In just eleven days since the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) to include individuals aged 70 years and above, the scheme has seen a surge in enrolment of elderly beneficiaries. According to the National Health Authority data, around 6.5 lakh elderly people have enrolled and received Ayushman cards during this period. Kerala leads the new enrolment of senior citizens, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Haryana.
The Ayushman Bharat PMJAY scheme provides free medical treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually. With the extension recently announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people above 70 years of age can also avail health insurance services under this scheme. This expansion has generated significant interest, with over 6 lakh new senior beneficiaries joining within days of the announcement. PMJAY, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23, 2018, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, aims to increase healthcare access for poor and underprivileged families by providing comprehensive health insurance coverage. The plan covers cashless treatment including medicines, consultations, surgeries, ICU care and other medical expenses.
Earlier on September 11, the Union Cabinet had approved health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of income under the flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). With this approval, all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, will be eligible to avail the benefits of AB PM-JAY. Announcing the extension of PMJAY, the Prime Minister said, every senior citizen aged 70 years and above in the country will get free hospital treatment through the Ayushman Vaya Vandana card. AB PM-JAY is the world's largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, providing health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 55 crore persons corresponding to 12.34 crore families. All members of eligible families, regardless of age, are covered under this scheme. The scheme has covered 7.37 crore hospitalised people, including 49 per cent women beneficiaries. Under this scheme, the public has benefited more than Rs 1 lakh crore. Later, the Government of India revised the beneficiary base under AB PM-JAY from 10.74 crore to 12 crore families in January 2022 keeping in view India's decadal population growth of 11.7% as compared to 2011 population.
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