Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended the government’s flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above. On the occasion of the ninth Ayurveda Day and the birth anniversary of Dhanvantari, the Hindu god of medicine, important incentives were announced in the health sector.
Let us tell you that in a historic decision, the Union Cabinet on September 11, 2024 approved the extension of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to provide comprehensive health insurance to people above the age of 70 years or further. . The move will provide free health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family, irrespective of their income, benefiting around 6 million senior citizens out of 4.5 million families.
According to government sources, around 7 crore people have benefited from the Ayushman Bharat scheme, saving around Rs 1 lakh crore from their pockets.
- The recent expansion will cover approximately 2 million additional families and 3 million additional individuals.
- 58% of the new beneficiaries are women, of whom 54% are widows.
- Financing division: the center contributes 60% and the states contribute 40%.
- Delhi and West Bengal have refused to implement the plan since 2019, citing 40% cost sharing and a preference to rename it after the chief minister.
- Odisha initially refused to join the BJP, but the stance changed under the newly formed BJP government.
- Delhi and West Bengal operate separate health schemes.
- The states with the best results in Ayushman Bharat are Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Kerala, three of which are governed by the opposition, and which stand out in terms of hospital admissions.
Ayushman Health Insurance for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above
- Under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of income.
- About 4.5 million families, including 6 million senior citizens, will benefit from health insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family.
- Seniors aged 70 or older, regardless of their socioeconomic status, will be entitled to receive AB PM-JAY benefits.
- Eligible senior citizens will be issued a separate card under AB PM-JAY.
- Senior citizens aged 70 years and above, who are already covered under AB PM-JAY, will receive an additional top-up of Rs 5 lakh per year exclusively for them.
- All other senior citizens aged 70 years and above will get coverage of Rs 5 lakh per annum on family basis.
- Seniors aged 70 or older who are enrolled in public health insurance systems (CGHS, ECHS, CAPF) can choose between their current plan or AB PM-JAY.
- People covered by private insurance or State Employee Insurance will also be entitled to AB PM-JAY benefits.
- AB PM-JAY initially covered 10.74 million families from the poorest 40% of India’s population. Due to population growth, it was expanded to 12 million families in 2022.
- The scheme also includes free healthcare for 37 lakh ASHA/AWW/AWH and their families.
Scheme details details.
Additionally, senior citizens aged 70 years and above having private health insurance policies or the State Employee Insurance Scheme will be eligible to avail the benefits of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
However, those who are already availing the benefits of other public health insurance schemes such as Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and Ayushman Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), they can opt for their existing benefits. You can choose a plan or choose an option. The statement read: AB PM-JAY.
According to the government, AB PM-JAY is the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance scheme providing medical coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 55 million people out of 12.34 million. families.
All eligible family members, regardless of age, are covered under the plan.
The scheme covers 7.37 crore hospital admissions, of which 49% are women beneficiaries. The statement said that the public has benefited more than Rs 1 lakh crore under this scheme.
The AB PM-JAY scheme has seen a steady expansion of the beneficiary base, he said, adding that initially, 10.74 million poor and vulnerable families, comprising the poorest 40% of India’s population, were covered. for the plan.
In January 2022, the central government expanded the beneficiary base from 10.74 crore to 12 million families, taking into account India’s decadal population growth of 11.7% compared to 2011 population.
The scheme was further expanded to provide free healthcare benefits to 37 lakh ASHA/Anganwadi workers and their families working across the country.
