Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is one of the Government of India’s major healthcare initiatives aimed at providing financial protection to eligible families against the cost of hospitalisation. Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries can receive health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
The scheme is designed particularly to support economically vulnerable families so that expensive medical treatment does not become a major financial burden. PM-JAY also provides cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals, subject to the applicable package and scheme rules.
In addition to the original beneficiary categories, the Government has expanded AB PM-JAY to cover all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their income or economic status. Eligible senior citizens are issued a separate Ayushman card.
What is PM-JAY?
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is a government health assurance scheme that provides financial coverage for eligible hospitalisation expenses.
The scheme covers eligible families identified under the prescribed beneficiary database. For the original PM-JAY beneficiary population, eligibility was primarily linked to deprivation and occupational criteria identified through government databases, including SECC-related criteria.
According to the Government, AB PM-JAY provides ₹5 lakh health cover per family per year for eligible beneficiaries.
PM-JAY Key Features
Some of the major features of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY include:
- Health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year
- Cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals
- Coverage for eligible hospitalisation procedures under the scheme
- Portability across India at participating hospitals
- Coverage of pre-existing diseases from the beginning of coverage, subject to scheme rules
- No restriction on the number of family members for eligible PM-JAY families
- Coverage available to eligible family members irrespective of age
- Special coverage for senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income
The Government has stated that all members of eligible PM-JAY families, irrespective of age, are covered under the scheme.
Who is Eligible for PM-JAY?
Eligibility depends on the category under which the beneficiary is covered.
For the original PM-JAY beneficiary base, eligible families were identified using government beneficiary databases based on specified deprivation and occupational criteria.
Rural PM-JAY Eligibility Categories
The prescribed rural deprivation categories include families such as:
- Families without shelter
- Destitute households
- Families dependent on alms
- Manual scavenger families
- Particularly vulnerable/primitive tribal groups
- Legally released bonded labourers
Urban PM-JAY Eligibility Categories
The scheme also covers specified occupational categories of urban workers, including:
- Ragpickers
- Domestic workers
- Street vendors
- Construction workers
- Sanitation workers
- Drivers and transport workers
- Mechanics
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Other notified occupational categories
Important: Being part of an occupation or category mentioned above does not by itself guarantee eligibility. Beneficiaries should verify their name and eligibility through the official PM-JAY system.
PM-JAY for Senior Citizens Aged 70 Years and Above
A major change in Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the expansion of coverage to all citizens aged 70 years or above, regardless of their income or economic status.
The Government announced this expansion in September 2024. Approximately 4.5 crore families and 6 crore senior citizens were expected to benefit from the expansion.
According to the National Health Authority’s FAQ:
- Age eligibility is 70 years or above
- Income is not a condition for eligibility
- Aadhaar-based e-KYC is required
- Aadhaar is the required document for enrolment
- Eligible senior citizens receive a distinct Ayushman card
- Treatment can be accessed from the first day after enrolment, subject to scheme provisions
Can 70+ Senior Citizens Apply for an Ayushman Card Online?
Yes. Senior citizens aged 70 years and above can enrol for an Ayushman Card online through the official Ayushman Bharat beneficiary portal or the Ayushman App. The online enrolment process allows eligible senior citizens to complete the required verification and Aadhaar-based e-KYC from the convenience of their home.
According to the National Health Authority (NHA), eligible senior citizens can use the official beneficiary.nha.gov.in portal or the Ayushman App to complete their enrolment. After successful verification, they can access their Ayushman Card through the available digital facility and use it to obtain eligible treatment under the scheme at participating empanelled hospitals.
Documents Required for Ayushman Card
For regular PM-JAY beneficiaries, the documents or information required may vary depending on the beneficiary verification process and state implementation.
Commonly used details may include:
- Aadhaar Card
- Ration Card or beneficiary details
- Mobile Number
- Other identity or supporting documents, if required
Documents Required for 70+ Senior Citizens
For Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY enrolment for senior citizens aged 70 years and above, Aadhaar is the required document for registration. The enrolment process includes Aadhaar-based e-KYC, which is mandatory for verifying the beneficiary’s identity and eligibility. Senior citizens should ensure that their Aadhaar details are accurate and updated before starting the Ayushman Card enrolment process.
