Ayushman Bharat
On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, the Union Cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, authorized the flagship Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) program, which will provide health care to all elderly citizens aged 70 and over, regardless of income. About 4.5 crore families will profit from this, while six crore elderly persons will receive free health insurance coverage totaling ₹5 lakh per family.
The BJP manifesto included this program as one of its stated agenda items, and with its approval, all elderly adults who are 70 years of age or older, regardless of their socioeconomic background, will be able to take use of the AB PM-JAY benefits. Seniors who meet the eligibility requirements will receive a unique card under the AB PM-JAY.
Eligibility
- Everyone over 70 who is a senior citizen is eligible for the program. A family plan of ₹5 lakh is provided for 1their health.
2. A top-up of ₹5 lakh is also provided to elderly persons whose families are already enrolled in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana scheme for their health insurance. This additional amount is for the individual and does not need to be divided with the family.
3. Private health insurance for seniors is another benefit that they might use.
4. Elderly people who are enrolled in other public health insurance programs, such as the Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), must decide between the Ayushman Bharat program and their current insurance plan.
5. A unique card will be sent to each eligible beneficiary so they can use the program.
The world’s largest publicly sponsored health insurance program, according to the government, is the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana initiative.
The plan, which covers over 55 crore people and 12.34 crore families in India, offers a health cover of ₹5 lakh to every qualifying family each year.
Ayushman Bharat scheme: what is it?
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is the largest publicly sponsored health guarantee system in the world, according to the statement
For secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations, it offers health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family annually.
Regardless of the age of family members, the policy provides coverage to 55 crore individuals from 12.34 crore households.
As per the government announcement, the initiative has covered 7.37 crore hospital admissions, with 49% of the participants being female.
This healthcare project has benefited the people to the tune of almost ₹1 lakh crore thus far.
The beneficiary base of the AB PM-JAY scheme has been steadily growing. At the beginning of the program, 10.74 crore families that made up the poorest 40% of Indian society were covered. Afterwards, taking into account India’s decadal population growth of 11.7% over 2011, the Indian government revised the recipient base under AB PM-JAY in January 2022 from 10.74 crore to 12 crore families. ASHAs, AWWs, and AWHs employed nationwide, as well as their families, are now eligible for free healthcare benefits under the system, which has been further expanded. Carrying with the aim, AB PM-JAY will now offer free healthcare coverage of Rs 5 lakh to all national residents who are 70 years of age or older.