Ayushman Bharat Yojana
Ayushman Bharat Yojana is India's largest government health insurance scheme offering up to Rs 5 lakh coverage per family annually. Get cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals and access comprehensive healthcare benefits for vulnerable families nationwide.
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Ayushman Bharat Yojana: Ayushman Bharat Yojana, also known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), is one of the biggest healthcare schemes launched by the Government of India on 23 September 2018. The main aim of this flagship initiative is to provide health cover to economically weaker and vulnerable families across India, especially targeting the bottom 40% of the population. This scheme offers a financial health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization care, through a network of empanelled public and private hospitals nationwide.
The scheme is designed to ensure universal health coverage (UHC) and promote access to quality healthcare services without pushing families into financial distress. It was launched to fulfill the vision of the National Health Policy 2017 and aligns with Sustainable Development Goals to "leave no one behind" in healthcare access.
Ayushman Bharat Registration
Visit the official PMJAY website (https://pmjay.gov.in).
Click on the "Am I Eligible" option on the homepage.
Enter the captcha code, your mobile number, and verify using the OTP sent to your phone.
Select your State, District, and Sub-scheme as PMJAY.
Enter your Aadhaar number or other family identification details.
Check if your family is listed as eligible; if yes, your details will appear on the screen.
If the Ayushman card is not generated, click on the "Apply Now" button.
Authenticate using Aadhaar OTP received on your registered mobile number.
Fill in all required family member details and submit the application.
After verification, you can download your Ayushman Bharat card from the portal.
For offline registration, visit the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) or an empanelled hospital where registration assistance is available.
You can also call the PMJAY helpline number 14555 for support or to check eligibility.
Keep documents like Aadhaar card, ration card, income certificate (if applicable), and mobile number handy during registration.
Ayushman Bharat Card Components
Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
These centres are created by strengthening existing sub-centres and primary health centres. The goal is to deliver affordable and comprehensive primary healthcare services, including maternal and child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, free essential drugs, and diagnostic services close to the community.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
PM-JAY is the health insurance part of Ayushman Bharat that offers cashless medical treatment coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for hospitalizations at secondary and tertiary levels. This coverage can be used in empanelled hospitals anywhere in India, providing portability across states.
Ayushman Bharat Card Benefits
Comprehensive Health Coverage With No Financial Burden
Extensive Medical Packages: The scheme covers more than 1,500 medical procedures including surgeries, diagnostics, pre- and post-hospitalization expenses.
Coverage for Entire Family: It offers a family floater insurance where the entire family is covered with no limit on family size or age.
Cashless Treatment: Beneficiaries receive cashless healthcare services at any empanelled hospital.
Pre-existing Diseases Covered: There is no waiting period, and pre-existing diseases are covered from the first day of enrollment.
Critical Illness Support: Covers treatments for critical and life-threatening illnesses including cancer, cardiac surgery, organ transplants, and more.
Transport Cost Reimbursement: Travel expenses related to hospitalization are also reimbursed for beneficiaries.
Post-Discharge Care: Medical costs during the post-hospitalization period (up to 15 days) are covered.
Women’s Health: Special packages focus on maternity care and women’s specific health issues like cervical and breast cancer.
Empowering Vulnerable Families
Ayushman Bharat focuses on ensuring healthcare access to poor and vulnerable families that often suffer due to their financial constraints. Roughly 12 crore families, representing about 55 crore people, are targeted under this scheme, based on deprivation and occupational criteria from the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011.
Wide Network of Empanelled Hospitals
The scheme has empanelled thousands of hospitals across India. These hospitals meet quality standards and provide standardized services so beneficiaries get access to expert medical care wherever they are.
Digital and Easy to Use
The scheme uses technology, including Aadhaar-based identification, to simplify registration and claim processing for beneficiaries. Portability of health insurance allows treatments in any empanelled hospital across states, adding convenience.
Ayushman Bharat Eligibility
To be eligible under the scheme, families must meet specific socio-economic criteria defined by the Government based on:
Rural areas: Households falling under specific deprivation categories such as landless laborers, destitute, households without shelter, manual scavengers, etc.
Urban areas: Occupations-based categories like rag pickers, domestic workers, street vendors, construction workers, and others.
Also, recently the scheme coverage was expanded to include all senior citizens above 70 years of age regardless of their income.
How to Avail Ayushman Bharat Benefits?
Check Eligibility: Beneficiaries can check their eligibility using the official government portal or with local government health officials.
Get the E-Card: Eligible families receive an Ayushman Bharat card or family ID enabling cashless treatment.
Select Empanelled Hospital: Treatment can be sought at any government or empanelled private hospitals under PM-JAY.
No Cash Transaction: The hospital manages the billing directly with the scheme, so beneficiary doesn’t have to pay upfront.
Claim Reimbursement: The hospital claims reimbursement from the National Health Authority (NHA), which monitors the scheme.
Importance of Ayushman Bharat Yojana in India’s Healthcare
Ayushman Bharat Yojana represents a revolutionary reform in India's public healthcare system by:
Reducing out-of-pocket expenditure which is a major cause of poverty for millions.
Encouraging preventive, promotive, and comprehensive care through Health and Wellness Centres.
Bridging the gap between rural and urban healthcare facilities.
Strengthening India’s efforts toward universal health universal health
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