How to Check PM-JAY Eligibility Online?
Eligible beneficiaries can check their PM-JAY eligibility online through the official Ayushman Bharat beneficiary system. The online process allows individuals to search for their beneficiary record and check whether they are eligible to receive benefits under the scheme. Beneficiaries should always use the official government portal for accurate and updated information.
Step-by-Step Process
- Visit the Official PM-JAY Beneficiary Portal: Open the official Ayushman Bharat beneficiary portal.
- Enter Your Details: Enter your registered mobile number or other required beneficiary details.
- Complete OTP Verification: Verify your mobile number using the OTP, if prompted by the portal.
- Search for Your Beneficiary Record: Enter the required details to search for your name in the beneficiary database.
- Complete Verification: Use Aadhaar, ration card or other permitted details as requested by the official system.
- Complete e-KYC: If your beneficiary record is eligible, complete the required e-KYC process.
- Access Your Ayushman Card: After successful verification, follow the instructions provided on the portal to access or obtain your Ayushman Card.
For senior citizens aged 70 years and above, Aadhaar-based e-KYC is mandatory for enrolment under the applicable PM-JAY senior citizen benefit. Beneficiaries should ensure that their Aadhaar details are available and updated before starting the online enrolment process.
How to Create Ayushman Card Online?
Eligible beneficiaries can follow these steps to create their Ayushman Card online:
- Visit the Official Portal – Open the official PM-JAY beneficiary portal.
- Login / Enter Details – Enter your registered mobile number and complete OTP verification.
- Search Beneficiary – Search for your name using the available Aadhaar, ration card or beneficiary details.
- Complete e-KYC – If you are eligible, complete the required Aadhaar-based e-KYC process.
- Generate Ayushman Card – After successful verification, generate and access your Ayushman Card through the available digital facility.
- Save or Print the Card – Keep the digital card safely and take a printout if required.
Where Can Ayushman Card Beneficiaries Get Treatment?
Treatment under PM-JAY is available through empanelled hospitals participating in the scheme.
Beneficiaries can use the official hospital search facility to find participating hospitals. The National Health Authority also provides an official empanelled hospital search facility.
Before taking treatment, beneficiaries should confirm:
- Whether the hospital is empanelled
- Whether the required treatment/package is covered
- Whether the hospital provides the applicable PM-JAY service
- Whether any additional conditions apply to the treatment
Is PM-JAY Available Across India?
Yes, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is available across India through the scheme’s portability feature. Eligible beneficiaries can receive covered treatment at participating empanelled hospitals outside their home state, subject to the applicable PM-JAY guidelines and treatment package rules. This means that beneficiaries do not necessarily have to return to their home state to access eligible healthcare services under the scheme.
The portability facility can be especially useful for people who travel frequently, work in another state, or live away from their permanent residence. Before visiting a hospital, beneficiaries should check whether the hospital is empanelled under PM-JAY and whether the required treatment is covered under the scheme.
Is There Any Family Size or Age Limit for PM-JAY?
One of the key features of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is that there is no limit on the number of family members for families that are eligible under the scheme. This means that all eligible members of a covered family can receive the applicable PM-JAY benefits without any restriction based on family size. There is also no age limit for members of an eligible PM-JAY family, subject to the applicable scheme guidelines and beneficiary verification.
The Government has also expanded AB PM-JAY coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their income or economic status. Eligible senior citizens can enrol in the scheme and receive the applicable health benefits after completing the required verification and Aadhaar-based e-KYC process.
Therefore, individuals and families searching for PM-JAY eligibility, Ayushman Card benefits, or the PM-JAY age limit should verify their beneficiary details through the official government portal. This helps ensure that the latest eligibility requirements and applicable benefits are checked before using the scheme.
What About Gujarat Ayushman Card and PM-JAY?
