Now, all individuals above the age of 70 will receive the benefits of Ayushman Bharat.
September 12,2024
The benefits of Ayushman Bharat will now be available to all people above the age of 70. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved health coverage for all people aged 70 years and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). Now everyone will get its benefits without looking at rich and poor, whatever their income.
After the cabinet meeting, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said, ‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi had committed that all senior citizens above the age of 70 years will be given coverage under Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana. There are many families which are already covered and have senior citizens in them. Additional coverage, top-up coverage in such families will be Rs 5 lakh.’
Announcing the Cabinet decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “This is a demand-driven scheme; as demand increases, coverage will also be increased.” This was a major election promise of the BJP during this year’s Lok Sabha elections. The scheme will have an initial outlay of Rs 3,437 crore.
Ayushman Bharat is said to be the world’s largest insurance scheme. It currently provides coverage of Rs 5 lakh annually to the poorest 40 per cent of the populationThe Union minister said Wednesday’s decision will add about 6 crore additional beneficiaries from 4.5 crore families to the flagship scheme. Though the scheme was designed for universal health coverage, this will be the first age-group to get full coverage.
“It will not only cover citizens above 70 years of age from middle and high-income families, but it will also extend the cover to poor patients up to Rs 10 lakh,” Vaishnav said. “For senior citizens from poor families who are already covered under the scheme, they will get an additional top-up coverage of Rs 5 lakh,” Vaishnav said.
He said the Rs 5 lakh coverage will be shared among senior citizens living in a household. “If there are two senior citizens in a family, the Rs 5 lakh coverage will be shared among them. This is a big step for social security of senior citizens, especially when India is moving towards nuclear families,” Vaishnav said.
Those who are already covered under government schemes like CGHS, defence department cover or ESIC will have the option to continue with the same scheme or switch to Ayushman Bharat. “This will be launched soon and senior citizens will be requested to enrol,” the minister said.