Ayushman Card: How many times a year can you get free treatment? How to check eligibility?

The Ayushman Card provides free or cashless treatment to the needy. But how many times can this card be used per year? How can you determine whether you're eligible? Find answers to every question related to this scheme here.

The cost of treatment often breaks the backs of families. Poverty or financial difficulties make this burden even heavier. To alleviate this problem, the government has launched the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Under this scheme, Ayushman cards are issued, which provide free or cashless treatment at all listed hospitals. Many people have questions about how many times a year one can avail free treatment using this card? Has the government set a limit on this? Furthermore, is the person in whose name the card is issued entitled to receive treatment worth ₹5 lakh only? Clear up any confusion here.

First, learn what the Ayushman Card is.

The Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PM-JAY) was launched specifically to help economically disadvantaged families. Seniors aged 70 and above are now covered. Under this scheme, every eligible family receives health coverage of up to ₹500,000 annually. This card allows you to access treatment at government or private hospitals affiliated with the scheme.

Under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, a family receives free treatment up to ₹5 lakh per year. This limit applies to the entire family, not just one individual. If there are four members in a family, the ₹5 lakh health coverage applies to all members.

How many treatments can be availed in a year?

One confusion is how many treatments can be availed in a year using the card? So the answer is, "How many times can a person get treatment on an Ayushman card?" The answer is that you can avail free treatment any number of times in a year until the limit of Rs 5 lakh is reached. Once the treatment expenses reach Rs 5 lakh, the free treatment facility stops for that year.

Check eligibility like this:

First, go to the official PMJAY website, https://pmjay.gov.in/. On the homepage, look for the "Am I Eligible" option. You'll see it in the top menu. There's also a question mark (?) before it. Click on it.

After selecting your state, you'll need to select a category. Select the category under which you want to check your name. Some states only allow you to check by ration card number, while others allow you to view the list by name or family number. Some states also offer options to search by mobile number, ration card number, and your own name. Select one of the options provided by your state.

After this, a search will reveal whether you are eligible for the scheme. If your name is not included in the Ayushman Bharat Yojana list, the search result box will display "No Result Found."

Another way to check your eligibility for the Ayushman Bharat Yojana is by providing all the necessary documents through your nearest Public Service Center.

Get an Ayushman Card

If you are eligible for the Ayushman Bharat Yojana but haven't yet received your card, it's now much easier to get one. The government has provided both online and offline methods for making an Ayushman card for public convenience.

Online Method

If you are comfortable using a mobile phone or computer, you can get your Ayushman card from the comfort of your home. To do this, you'll need to visit the official website of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana or apply through the Ayushman Bharat App. Here, you'll need to provide your Aadhaar, mobile number, and password. You must enter your card number and basic family information. Once the verification is complete, the card becomes available for download.

Offline Method

Those who are not comfortable with the online process can get their Ayushman card made at the nearest CSC centre, Public Service Centre, or Community Health Centre (CHC).

The officer or Ayushman Mitra present there will check your eligibility. If your name is registered under the scheme, the required documents will be verified, and your Ayushman card will be ready shortly.

Keep these things in mind during treatment.

Before getting treatment using the Ayushman card, it is very important to confirm some important things to avoid any problems later.

First, check whether the hospital you are going to for treatment is affiliated with the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Also, find out whether your illness or medical procedure is included in the Ayushman treatment package. You can check the scheme's official website or the 'Ayushman' link available at the hospital. You can ask your friend.

Another important thing is that your Ayushman card must be active. If the card is inactive or unverified, it could cause problems during hospital treatment.