security of the aging population.