8 Years of Ayushman Bharat: Separate ₹5 Lakh Cover for Seniors Aged 70+; Know the Process to Get the Card
The Ayushman Bharat scheme has completed 8 years. Key highlights include an additional ₹5 lakh coverage for seniors aged 70 and above and the inclusion of ASHA and Anganwadi workers. Here are the latest updates on the scheme.
Ayushman Bharat is transforming India's healthcare journey, making quality care truly accessible, affordable and people-centric!
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) September 23, 2026
✅ ₹5 lakh annual cashless hospitalisation
✅ 60 crore+ beneficiaries covered
✅ ₹2 lakh crore enabled in savings
✅ 1.86 lakh+ Ayushman Arogya… pic.twitter.com/GRYYAqPUio
The country's largest health protection scheme, 'Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' (AB PM-JAY), has completed eight years of service. Marking this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the scheme has relieved poor and middle-class families from the burden of exorbitant hospital expenses and brought healthcare services to every doorstep.
According to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, over 60 crore citizens have been covered under the scheme so far; more than 48.54 crore Ayushman cards have been issued; and over 13 crore free treatments—valued at more than ₹2 lakh crore—have been completed at empanelled hospitals.
What are the new and major changes in the scheme?
| Key Point | Latest Scheme Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Health Coverage | Cashless treatment of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year |
| Special Benefit for Senior Citizens | Citizens above 70 years get an additional ₹5 lakh top-up cover |
| Large Hospital Network | 39,000+ empanelled government and private hospitals across the country |
| Scope of Coverage | Packages covering 1,961 serious illnesses and surgeries across 27 specialties |
| Primary Healthcare Centres | More than 500 crore OPD visits recorded at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across the country |
Universal coverage for seniors aged 70+
The government has opened the scheme to all elderly individuals aged 70 and above, regardless of their family income.
Separate ₹5 lakh 'Vaya Vandana' top-up
If a family is already enrolled in the scheme, an elderly member aged over 70 within that family will receive a special additional cover of ₹5 lakh, over and above the family's existing ₹5 lakh cover. So far, more than 1.36 crore 'Ayushman Vaya Vandana Cards' have been issued to the elderly.
Inclusion of ASHA and Anganwadi workers
Expanding the scheme's reach, cards have also been issued to over 44.81 lakh ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and helpers, bringing them under its ambit.
Protection for sanitation workers and the transgender community
Under the SMILE scheme, cashless health facilities are also being provided to transgender individuals, construction workers, waste pickers, and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
How to get your Ayushman card made?
1. Log in to the portal
Visit the National Health Authority's official portal, beneficiary.nha.gov.in, or open the 'Ayushman App' on your mobile. Select the 'Beneficiary' option, enter your mobile number, and log in using the OTP.
2. Search for family and name
Select your state, scheme (PMJAY), and district. Then, search by entering details from your ration card, family ID card, or government identity document. The names of all eligible family members will appear on the screen.
3. e-KYC process
Click on 'e-KYC' next to the name of the family member for whom the card is to be created. Complete the verification using Aadhaar OTP or fingerprint authentication and upload a live photo.
4. Download the digital card
Once verification is complete, the card will be generated and can be downloaded and printed immediately. This process can also be completed by visiting a nearby Pragya Kendra (CSC) or the 'Ayushman Mitra' counter at a government hospital.
How to avail cashless treatment at the hospital?
To avail treatment, the patient simply needs to present their Ayushman card and original identity proof at the helpdesk of any empanelled government or private hospital. The 'Ayushman Mitra' stationed there will verify the patient's biometrics and initiate the admission and treatment process directly, without requiring any advance cash deposit. This coverage includes expenses ranging from medical tests conducted three days prior to admission to medicines required for 15 days after discharge.