The Gujarat Ayushman Card is linked with the healthcare benefits available under the applicable government health schemes, including Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. Eligible beneficiaries in Gujarat can check their eligibility, Ayushman Card status and available healthcare benefits through the official government system. The card can be used at participating hospitals for eligible treatments covered under the applicable scheme.
The list of Ayushman Card hospitals in Gujarat, covered treatments, procedures and other benefits may change from time to time based on government rules and updates. Therefore, beneficiaries should check the latest information before visiting a hospital rather than relying only on old information shared on social media, websites or WhatsApp.
For accurate information about Gujarat Ayushman Card eligibility, hospital list, treatment coverage and PM-JAY benefits, beneficiaries should use the official National Health Authority (NHA) and Gujarat Government portals. Checking the latest official information can help beneficiaries understand which hospitals and healthcare services are currently available under the scheme.
Important: Is Ayushman Card Coverage ₹5 Lakh or ₹10 Lakh?
There is often confusion about whether the Ayushman Card provides ₹5 lakh or ₹10 lakh health coverage, especially for beneficiaries in Gujarat. Under the central Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), eligible beneficiaries are generally provided health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for covered secondary and tertiary hospitalisation.
However, Gujarat may have state-level health schemes or additional provisions that can provide benefits beyond the standard central PM-JAY coverage. Because of this, some information available online may mention ₹10 lakh Ayushman Card coverage in Gujarat. The actual benefit available to a beneficiary can depend on the applicable scheme, eligibility and current government provisions.
Therefore, beneficiaries should not rely only on social media posts or unofficial websites when checking the Ayushman Card ₹10 lakh or ₹5 lakh coverage. It is advisable to verify the latest benefit amount, eligibility and applicable treatment coverage through the official Gujarat Government or National Health Authority (NHA) portal before taking treatment.
For the latest information, beneficiaries should check their Ayushman Card details and applicable benefits through the official government beneficiary system.
| Service | Official Link |
|---|---|
| Ayushman Bharat Beneficiary Portal | https://beneficiary.nha.gov.in |
| Official PM-JAY Website | https://pmjay.gov.in |
| National Health Authority (NHA) | https://nha.gov.in |
Important: PM-JAY eligibility, Ayushman Card status, hospital availability, covered procedures and state-specific benefits may change from time to time. Always verify the latest information through the official government portals before applying or taking treatment.
Safety Tip: Never share your Aadhaar OTP, bank details, passwords or other confidential information with unknown persons or unofficial websites.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is PM-JAY?
PM-JAY stands for Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. It is a government health assurance scheme providing eligible beneficiaries with financial coverage for specified hospitalisation expenses.
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How much health cover is available under PM-JAY?
Eligible beneficiaries receive health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year under AB PM-JAY.
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Are people aged 70+ eligible for Ayushman Card?
Yes. All senior citizens aged 70 years and above are eligible irrespective of their income or economic status, subject to the scheme’s enrolment requirements.
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Is Aadhaar required for 70+ Ayushman Card?
Yes. NHA states that Aadhaar-based e-KYC is mandatory for enrolment of senior citizens aged 70 years and above.
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Can I create an Ayushman Card online?
Yes. Eligible beneficiaries can use the official beneficiary portal and, where applicable, the Ayushman App to complete the enrolment process.
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Is PM-JAY treatment cashless?
Treatment under covered packages at empanelled hospitals is provided on a cashless basis according to PM-JAY rules and the applicable package.
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Can I use PM-JAY outside my state?
Yes. PM-JAY provides portability for eligible beneficiaries at participating empanelled hospitals across India.
Conclusion
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY provides important health coverage to eligible beneficiaries and helps reduce the financial burden of hospitalisation. Eligible families can receive health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year, while senior citizens aged 70 years and above can also enrol under the expanded PM-JAY coverage, irrespective of their income or economic status.
If you are looking for Ayushman Card eligibility, PM-JAY benefits, online enrolment or empanelled hospitals, it is important to verify your details through the official government portal. Since eligibility rules, hospital lists and scheme benefits can change, always check the latest information from the National Health Authority (NHA) or the concerned government department before taking any action.
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